The herald., 1898-12-04

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2l.-(Special Cor
respondence to The Herald.) When, calm
ly and dispassonately, far-seeing men who
are in close touch with conditions that arc
making at the present time for peace or war,
begin to dig into statistics to get satisfac-
tory idea of Americas chances in a general
hight between the people of the earth, it is
time to pay serious attention to the question
OF our position in strife in which the fit
test would survive. 1t is strange that at
time when the proposal has been made to
the nations for general disarmament there
should be more talk of a worldwide war
than at any other period in the history of
the universe. Yet those who mix with the
leading politicians here know that it is
grave possibility that the races of the earth
will be on either side of vast battle-ground
that will comprise the land and sea of the
entire globe.
The question seems by general consent to
have taken this form: Could America and
England together whip the entire worldy
Here it may be permissible to call attention
to the remarkable change of sentiment with
regard to the British that has come to the
people of this country. Some say it is due
to the kindly attitude of England during our
late war, when the nations of continental
Europe were regarding us with ugly looks;
others point to our mutual interests in the
east as an excuse for our change of heart
towards an old rival. Be the reason what
it may, England and the United States to-
day are in situation where they must stand
or fall together in their policy in certain
quarters OF the earth, and the tie of mutual
interest binds us closer than any sentiment
al alliance.
But could the two nations face the rest
of the world in arms with a confident feel
ing that they could beat them in fair fight?
There are theoretical features of the answer
that will appeal to every patriotic American
and Brton, no matter how they may be re-
ceived by other nations. 1t will be assert
ed, for instance, by some that one American
or one Brton is a match for any two of
the continental peoples. Then there are q
fewnationswho would undoubtedly be Allied
on the side of America and Britain. But
leaving these questions out of consideration,
can America and Great Britain beat the
world in a pelagic war, man for man, gun
for gun and ship for ship?
The immense navy of Great Britain, it has
been asserted, would be a match for France
and Russia combined. 1t will be interesting
to go into figures with reference to this. in
bcligerent in the far east, and is blaming
the United States, declaring that the prepa-
rations for war in England are but be.
ginning of ''the hunt for which the United
States has started the cry" Should Russia
join in fight with Great Britain, which, by
the way, is just what England wants, she
being at present in the pink of condition, so
to speak, while her antagonists are decided
ly out of training, how would the fleets line
up?
The latest official figures show that Great
Britain has of battleships the enormous
number of fifty-two ready for action, an in
crease from thirty-eight in 1884, and forty.
five in 1896. These batteships are all of
first-class type, in splendid condition, ready
to strip for action at an hours notice. !
Against these France could oppose but TWEEN |
ty-seven battleships. OF the Immediately |
available armored cruisers, that class of |
fighting ship that our late war has shown |
us the immense value of, Great Britain has |
eighteen ready for service, while France |
can boast of but nine. In the matter of pro. |
tected cruisers the disparity of numbers is |
even greater. Britain has ninety-five, while !
France has but thirty. In unprotected
cruisers the two nations are equal, both |
possessing sixteen. These ships. however. |
would not be of much Importance in war
such as one that would be waged between |
the two nations.
France has more torpedo boats than Eng.
land, owning one hundred and twenty to
England's seventy. The difference in tor.
pedo boats is more than made up, however,
by the immense superiority of England in
the matter of torpedo boat destroyers, of
which she possesses one hundred to Frances
thirteen.