The San Francisco call., 1898-05-24
SPANISH TACTICS.

HE success with which the Spanish fleet in the
 West Indies has played game of hide and seek
 among the islands of the Caribbean Sea for so long time tells heavily against any hope of speedy end to the To make campaign short, sharp and decisive 1t IS necessary to have foe who be found easily. An artful dodger however readily he might be overcome in battle Is ot to be captured quickly when he has room enough to make good use of his nimble legs.
 The tactics which have been employed by the Spanish such to have been expected of them both from the conditions of the and from their national characteristics No weak people pted against strong nation and forced to fight at great distance from their base of supplies would be guilty of the folly of rsking everything the result o single battle. However daring and bold they might be prudence would prevent them from rushing to combat where defeat would mean ruin. The bravest of under such circumstances would pur Fabian policy and seek to achieve by strategy what they could hope to gain by direct fighting.
 These tactics which circumstances render wise on their part the acceptable to the Spaniards because they in accord with Spanish methods of making It has been their policy to fight pitched battles when such conflicts could be avoided Their national existence has been maintained in Europe solely by their indomitable courage in guer- rilla warfare and their fitness for carrying it It has ever been easy to overthrow their armies, but possible subdue their country. These tactics which out the great Napoleon to be ap- piled against us, and, if to force the to a swift conclusion, will have to show not only strength in fighting the foe, but treess speed in pursuing him.
 When Dewey took possession of the arsenal and the wrecks of the Spanish ships at Manila he found that orders had been given and preparations were being made for the removal of the fleet from that harbor. Had he not descended upon them with the swiftness of eagle sweeping upon its prey they would have sailed away, and he would have had be- fore him game of hide and seek in the Philippines tedious and perplexing that which exasper- ates Sampson in the West Indies. To his vehement speed of attack much his daring and his skill do we the victory which has saved Pacific Coast and commerce from the menace of Spanish assault
 It is to be regretted that not prepared to strike in the West Indies promptly did i'll the Philippines. The conditions however were too diff ferent to render such course advisable The result Is that the Spanards have had chance to get their ships out of Havana and scatter them around the Caribbean Sea- where they have been lately joined by the fleet commanded by Cervera. Now we have be- fore us the long hunt after enemy whose course seems to be about uncertain as that of Andree on his aerial voyage to the pole What we need most in our Atlantic fleet swift cruisers rather than battle ships and unfortunately have hardly enough of them for the work Unless Cervera commits blun- der or some splendid good fortune attends our arms the West Indian campaign of hide and seek will prob ably last for long time to come.