The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-05
best the showing could not be especial
ly formidable

best the showing could not be especial
ly formidable.
FORCE OF ATTACK
To menace, blockade or bombard
Havana the United states could con-
centrate off the pretty bay that marks
the entrance to the harbor. the finest
and most powerful fleet of warships
that ever carried the Stars and Stripes
into any cline. 1t is well equipped in
every way, with plenty of tried men to
manipulate its guns and engines. and
plenty of ammunition to do harm with.
Foremost in the fleet is the huge
Iowa, a sea-going battleship that all
naval experts agree compares most
favorably with the largest and best
fighting ships ahoat, not excepting the
Royal Sovereign, Empress of India,
and other tremendous fighting ma
chimes of Great Britain. Next in line
are the twin bulldogs of the fleet, the
Massachusetts and Indiana, veritable
floating forts with armor of a thick
ness sufficient to resist anything short
of a thundcrholt propelled by the
matchless force of nature.
Next, then, is the Texas. often re-
ferred to as a sister ship to the ILL
fated Maine, though they were not
much alike. the peerless cruisers New
York and Brooklyn, the Marblehead,
Montgomery and several more of the
smaller fellows, besides three modern
torpedo boats. To this fleet is added
the strength of the big ouble-turrcted
monitors, Puritan, Terror, Amphitrite
and NliantOnOmah, all of which would
naturally bo Centered at Havana if any
| bOmbardmcnt of fortiilcations be in
| tended. for i'm this kind of work, es-
| pccially in comparatively smooth water,
| their ability to do terrible execution
! cannot be ovcr-estimated.
METHODS OF ATTACK.
\ naval movement by the United
! States against Havana might not nee
essarily include a bombardment. In
deed in the minds of some of the best
! informed authorities the planting of
! tons of shot i'm the city and its forti-
nCatiuns would be avoided if any pos
sible way out of it could be seen. Sup
posing" said one naval expert yes
terday, that the United States has
| demanded Il large indemnity from
Spain and that the demands have not
been complied with necessitating their
enforcement 10y other than peaceablC
means. First of all, the fleet of war
ships, commonly called the North At
lantic Squadron, but for an occasion
like that increased by all the reserve
force possible, would lie ordered t.
proceed against Havana.
1T is hardly likely that Admiral
Sicard, if he were in charge, would
care to plunge in and lay the city in
ruins without giving q chance. There.
fore the first move must be a blockade
This would have a two-fOld effect anG
if all the reports emanating from Ha.
vana are true it would speedily cause
capitulation of the city without singl,
shot being fired at the forts, for it /.
known that the city is in no condition
to stand siege, which means the cut
ting off of food and other supplies.
THE other effect, which has practi
cally the same ending. would be pro
duced by the insurgent armies. One,
a United states fleet is ordered out fo
active service in front of Havana eX
petitions supplying the Cubans Will
; all the arms and ammunition the,
want will be sent out of every Dor
along the Atlantic sea coast Sucl
expeditions would be decidedly i'm or
der then and / do not doubt that 100,
600 stands of arms, besides a regula
, park of field artillery would be lande,
, in Cuba during the first week
"Propcrly armed and equipped the i'm
, surgentS would quickly complete a Ian,
blockade which would cut the city of
, from all supplies from the land side
, while the white fleet in front Woul
! efectually cut off any supply from tn
sea. Thus situated the city Of Havan
would have to submit inside of tw
weeks. This course would be III
, humane one from any standpoint wher
coercion is considered necessary to en-
force demand. The Spanish author
tiles are not likely to lie idle. however
with girdle of warships off the han
Dor and the actual fighting would com
mence just as soon as the Spanish shin
, SHOW sign Of desiring hostiHties.
a BOMBARDMENT OF HAVANA.
' I'm any event the Iowa. flagship
would lead the fleet into action NO
1 only because she would carry the per
e nant of the admiral but because of he
; speed and easy handling. The orde
y most likely i'm case of attack would /
D sWtft signal that would form the flee
e into three divisions. Iowa. Indiana an
Massachusetts leading one, with Ne
Il York and Brooklyn close up; the Pur
f tan, Terror Amphitrite and MiantonC
- nah in the other. backed by the squad
e ron torpedo boats. Outside the smallt
/, cruisers would form flying squadro
Y or protection, really sea cavalry to Pre-
$ tect the heavy fighting flanks.
Il The Iowa would take up a positio
g to the southard of the harbor entranC
n and just outside the marine league ,
. enemys water. Close beside her, bl
n allowing enough room to maneuver Il
o Brooklyn and New York would fly the
Y battle flags. The heavy monitor divi
ion would form in single line of ha #