The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-15
ARMY OFFICERS ARE ANGRY.
Restless Under the Delay In Begfn-
ming HOstflities.

ming HOsttlities.
Today is the 18th of April, exactly tV p
months from the day on which the
Maine was blown up in Havana har-
bor
1t is probable that nowhere else Is
the disgust at the failure of America
| to act by force of arms so strong as IL
| is among the Army and Navy ofhcers.
They are fretting under the delay and
talking more and more savagely OF the
advantage that every day brings to
Spain.
Several weeks ago there was crit
icism of the Administration for stand
ing idly by, talking diplomacy while
Spain built her ships and got them IN
readiness to strike. when the whole
matter went to Congress then was
relieved feeling, and preparations were
pushed forward with redoubled energy.
Now the Navy and Army are blaming
Congress for what they consider equai
| slowness and lack of patriotism with
| less shadow of cause.
/ 1t is asserted thatC party politics is
responsible for so much or the delay
and personal politics, the desire to
make a good impression at home, Tor
| the remainder. The efforts of the Ad-
| mnistration senator's ,are not counted
| of much Importance.
An officer of the Navy who was par
| ticularly bitter in This private converse
| tons two weeks ago against the
| diplomacy of the Administration had
this to say this morning of the rela-
| tive situations of Spain and the United
| States with regard to further delay:
| When the Maine was blown up the
| United States Navy was very nearly
| as strong as IL is now. SPANS navy
since that time has been increased by
| several formidable ships, either bought
or completed at her yards
| LAS the two navies were two months
| ago today the war must have been
| short and most disastrous from the
| first to Spain. BY this time it would
| have been over. the Spanish navy a
| thing of the past and SPANS posses
| sions in this hemisphere gone forever
| Now the fight may be prolonged and
| disastrous TO both sides. 1t VIII very
| likely cost both sides more than II II
been fought Immediately.
| America cannot now win without a
bloody and costly war if Spain cares Ia
use her strength The first battle fought
| may go TO Spain.
Spain at the first had several ships
| i'm her yards. If we had declared wal
then the fight would have been ovel
! before they were completed. In adj
| dition to that she would have beer
barred out by the neutrality laws from
purchasing ships.
| ''One of the other great advantages
that Spain has secured has been IN the
planning Of her campaign The United
States has done nothing except put {
feet at Hampton Roads and augmen
the already unwieldy one at Key West
Spain has put every available hghtlni
ship in her navy on the other side o
the Atlantic at one point practically
This has been done in the carrying
out of a well-considered and Nerl
| shrewd plan of attack
| Il do not believe there will be an!
great show of defense. Cuba will b.
given UP at the first shot. There will b
enough play at defense 10 keep the he,
West fleet busy as long as possible
and that is all Meanwhile there will b
some bold and brilliant offensiv
! strokes. The Spanish are daring an
almost foolhardy fighters. The grea
| fleet will appear somewhere on tn
| coast some morning and play havo
for a time. The flying squadron is in
tended 10 repeI this very attack. L
| may and it may not do il successfully
The feeling is betting bitterer ever
day in Spain against America We ar
now not only blamed for desiring I
rob her of her territory, but the Ad
ministration is accused of shdd
diplomacy and double dealing to placat
the people. our entire position
anomalous in the eyes of Spain. Som
Of the other European diplomats ar
equally at a loss TO understand us.