Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-21
WHO WILL FIRE FIRST?
Naval Officers Speculate On the Block
ade of Havana.
IT DEPENDS ON GENERAL BLANCO
Captain General Has Received Defi-
mite Orders From Spain.
7 II I,vyN y


Special From a Staff Cores pendent
KEY WEST. Fla, April 2o-The officers
of the squadron are hoping that when the
ultimatum to Spain expires not al hour
will be lost in getting their Warah.ps under
way for Cuban waters. lntimatiois re-
ceived from Washington have been to the
fleet that tl.at is what is expected from
them, and the fleet is in readiness.
This morning the talk has been mainly of
what constitutes a peaceful blockade and
of how long such a condition might laSt
Said one officer: Il only know of one pea.e-
full blockade in the history OF naval war
fare during this century, that Was when
the English fleet blockaded Greece. 1t was
peaceful enough until Turkish sE.is ap
peared in those waters and gave the Eng
lish vessels a lively engagement"
Something like this may happen off Ha-
vana. The shore batteries at Havana are
extensive and they have plenty of ammuni-
ton. For weeks the men who man thes
guGs have been receiving instructions how
to handle them and have been engaged il
practice.
Orders to Gen. BlnncO.
A month ago, when the Sagasta ministry
sent word to Blanco to prepare tor war, Ii
was officially intimated in Havana that
this instruction carried with it discretion
as to defending the city by aggressive tao
tics in the use of the means under his con-
uol
1T that time the Spanish naval authori-
ties had probably decided on the policy of
withdrawing all ships from the vicinity of
Havana instead of risking them against
the superior force Of the North Atlantic
squadron. Blanco, 1t is stated, had the
power TO open fire on the first American
warship which appeared in sight. If Spain
rejects the ultima,um and accepts war he
NAV think this is the best way of defend
Ing Havana. 1t will be entirely question
of expedlency.
If anything is to be gained by more time,
then the shore batteries will remain quiet.
" hile the first stages OF a peaceful block
ade are entered upon by the American feet.
That may open way fer the surrender
of the city without bombardmcnt ana with
out even firing u shell. But it would bs
unsafe for Captain Sampson to proceed un-
der this assumption and to expose the ships
of his command to the danger of such
mistake.
Batteries May Open Fire.
1t is at least an even probability
that when the fleet appears in Cuban
waters the shore batteries will be directed
by Blanco to open fire with view of keep
ing them from creeping in too close 10
shore.
bombardment of the city proper by the
fleet would not necessarily follow because
the slencing of the two largest batteries;
might be accomplished without a single
shell being dropped into the main portion
les are sileneed Havana is taken In naval
sense. though it may not be yielded
by Banco until smaller batteries are re-
duced. The population is not likely to suf
fer much # the bombardrent merely cou-
sists in reducing the batteries. The hills
Oi1er a refuge ana tney lie close 10 Havana.
The people have been expecting to fee.
They know the range of danger and can
be depended on to get out of it. Quick &C
ticn will be mere merciful to them than
{, long drawn out peaceful blockade with
the suffering that must come from shut
ting off food supplies. PEPPER
SENATOR EORtlS lSER.S DENIAL,