The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-19
The Wessenger.
WHAT OF wATsON,s ON TO SPAIN

If Captain Watson really crosses
the Atlantic with his small but strong
feet of cruisers, what will he do
then d? Will he really seek Camara
wherever he may be found, and dare
TO give battle right under the guns of
the strongest Spanish fort where Ca
mara may have taken refuge =!
Hardly. 1t would be very brave but
tremendously hazardous. He will be
a long way from home. There Is no
danger of a sea fight in the open. Ca
mara's vessels would be beaten up
like egg shells under the powerful
guns and skillful gunners Of Watson's
fleet of four vessels. We canOt see
that the going into Spanish waters in
itself can have any very imposing,
much less, subduing effect upon the
Spaniards. The bravery Of risking
our ships so far away may be talked
about and admired, but performance
must follow adventure.
1t will probably prove a mistake to
underestimate the strength Of Span
ish Qualifications. They may be old,
but they may be strong. Disappoint-
nsnts have occurred in Cuba, from
which a lesson may be learned. The
Messenger lately gave the number and
kim of guns in but 800 miles of the
Spanish coast, and over 100 Krupp
guns were among them. Watson will
nave but four vessels, remember, to
<,r+apI With haaUv X rlInnG nd a rm-
strongs. But if he goes he must take
heavy risks. But why go, unless
there is really excellent chances for
success? Thus far the career Of Amer
lean fleets has been one Of splendid
performance and success. We believe
it is of very doubtful result to go fort
hunting on the Spanish coast. The
Savannah News Of the 18th inst. said
this:
ut is worthy of notice hat France
takes the position that If we destroy
Admiral Camara'S fleet there is moth
ing in the way of our taking possess
ion of Ceuta and the Canaries, and
that we would likely turn them over
to England in exchange for the Ber-
mudas Such an exchange would be
very much against the interests Of
France Goodwin Smith also raises the
point hat if we go TO Europe to carry
on the war against Spain we practi-
cally abandon the Monroe doctrine.
There are many things to be taken
into consideration in connection with
the proposed expedition Of Commodore
Watson to Spain, some Of which lead
80 the conclusion that the wiser thing
to do is to cOnfine the war to this side
of the Atlantic"
The Messenger will be glad to hear
Of the utter destruction of the last
fleet of Spain, Camara's, but it is very
doubtful as to the wisdom of the poll
cy that sends four American vessels
1000 miles from home to undertake
the most serious work of reducing in
Vulnerable forts. We know that this
is not the fattering, lingo" way Of
regarding it. 1t is not the style of the
enthusiastic home-toOter, who thinks
all Watson has to do is to place his
] tile fleet in a Spanish harbor, blow
lis magic trumpet, and down will go
walls and men as by some mysterious
power. Even so able a paper as the
New York ribune takes a rose-tint-
ed, irradiated view, and says this:
<'The coast of Spain is an attractive
one to an attacking fleet. 1t is not as
extensive, by some five hundred miles,
as the coast of Cuba But it possesses
many more large towns and cities,
and these are, on the WHOLE, better
adapted to bombardment than those
of Cuba. q & The errand of CommO
dore Watson's fleet will therefore be,
while in some respects arduous. a di-
xnnt nd nrnotiPn1 ono and vet ono in
vested with more romantic and pic
turesque interest than. is usual in our
modern wars. u r Altogether it will
be strange if Commodore Watson and
his men do not fall in with some
small chickering's in which they may
gain honor and advancement. It will
be a pity, of course, to ravage that in
teresting and historic coast But the
prime and chief pity is that Spain her
self, by her mad %follies, should not
merely lave provoked it, but made il
necessary"