The San Francisco call., 1898-02-20
HONOR OF AMERICA Is YET SACRED

is freely expressed that at any HI oment the demand for lnulni. tiOns of war may come. The amount of stores Om hand would soon be exhausted if war should be declared,. but could be easily rep1enislled d from the eastern division. The only supplies thnt nre short OH the coast is ammW- nifiOm for modern guns, and a special train is now on its way from the East as fast as possible.
 The special train mentioned in the dis patch from Bemcia may De bringing only proiecties. as powder for the use Of the Mqh- -power guns can be obtained from the works in California. This IS mere conjec- ture. and # may transpire that the Govern ment does not want to take any chances on powder and will therefore supply the arsenal ot Bemcia and the magazines m this har6or with ammunition fixed for imme- 0Iate use.
 When nation prepares for war tt IS not wise to underrate the strength or fighting quality of the opposing power. Spain IS proud old nation, and # impeHed 6y force of events to meet the United States n battle would dou6tiess make desperate struggle to held her own. The chonces are that she would not send ship Of war to the Pacifc Ocean, and therefore San Francesca would De remote from the scenes Of actual conflict The Spanish army m Cuba might be considerably re-e1forced by fresh troops from Spain before OUT cruisers could pre- vent the re-enforcement. The idea fooHshiy entertained that few regiments coUid walk oyer Cuba and subdue the Spanisb forces ought to De dismissed. is just about as absurd as was the notion that the United Stutes could put down the rebellion Of the South with 100000 men n sixty days. 1t IS on q par with the belief enter tained by the South that one Southern man was good for six Northerners n q fight. Spain has an army and q navy, and IS cdpa- bie Of putting up good battle or land and sea. M fight to the finish the United Stutes would give old Spain terrible trouncing but n the first few engagements OUT troops and ships might. De worsted. The Americans are patient and slow to na- honai wrath, but when once aroused they make war n earnest.
 # is not likely that Engiand, Germany. France, Ryssia. Austria or Italy would Interfere in conflict with the United States and Spain. The general opinion exists m Europe that the United States does not amount to much as q fighting nation. The defeat of Spain would cause some annoy ance and surprise, but Europeans would entertain thereafter greater respect for the American nation.
 President Mckinley seems to De very anxious to suppress the war feeling in this country. He has been through one war and Knows that war IS not so desirable and beautiful as some imagine # to De.
 General Shafter received fbe following telegram yesterday from the Headquarters Of the army in Washington, which signifies to many that he President is seeking to aifay public excitement:
 Washington, Fed. f9.
 "commnnding General Department Of California, San Francisco The President directs that the period during which flags at military posts, etc., were ordered to De displayed at haif-staf as appropriate honor to deceased n disaster to 6attfeship Maine | terminate at sunset to-day.
 "SAMUEL BRICK, Adjutant- General
 Tomorrow he flags in California will be displayed at haH-staf, in compliance with tbe proclamation of Governor Budd, which was issued Last Friday.
 Ln New York and Chicago the display Of flags vas remarkable. Many Of the flags were draped m mourning and as an ex- pression Of sorrow many Of tbe buildings were so draped.