The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-11
WAR PROBABILITIES.
Continued from First Page.

the President called into conference and
took into his confidence the leaders of
Senate and House. The conference yes
terday has never been surpassed in in
terest and Importance by any ever held
in Washington, unless indeed the cele-
brated Wormley Hotel conference in the
winter of 1876-77-at which it was de-
cided that there should be no opposition
TO the Inauguration of Hayes as Presi-
dent-be given the preference in these re-
spects. 1t developed at the meeting that
the Navy Department has closed con-
tracts for coal sufficient to meet its
wants in the event of hostilities. It was
also definitely learned that arrangements
have been completed for calling into the
service of the nation of the auxiliary
force of merchant and pleasure vessels,
which will constitute the secondary
navy in case of war.
x.*
More significant than these, however,
is the fact which came out at the confer
ence that the Administration has con-
sumated arrangements for options on
eight vessels of war now nearing compile
ton in foreign ship yards. These were
completed within the past three days by
the President and Secretary Long. These
vessels are in yards on the Clyde and at
German ports. They are of light draft
and of great speed, with ample coal ca
pacity for moderately long voyages. Any
one of them would be match for any
Spanish vessel except her first class bat
tIeships.
In addition this Government, after the
conference referred to, secured options
on four battleships building in this coun-
try for Japan, two at the Cramps and
two at San Francisco. At least two of
them could be put in commission within
four months and the others shortly
thereafter.
Yet another vessel that can be pro-
cured for immediate use is the famous
dynamite cruiser Nictheroy, which be-
longs to Brazil. This is one of the only
two dynamite ships in the world, the
other being our own Vesuvius. Spain
has already tried to buy the Nictheroy,
but the Brazilian Government has not
forgotten the friendship the United
States displayed for Brazil during the re-
volt led by Admiral Di Cana. COM
mander of the Brazilian Navy. The re-
volt failed. partly through the moral
support extended the Brazilian Govern
ment by the United States. 1t is not sur
prising therefore that the great republic
of the south should act as it has done in
authorizing an agent to offer the Mic
theroy to the United States. The proffer
is likely to be accepted.
MARCH 9.-Now that the report that
Spain has bought adtional warships has
been apparently confirmed, the question
is, Where did the Spanish governm emit
get the money? 1t is known that SPANS
credit is exhausted and that ship
builders will not sell that govern
ment vessels except for spot cash. II
is believed that it is French money
with which Spain has made these pur-
chases. The bulk of the Spanish bonds
are held in France. Desperate as SPANS
situation is, it might be worse, and SC
far as the holders of Spanish bonds are
concerned, it will be worse if Cuba is
lost to Spain, for the Cuban revenues are
pledged for the payment of the loans
with which Spain has been carrying on
her prolonged and unsuccessful attempt
to re-establish her authority over all
parts of the island. These French hold
ers of Spanish bonds have sent good
money after bad in the hope of saving
themselves from total loss. They do not
want the present government of Spain
overthrown, as it assuredly would be il
Cuba were lost in any other way than
through the intervention of some power
full government. The only government
that can intervene is the United States
To lose Cuba through war with the
United States would be soothing to
Spanish pride and would probably en-
able the present government to continue
in power, or rather the present dynasty
to continue its reign in the peninsula.
Dynastic reasons compel Spain to prefer
to lose Cuba after a war with the United
States to letting it go without such a
war. The Carlists stand ready to rise in
revolt whenever the time seems right to
do 80. There are other elements in
Spain that are dangerous to the continu-
ance of the Alfonsan dynasty. The loss
of Cuba by any means offensive to the
pride of the Spanish people would be the
signal for general rising against Alton
SO. The Alfonsan dynasty may not be
able to retain power even if Cuba be lost
through war with the United States,
but it would be driven from Spain in
short order if the island were lost with
out such war. 1t is this that makes
war seem inevitable.
KS
It does not follow that, because a lot
French holders of Spanish bonds are
willing to send good money after Dad in
the bare hope of saving it all, the
French government will join Spain in a
war with the United States. In fact it
is altogether improbable that France
will indulge in any such risky business
With all their gasconade the French are
thrifty people. They lent Spain money
because they could get high rate of in
terest on it. They advance other sums
l, d.