The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-27

Written for the Sunday Standard.
washington. Nov. 2l.-when. calmly
and dispasnonately. far-seeing men
Who ere In close touch with conditions
that are making at the present time
Cor peace or war. begin to dig INTO
statistics TO get q satisfactory idea OF
Americas chances in q general fight
between h people of the earth. it Is
time to pay serious attention to the
question OF our position in a strife In
which the nttest would survive. IL Is
strange that II q time when the pro-
posal has been made to the nations
for . general disarmament there should
b. more talk OF o worldwide war than
at any other period in the history cf
the universe. Yet those who mix with
the leading politicians here know that
a In a grave possibility hat the races
Of the earth will be on either side or
vast battle ground that will COM
prise the land and sea Of the entire
globe
The question seems by general con-
sent to have taken this form: Couli
America and England together whip
the entire world? Here IL may be per-
mireible to call attention to the re-
variable change OF sentiment with re-
gard to the British that has come tn
the people OF this country. Some Say
~ II luz TO the kindly attitude ~
England during our late war, when tnc
nations of continental Europe were re
gsrding us with ugly looks; Others. point
to our mutual interests in the East as
the excuse for our change OF heart
towards an old rival. Be the reason
what II may. England and the United
States to-day are in a situation where
they must stand or fall together In
their policy In certain quarters OF the
earth. and the tie OF mutual interest
binds US closer tina any sentimental al
liance.
But could the two nations face the
rest Of the world In arms with a con-
11dent feeling that they could beat chem
IN q fair fight? There are theoretical
features of the answer that viii APP
peal to every patriotic American and
Briton. no matter how they may be
received by other nations. IL will he
asserted. for instance. by some that one
American or one Briton is a match
for any two of the continental peoples.
Then there are a few nations who
would. undoubtedly. be allied on the
side OF America and Britain. But lesv-
ing these questions out of consider9-
ton. can America and Great Britain
beat the world in a pelagic war. man
for man. gun for gun. mad ship for
ship.
The Immense navy of Great Britain.
n has beer asserted. would be a mat j.
Tor France and Russia combined II
viii be interesting to go into figure
with reference to this. in view OF tlt
fact that France has become belliger-
ent in the far East. and Is blaming the
United States. declaring that the pre-
parations for war in England are bur
q beginning Of 1.-The hunt for which IT,
United States has started the cry
should Russia join in a fight With
Great Britain, which. by the way. Is
Just what England wants. she being 1T
present in the pink of condition. so o.
speak. while her antagonists are d.
cidediy Out of training. how would tle
fleets line up7
The latest official figures show that
Great Britain has OF battleships the
enormous number of SO ready for action.
an Increase from IS In 1894. and IS /
1896. These ba~ttleships are all of first
class type. in splendid condition. rea1v
TO strip for action at an hours notice.
Against these. France could oppose. but
q hh~ttleships- OF the Immediately
available armored cruisers. that class
of lighting ship that our late wal has
shown US the immense value of. Great
Britain has Is ready for service. while
France can boast Of but 3. In the mat
ter of protected cruisers. the disparity
in numbers Is even greater. Great Brf-
tain has IS. while France has but 80
In unprotected cruisers the two ma
lions are equal. both possessing IS.
These ships. however. would not be of
much importance in a wal such as one
that would be waged between the W
nations.
France possesses more torpedo iloats
than England. owning 100. to England's
20. The difference in torpedo boats IL
more than made up. however. by the
immense superiority OF England in the
matter OF torpedo boat d~estroyers. of
which she possesses 100 to Frances 10.