Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-02
INVASION OF SPAIN.
cAsTiLlsNs fsAR ATTACK IN THEIR
aoMe POSSESSIONS.

HUNK foo0GSSfoN0
Pr.e.usion. so1G.ard the Coast. and Ad-
jacens Islan~s-ReAsons why War May
Have to He Ccrried Into Europe-Dim-
Guilty of Tr.nsn ,rting Troops to Spain.
From ths elaborate preparations
which Spain making to defend the
coasts of thu, sninsula. as well as the
Balearic isis is, it would appear that
she has infor:: alton to the effect that
her war with the United States will
not be confinAl to this side of the At
lantic, but TIKI II will eventually ex-
tend to the old world. In fact. there is
every reason Il believe that the Span
iards anticipate . possibility of an
American descent upon their coasts and
an invasion Of their kingdom. Dis
patches recently received from Wash
ington tend to confirm this belief, for,
after losing Cuba and Puerto Rico, and
possibly the Philippines. if the Spaniards
refuse to come to terms and persist IN
declining to accept peace, it will be
necessary for the United States to cross
the ocean in order to bring the struggle
to a conclusion.
Some such step as this would natural
" appear preferable to permitting the
conflict to drag on for years, necessitat-
ing the maintenance of both the army
and the navy on . war footing, with
American maritime commerce and trade
in constant danger Of attack by Spanish
warships or privsteers.
For the United States to invade Spain
with the object Of bringing the war to
conclusion would prove an even still
more arduous task than for Spain TO Ell
ther defend Cuba or to make any de-
scent on the American coast. Whereas
Spain has in the island of Cuba and in
Puerto Rico bases of supplies for any
attack on the United States, the United
States has nothing of the kind on the
European side of the Atlantic, and
would, of course, have to begin by cap
turing the Canaries for the purpose, u.s.
ing them for recalling, reprovisioning
and refitting the feet before actually at
tempting to effect landing of Ameri-
can troops on Spanish shores.
Without expiating here on the enor-
nous difficulties which an American
army would have TO face in Spain itself.
where every peasant Is more or less ac
customed to guerrilla warfare. it may
safely be taken forgranted that step of
this kind on the part of the United
States would lead to serious im broglio
between the latter and some of the con-
tinental powers of Europe. Il is well
known that both France and Austria
would have brought about an armed
intervention in behalf of Spain in Amer
lean waters had they been able to get
Germany, Italy. ~ ssia or England to
join them. But 80 proposal was not
only CURLY rejedt{1 by England, br.
likewise frowned p ION by Russia, while
Germany aud Italy. after hesitating for
time, cold shouldered the proposal.
Should, however. the war extend to
Europe and American troops invade
Spain itself is is extremely probable
that France. either with or without the
cooperation of the other continental
powers, would support her neigbbor in
repelling American invasion of Europe
Only England and possibly Russia
would be likely tcsxpress their disap-
prevail of France taking part in the
fray. Continental Europe. in fact. is a.
strongly opposed to the United States
becoming factor in old world politics
as is this country ayerse to European
powers becoming factors not merely in
American politics. but anywhere in the
western hemisphere. and it is possible
that even other countries besides France
perhaps Austria aud Germany, nigh,
be disposed to assist Spain in her effort
to prevent Uucle Sam from obtaining
foothold in the old world.
see from Washington dispatches that
the naval officers there regard the Pun
chase of so large number of merchan
vessels and ocean liners by the govern
ment as an indication that they az.
destined for the conveyance of Ameri
can troops to Spain. If the Unitsc
States authorities have any such inten
ton. they will have 10 acquire ia
greater number of vessels than they
have got now. When in 1882 England
sent small army of go, 600 men t;
Egypt, she was compelled to employ 81
many merchant steamers and liners fCl
the purpose as TO temporarily throw
out of gear all the ordinary steamship
services In fact. it will tax to the ut
most the shipping resources now at the
disposal Of the government to convey
an army of 90. 900 or 80, 600 men to Gu
pa, which is only few hours distant
from the American coast
Ii vould be ridiculous to attempt any
invasion of Spain without at least ?
force of zoe. 900 men, and these. with
their supplies. their artillery. theii
horses and mules aid all the impedi
meuta of great army. would necessi
tate the use of several hundred large
transports aad liners for their convey
anee across the Atlantic. ALWAYS bear
ing in mind that the landing on the enc
my's coast must be made III force aud
not III drib.ets If it is TO prove success
full
That the Spaniards are firmly con-
WINGED of the likelihood of an American
invasion OF their possessions ia Europe
is. as have stated above, evident from
the treasure and troops which they are
devotin2 TO the defense of the coast aud
of the Balearic and Canary islands
That similar belief exists in naval and
military circles at Washington is shown
by recent dispatches from the national
capital. Should these anticipations be
realized for the sake of bringing the
present war to . close there is no know I
ing 10 what An American invasion of Eu /
rope of this kind may lead.
in ST. Louis Globe Democrat.