The San Francisco call., 1898-04-24
FRENCHMEN
 ON THE VAR
Statesmen and Warriors Think HostilitieS Will
 Be Prolonged.
Copyrighted. 1898, by James Gordon Bennett

Copyrighted. 1s9s by James Gordon Bennett.
 PARIS, April 23.-On the eve of hos tilities between Spain and the United States I thought it desirable to obtain of persons especially qualified to speak opinions on certain probabilities likely to arise in naval warfare about to be- gin or the part therein likely to be taken by neutral powers and the con- sequences immediately arising as to commercial relations between the Unit ed States and certain great European ports. I have seen M. Lockroy for merly French Minister of Marine. He says: ''The conflict is calculated to cause us all much consideration and even anxiety, I don't agree with those who believe or affect to believe and who state in the newspapers that the game may be played out in a few weeks when once hostilities have begun.
 The United States has many eie- ments of success, but one must not lose sight of the defensive resources of Spain, of her few vulnerable points, of her legendary tenacity, her better or ganized, better equipped and better trained army and navy; also her spe- cial qualifications for guerrilla warfare, in which she has always been success ful on land and which she will naturaI- ly try to carry on at sea, and which may be indefinitely prolonged"
 Do you then consider that privateer- ing can be carried on without interven- tion of neutral powers, or that they would submit to the inconveniences in- volved in the right of search?"
 T believe that the question is ex- tremely complicated, and I consider that some understanding should be come to, but I don't see how Spain can be prevented from using her best, if not only means of defense without act ing toward her with partiality equiva- lent almost to forcible intervention, and to her detriment'
 After seeing M Lockroy, I consulted several high officials in the French navy. The prevailing opinion Is that American ships are better armed and faster than Spanish ships, and in a stand-up fight should have the better of 1t, but they appear to hold high opinion of the bravery and qualifica tions of some of the Spanish sailors. One admiral, member of the high council of the Marine Francaise, told me that he witnessed the trials of the Cristobal Colon at Genoa, and, like all other officers present, was struck by the combined skill and boldness with Whlch the SpanlSh captain sent to take the vessel from Italy handled her.
 We saw him." he said, "enter the harbor at a speed of eighteen knots, and bring her to anchor without the slightest hesitation and without mis- take. There's man who will be heard of hereafter"
 The captain in question is now the rear admiral. The crucial point, ac- cording to French sailors, is that of the coal supply and munitions, and un- less Spain has taken such precautions that loss by blockade of one or more of her transports would have no eff feet, the struggle may shortly become hopeless and also great distance from the base of operations.
 AS to the political consequences Of war, 1 consulted an eminent foreign diplomat, who said: "I consider that the campaign which the United States have just entered on is a particularly serious event in their history. They risk the loss of part of the advantage de- rived during half a century from the curse of the military systems which devour old Europe. They propound to the old continent problems which jus tify the remark attributed to the Ger man Emperor: After the yellow specter are we about to be confronted by the Yankee specter?'
 'In any case this campaign, with the facts and negotiations that preceded it, furnish indications of a state of feeling and tendencies calculated to cause uneasiness on this side Of the