The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-26
SHOULD DESTROY THEM.
What Experts Think of the Spanish
Elotflli.

FlotilH.
Here is what the Army and Navy Jour-
nal has to say in its current issue about
Spain's torpedo boat squadron. which is
now approaching America from the Ca
nary Islands:
THE Army and Navy Journal was born
in a period of war and inherits the ira
ditions of service. Hence We realize,
much better than others, what war
means, and what responsibility rests up
on those who needlessly provoke it.
These vessels uhe torpedo fiotilla)
should not be suffered 10 cross the At
lantic. The proposition to send them
here is n distinct act of war, and should
be treated as such. We have a perfect
right to strengthen our much-neglected
coast defenses: to buy new ships to re-
place the Maine and to strengthen the
old ones; to purchase and store away
munitions of war, and in all possible
ways TO equip ourselves for battle. Eng
land and France are doing the same;
Russia. Germany and Japan. Why not
we? We have a further right TO gather
ds many vessels as we think proper In
American waters. None of these acts
can be considered acts of aggression
against a friendly power.
Spain has an equal right to do all the
things we have enumerated without pro-
test from MS But to send across the
Atlantic vessels that can serve no pur-
pose except to war upon us Is quite
different matter. They should be STOP
ped AT all hazards. If they cross the
ocean the responsibility for the conse-
quence win rest upon those VINO sho"
themselves too timid for emergencies ana
their responsibility will not be forgotten.
II NAV be logically within the right OF
Spain to send these vessels here put war
does not deal with logic. 1t knows only
facts The law of defense demands that
We should resent an act which the COM
mon sense of the world will justify us IN
treating as a menace TO US.
"Proper vessels should be sent to sea
with sealed orders, under the command oil
the boldest officers we have on our Navy
list-those who have not yet reached the
age of undue caution, whatever that age
i'm a particular instance may be. Their
commanders should be given full power
to act according to their discretion IN
certain contingencies, and they shoulu
have fun assurance from the Admlmstra-
ton that whatever they may do IN the
exercise of this discretion will be ap-
proved
"As fo~ the country. there need be 10
fear. Its patience is already strained TO
the breaking point. and bold action on the
mart Of any Navy officer that leads to sue
cess will write his name beside that CT
Farragut. Cushing and Winslow. Rash
will be the man who dares to face the
storm Of approval that will welcome the
hero home.
..Snain should then be informed that ihe
question of war or peace is with her. ana
that the attempt to re-enforce her squad
ron with vessels designed only Tor an at
tack upon us will be accepted as dec
laration Of war. Leave the rest TO the
officers who sail armed with instructions
TO risk everything to prevent the torpedo
boats from reaching American waters
| At sea these torpedo boats will be COM
| paratively helpless; once across the ocean
| they will be formidable.
"We have no war of aggression TO
wage against Spain. We ask nothing OF
| her that we do not ask in the name OF
universal humanity. Whatever we ASK
| should be asked in a way that Will COM
mand attention, and not In the timid tones
of the suppliant. And, above all, We
! should leave wholly outside of the dis
| cussion the interests of the money chang
ers and the bond sellers. 1t Is with the
great American people that we have 10
deal. and not with Wall Street. The peo-
pie are sound to the core, as VIII be seen
when the rotten shell of selfish ease and
sortid interest is once stripped away.