The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-08
{ the Spanish flees that has assembled

II the Spanish aeet that has assembled
in Havana hav il called upon TO light in
the defense OF the chief port Of Cuba. there
Is TO likelihood that the SpAnizras will
repeat the stupid hIunder they made IN
1N6. when England Goated her flag over
the capital That was a few months be-
fore Trafalgar decided the fortunes Of the
war betweea England and Spain: and
when the Spantards heard that a British
acet was on the way TO attack Havana
they prepared 20 defend the city In a very
remarkable manner.
Three war ships were in Havana bay.
but they were not destined 70 participate
In the night In the way war ships are
usually expected 10 do. Before the Brit
ish feet appeared In the offing the I'M
genious Spaniards had knocked holes In
the bottoms Of their ships and sunk them
In the narrow channel leading into the
harbor. They accomplished one thing at
least. The hostile feet could not enter
the harbor until the distractions In the
channel had been removed. and it would
be a rather trying undertaking TO attempt
to clear the channel under fire from the
guns OF La Cabanas and Moro castle So
the Spaniards thought they had put their
war ships 10 the best possible use.
But the British did not carry out the
part Of the programme the Spaniards had
arranged for them. Instead, they landed
on the seaside north OF the harbor en-
trance. sealed the heights to the rear OF
la Cabanas, captured the fort without
difficulty, then sunneled from the fort TO
Moro castle and planted mine. blew q
part Of the castle into sm.thcresns and
Havana was theirs.
The history OF HAVANA for the year that
II was In Engiand's possession illustrates
In remarkable way what an impetus is
given 20 commerce by government that
maintains good order and fosters trade.
In that time oyer 1000 ships visited the
fine harbor that had hitherto been desert
ed. and agriculture and trade advanced
by mighty strides. The experience proved
how prosperous Cuba might he under the
blessings OF good government.
Some Of the noble harbors OF Cuba are
tolerably well fortified as far as stone
walls 20. but they have pecuiiarities that
win be borne In mind If we have occasion
to knock them to pieces One Is that
they almost Invariably occupy high eie-
vations and their walls are usually very
high, and these features. according TO war
experts. are source OF weakness rather
than strength. II they have to face
hombardment from the guns that modern
war ships carry. Another important fact
II that not even the three most strongly
fortified ports, Havana, Santiago de Cuba
anu 1uAHtduauo, nave IN tHSil armament
guns OF modeya caliber. with the exception
Of the four guns which weyier placed at
Punta castle. across the channel from
Moro. at the entrance to Havana harbor
With the possible exception OF these four
guns every cannon on the walls Of every
Cuban coast fort may be dismounted and
the walls knocked TO pieces by hostile
war ships while they are still out of range
Of any cannon trained By Spanish gun
~ To kafv 81 r.
probable that Spain will expend much
energy In placing artificial obs,ructiors
at the entrances TO many OF the numerous
Cuban ports. except Havana and Santiago
de Cuba. What would be the use when
many OF the best forts may be reduced TO
rubbish by modern war ships standing out
al sea.
Besides. many OF the Cuban ports re-
quire no sunken batteries TO prevent the
entrance of hostile vessels as far. at least,
as war ships are concerned. The ports
themselves are shallow and so are their
entrances. and our cruisers and battle
ships could not enter them under present,
condition.
One port, of which we heard a great
deal as long as Cuba had any commerce
worth mentioning should be very attrac-
tive TO US IL we have occasion TO look FOR
an excellent harbor that can probably be
occupied without much trouble or ex-
fense. This IL Cardenas, some ways cast
OF Matanzas. The city lies In a spacious
bay, and the special advantage Of the
port In the event OF war Is that no forti-
ficauons have been erected 20 protect the
city from invasion from the sea. The
Span!ards have erected some rude de-
lenses on the land side 10 keep the patriot
ic Cubans out Of the town. but not a
stone wall nor an autiquated gun faces the
see front. to give some show of possible
resistance 10 an enemy approaching In
ships. The failure 10 provide Cardenns
with sea defenses Is unaccountabie for
II is the last excellent harbor and town Of
large importance on the north coast to-
ward the east. Beyond Cardenas nearly
all the Industry and life % Cuba's seaboard
is shifted from the northern 10 the south
ern coast. In times OF peace Cardenas
does thriving trade. particularly in the
export OF sugar and moiasses. The coun-
try wee. and southwest OF it is the mos.
fertile in Cuba, and here were most of the
large sugar mills and refineries. now in
ruins.
II was at carienas that Lopez landed
with hts party OF filibusters IN 1851. when
the idea OF annexlng Cuba and It's sss 90
slaves to this country was encouraged by
the slave party in the South. Lopez ex-
pected 10 rally the Cubans and slaves to
his standard. hut he was unable To hold
dslt more than two days In Cartienas and
he and fifty OF his followers were put TO
the sword.
Even before we acquire possession OF a
single Cuban harbor il would not be diff
cult for US 10 land on The island more
guns ard cartridges for the insurgents
than they could carry To the field; and one
OF the FIRST things 10 do would be 70 put
Gomez and Garcia In a position to give
as NEST effective cooperation On land
Spsin's efforts TO control Cuha's coast
line ard prevent the introduction into
the island Of anything she chose 10 ex-
clsIse began many years before the pres-
ent war ard have always hesn ridiculous
Is futile The fiibusisring THAT has sup
piled Gonsex. Garcia and Maceo with sup
plies OF munitions has been a mere baga-
teals compared with the colossal snug
Cling that went every month fer many
years after the official abolition Of the
slave trade In is-s. Spain had agreed
with the ether powers TO pat an sad 10
slave stealing aud slave trading but in
spite Of the penaittsa siecreezi Tor these
crimes from thirty 10 sixty shiploaas Of
negroes we're smoEgled into Cuba every
year. The Spanish officials made A
great show OK vigilance. but could not or
did not prevent the landing OF about
so Msa slaves in Cubs after all the civilized