The times., 1898-04-25
ADM|RALERbENO ON THE WAR
His Interesting Review of the
Present Situation.
MOVEMENT OF SPANISH FLEET
1t VIII Not Cross the Atlantic to
AII-ImPOI taHt One to Spaip-Hc
Looks for Prompt Action - The
American NAVY.

lne operations OF the OnlIcu otaleS ma
val forces are directed by the members of
the Board of Strategy. of which the Sec
retary of the Navy is the official head.
Admiral Sampson, Commodore Schley and
all the other commanders of fleets or of
vessels acting singly receive their orders
from that board.
With regard to the possible outcome of
the war and the movements that will
probably be made by the United States
fleets, Rear Admiral Henry Erben, re-
tired. one of the ablest naval commanders
of the age and one of the best-known
tacticians this country has ever pro-
duced, has given out an interesting state
ment.
The admiral was in command of the
European squadron some years ago, and
Capt Mahan, the greatest living author
ity on ships OF war, was the commander
of Admiral Erben's flagship, the cruiser
Chicago.
While no man can predict what another
may do, and particularly when the other
party is a Spaniard,'' said Admiral Err
ben, yet l am of the opinion that there
will be no great naval engagement fought
for some time to come, at least. In the
/ first place, the largest force of SPANS
navy. her most modern ships, are now at
| anchor at the Cape Verde Islands. This
| is the most formidable fleet of warships
| Spain ever had together at any one time.
/ Il has been known for some time that
! the United States would practically take
/ possession of Cuba. Such a move was
anticipated. Spain well knew whether
! she would give up her province wiling
I lN-a he possessions
on this side of the Atlantic are practical
1 " unprotected. Had she contemplated
fighting for her possessions in Cuba and
| Porto Rico, then the fleet of Spain 5 war
ships would have left Cape Verde long
ago and would now be heading for Porto
Rico or for Havana. Instead, we find
that the fleet is snugly anchored on the
other side.
VIII Stny at Cape Verde.
THE enemy's fleet will not cross the
Atlantic at present. The commander-in-
chief of the fleet at Cape Verde can watch
the affairs as they transpire well from
where he is. He prefers to keep over
there. What good would such a fleet be
after ii had crossed the Atlantic? In the
first place, a good deal depends upon the
safety of the torpedo boats. Can these
vessels cross the Atlantic this time of the
year? And If they should be lucky
enough TO have fine weather all the way
over. the question of coal would come up
constantly.
You take the fleet of Spain's ships
away from Cape Verde and start it fol-
this side of the Atlantic you take il
away from its base of supplies for Cuba
is practically in the hands of the Ameri-
cans and as for Porto Rico, she Is only
an after consideration.
If you know the Spaniard you will un-
( derstand that he is in no hurry to act
1t is the same old cry of 'Mananai' we
have heard so often. Once you let this
| fleet start across the Atlantic and it viii
be impossible for the home country tC
communicate with the fleet until Porte
] ! Rico or Cuba is reached. And ii may bt
said that even then the chances are
4 against establishing such communication
In order to come here il would be neces
4 sary for Spain to take large supply ships
J along. This would be impracticable. AnC
yet II would be necessary in case star
should be contemplated
Cuhpn Blockade Effective.
THE blockade of Cuba is as effectiv,
as it can be made under the circum
stances. We have blocked the principa
ports only We blockade practically the
| entire north coast, but on the south coas
we take possession Of the principal sea
port town only There are a number Of
small harbors which are thus unguarded
But this amounts to nothing. The block
ade is established principally 10 cut of
the food supply. We have our ship!
guarding the approaches to the principa
ports. and this seems to be quite enough
/ don't think that anybody would at
tempt to supply food by using small port:
as a port Of entry And then. again, i
III,
iards in Cuba TO communicate with th'
outside world
Admiral Erben's attention was calle'
} to q report circulated some days ag,
that there We're $1,000 tons of coal belong
ing 10 Spain at the capital of Portt
: Rico. The admiral was asked whethe
] he would suggest an immediate blockad
I OF that port.
If there are $4,000 tons OF coal there
said the admiral. then let us go down
? there in a hurry and take charge Of II
But ] don't think there can be that mucl
there. That would represent about $500.
go and ] don't think that Spain woult
spend 50 much money on coal, especially
when chances are that that coal pile ca
be captured 50 easily
Now, no matter how much coal ther
may be at Porto Rico there is not enoug
= 10 induce Spain to send her fleet acros
: the ocean. II we captured the coal ther
d Ailtll the Spanish SHIPS NOuiu nave |
e look for coal elsewhere. 1t could not b
= had anywhere on this side of the Al
IT lantic, and in order 10 coal Spain woul
3 have to send her ships all the way acros
. the Atlantic again to refill her ship.
|, bunkers."
6 Admiral Erben said that Porto Ric
II was really an after consideration. an
that the main point Of operation for th
present would be Cuba
Admiral Erben was asked to draw
comparison between the American fleel
- and those Of Spain.
There is no doubt that the SpaniarC
+ have some good ships" said Admir-;
:, Erben. but you must not forget tia
our ships are almost brand new. thi
{ We have the very best of everything an,
= above all things, that we are operatin
from the very source Of supply at a
, times. This is one of the most importal
factors. and not to be overlooked. "
have as good torpedoes as Spain ha
- and We can handle our ships and OF
guns as well. If not better, than ii
y Spanish officers and sailors can on
officers are the finest In the world. On
men are excellent men. Spanish nav
officers are said TO be fine men. They a
said to be superior in every respect to Il
army officers.
Now the question is whether the Spa
e. lard viii send his feet over here
- whether he will wait on the other 81,
for us to go and fight him. The qucsti,
} can be answered this way: We have d
y termined to drive Spain from Cuba We
Z If We succeed in doing this, and we ce
4 tainly will, then it should remain f
{ Spain TO come here and oppose US al
4 not for her 10 wait on the other side al
" M take away her nossagsious v,