The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-16

W York Tribune.

All that can nov be done with reason
and with honor TO prevent war. Il being
done in vigorous preparation for nationsl
defence. But & war should come it
might be well that the country, and es-
pscially the business world, should know
what results are 10 be expected We're
Spanish fleet even now on its way TO at
tack our ports there would be ground for
less apprehension than some timid speeu-
lators have shown by their action. Most
of the important ports on the Atlantic
eoas. and on the Gulf are so far defended,
in the judgment of competent officers,
that no serious harm could be expected
from any such fleet as Spain can spare
for distant service. Few details of such
defences have been made public, but il IS
known that the situation has been won
derfnily changed within a few years. aud
is now changed every hour. and ifthe
Spanish attaehe Sobral, who recently
went home 20 use what he had learned Of
American fertilization, gives his govern
rnent accurate information il will hardly
send hostile fleet to either of the i'm
portant Atlantic ports, unless it is ready
10 have that fleet destroyed in an effort to
infiict some temporary damage. But
there are other considerations of import
ance, which may have an influence for
peace
The greater part of the United States
navy is within a few hours of Havana
The two Spanish vessels there would
hardly venture out until powerfully re-
inforeed, and would be soon penned up
in that harbor by greatly superior fleet
Other Spanish harbors where adequate
coal supplies could be taken on this side
the ocean are in such position that they
could be readily watched or blockaded.
Ports of neutral powers would not be
open TO furnish supplies to belligerents.
Any vessel entering a port to take on
sup ply of uel would be liable to be
caught there in the act of loading, by
superior force warned by private dis
patches to this country. The problem of
supplying the Spanish fleet in American
waters, three thousand miles from home,
long enough to enable it to do any serious
harm without becoming pOwerless and
helpless for want of fuel would not be
simple one. But Spain is hardly pre-
pared to throw away a feet in the effort
to do some harm to one or more towns of
minor importance.
Spain would have to choose at the start
between an effective defence of Havana
aud some other important ports or per
manent abandonment Of Cuba and Porto
Rico. To defend them would require
about all the force that Spain can spare
that is fit for service three thousand mics
from home. Not one harbor is so defend
ed by modern fOrtiiicatiOns rs to be safe
if attacked by strong naval force. But
a Spanish navy, if divided mp in an fort
to defend numerous points, would be at
the mercy of a concentrated fleet directed
! from Key West. The conditions seem TO
make it necessary for the Spanish to hold
a large part of their naval force for the
protection of one or two ports where
adequate supplies could be furnished.
The fact that seN eral vessels, all faster
than any fighting ship Spain possesses,
! including one cruiser strong enough TO
fight any, might be organized into iiy-
ing squadron for the purpose of reaching
Spanish ports and preventing the ship
meut of supplies by merchant vessels
would also have bearing on the possible
result Such a squadron would compel
Spain TO keep at home much larger
naval force than ours, because il. would
| have to protect sevar.s ports at once.
Spain has no coast defence vessels of the
monitor type. such as the Terror, which
is held capable of making this harbor ex-
tremely dangerous for any warship, how
ever heavily armed. Finally, if lighting
ever comes, modern war is a matter of
money, mechanics and science. This
country can command money, and leads
the world in invention, construction and
! handling of machinery and electrical de-
vices. II is not too much to say that the
intelligence and skill of American me
chanics would count for more than the
mere size of guns in any conflict with
| Spain. For that nation is one of the least
developed in the use of modern nachin-
cry or in the body of trained and skilled
mechanics who are capable OF using such
machinery with most effect. Nor has the
course Of Spain in Cuba been such as to
attract the aid Of bright and well-trained
meR from other countries.