The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-03
Where Well Strike First.

Spain is not writes Walter WelIrnan from
Washington. An amazing feature of the
situation is the small effort which Spain
has made 10 strengthen her naval forces
in American waters. Untn recently she
has done almost nothing in that direction
Her first important move was TO start
the torpedo 1otilla across the Atlantic,
and today she is understood 10 have order
ed squadron OF three or four first-class
ships from Cadiz. But IL war were 20
come next week the United States could.
with but small resistance. infest and
blockade all the ports of Cuba Havana
would fail into our hands probably with
In twenty-four hours. and with Havana
ours. Spain would be at terrible .disad-
vantage in any future operations in the
island or about its coasts.
Spain now has IN Cuban waters but two
flrst-class lighting ships. Those are al
Havana Scattered along the coast Of
Cuba are great number of gunboats and
small torpedo craft. such as she has used
in subduing the insurgents and in trying
TO catch hlibustering expeditions from the
United States. But these gunboats are
small affairs, without much power either
of resistance or offense. They could not
stand a minute before our cruisers and
battle ships. If the United States acts
the part of wisdom, say all the naval ex-
perts. including the three members OF the
board of strategy appointed TO assist Sec
rotary Long, it will not lose a minute af-
ter hostilities become unavoidable. but
will force the fighting from the jump.
The first thing the navy people want to
do-and the first thing that will he done
in case war is declared-is TO send the
flying squadron after the torpedo fotilla
of torpedo boats now at Cape de Verd. II
is safe to say this fiotilla of ocean war
ships will never be permitted to reach
port save in American hands. Our navy
is sadly deficient in torpedo boats. and
the fondest desire of the authorities here
in case war comes, is 10 replenish our
store of such craft by capturing the Span
ish fiotilla. If events march rapidly, If
war comes within a few days. as some
people believe it is sure 10 come, there is
not a man in the navy department who
refuses to believe the f1otilla would fall
into our hands or be utterly destroyed.
The flying squadron is at Hampton
Roads ready to steam away at full speed
for the torpedo boats.
AT the present time Spain has in west
ern waters a naval force so small that
our fleets could overwhelm it before the
arrival of re-enforcements. Within ten
days say naval experts, we could put
the two Spanish cruisers out of commits
sion or at the bottom Of the sea, where
the poor Maine lies. We could invest and
blockade Havana. This done we would
be ready TO meet the squadron which
Spain now has under way for Cuba, and
by massing a superior force against it
could destroy IT and be ready for the
next fleet of the Spanish line.
The great fear OF all our naval author
tiles all along has been. first, the torpedo
fotilla, and, second, that Spain would en-
deavor 10 mass her ships for an attack
upon some American city, selected by her
self but unknown to US In this way the
Spanish authorities could catch the cho-
sen city without adequate naval protec-
ton, as II would obviously be necessary
for US to adopt the very tactics which the
navy department has In fact adopted, of
our fleets along the coast for
protection of all the cities in the case of
actual hostilities. According to the Span
sh program nine, and the fears OF our au-
thorities, immense damage might be done
one Of our cities before re-enforcements
could arrive from the other parts of our
coast.
But If war comes quickly the United
States will have the stupendous advant-
age of being able TO whip the Spanish in
letail Having disposed of the dreaded
torpedo boats and the squadron now on
is way. we should be ready for the next
1eet that approached our coast. There
s reinsurance for the American people in
he calm confidence Of our board OF STRAIT
egy that if war comes the United States
will easily vanquish the enemy. Against
Spain's pitiful naval force now on this
side OF the Atlantic the United States has
nassed off Key West and the Tortugas.
around Cuba and at Hampton Roads the
greatest feet we have known since the
,ivil war, and immensely superior in act
Ial effectiveness TO any navy the United
States ever possessed
In less than a month We shall have
llong the Atlantic seaboard. or within
striking distance of Cuba, a feet Of thir-
y-two fighting vessels, OF which five are
,attle ships, two armored cruisers. almost
Is good as the best of Spains battle
ships. four monitors capable of the heav-
est sort of fighting. one ram, the
ten cruisers varying in effect
veness from the San Francisco and Min
leapolis down to the gunboat type, and
,ver we shall have altogether feet OF
bout ffty-fve craft ready for action in
,uban or coast waters. including the fast
ugs which are now being fitted out as
orpedo boats and torpedo boat destroy
RS with that quick energy and rapid com
,letion so characteristic OF the Ameri-
an people in time OF stress. Where
spain Is 10 find the ships worthy 10 stand
gainst this armada our naval experts do
lot know. and confidence in a short ~ar
nd speedy victory is almost universal
u Washington.
The opinion OF statesmen and diplomats
s 10 the duration Of the war. II war ii is
o be, agrees with that OF the naval men
I is not believed Spain has up to this
line seriously thought a war was imni- !
ent. Her leading men must have relied /
nore upon their diplomatic skill than /
pom their fighting establishment. as they /
ave made so little preparation for hostu- |
ties. In the opinion Of diplomats Spain |
5 not prepared 70 push a war with vigor
nd has no intention 81 doing 20. II forced /
o fight, Il Is believed her policy VII be /
0 20 through the motions for a few /
Feeks. suffer Cuba 20 be wrested from I
er. yind!cate the national prize and hon. !
= by resistance. then permit the media /
lon OF foreign powers
In q fght with the United States spain's /
respect would be one Of absolute rope 4
sssness from the start. She IL no, 81 10 1
tand before this country. and. while. II 4
7ar Games. the United States need not /
xpect 70 escape vithou; some serious 1
lsses such as destruction Of ships b. tor !
edoes. and possibly the bornhsrdnsnt 20 1
city O. tao for a few hours. the over
brow Of Spain can uot well be averted !
eyoud month or two - farthest- Me1i- 4
lion q foreign powers e regarded as Ger
ain before ne struggle has proceeded I
, ar5 this The Tinted STATES rrutd a. 4