Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-16
INVASION OF SPAIN.
CASTlLIANS FEAR ATTACK IN THEIR
HOME POSSESSIONS.

Have to Be Carried Into Europe-Difi-
Guilty of Transporting Troops to Spain.
From the elaborate preparations
which Spain is making to defend the
coasts of the peninsula, as well as the
Balearic islands, it would appear that
she has information to the effect that
her war with the United States will
not be confined to this side of the At.
lantic, but that it will eventually ex-
tend to the old world. In fact there is
every reason to believe that the Span
iards anticipate a possibility of an
American descent upon their coasts and
an invasion of their kingdom. Dis
patches recently received from Wash
ington tend to confirm this belief, for,
after losing Cuba and Puerto Rico, and
possibly the Philippines, if the Spaniards
refuse to cSne to terms and persist in
declining to accept peace, it will be
necessary for the United States to cross
the ocean in order to bring the struggle
to conclusion.
ly appear preferable to permitting the
conflict to drag on for years, necessitat-
ing the maintenance of both the army
| and the navy on q war footing, with
| American maritime commerce and trade
in constant danger of attack by Spanish
| warships or privateers.
For the United States to invade Spain
/ with no oh cf b~in . l,a 30
a conclusion would prove an even still
more aydGous task than for Spain to eli.
| Their defend Cuba or to make any de-
scent Gu the American coast. Whereas
Spain has in the island Of Cuba and in
Puerto Rico bases of supplies for any
attack on the United States, the United
| States has nothing of the kind ON the
| European side OF the Atlantic, and
would, of course, have to begin by cap
turing the Canaries for the parpose, us
ing them fer recalling, reproyisioning
and reiittins the feet before actually at
tempting to effect q landing of Ameri-
can troops IN Spanish shores.
| Without expiating hero on the enor-
nous difficulties which an American
army would have to face in Spain itself,
where every peasant is more or less &C
oustOmed to guerrilla warfare, 1t may
safely be taken for granted that step of
this kind on the part Of the United
States would lead TO serious imbroglio
between the latter and some Of the con-
tinental powers of Europe. 1t is well
known that both France and Austria
would have brought about an armed
Intervention in behalf of Spain in Amer
lean waters had they been able to get
Germany, Italy, Russia or England to
Join them. Bat the proposal was not
only curtly rejected by England, but
likewise frcwned upon by Russia, while
Germany and Italy, after hesitating for
q time, cold shouldered the proposal.
Should, however, the war extend to
Europe ard American troops invade
Spain itself it is extremely probable
that France, either with or without the
cooperation Of the other continental
powers, would support her neighbor in
repelling American invasion of Europe
Only England and possibly Russia
would be likely to express their disap-
prevail Of Franco taking part in the
fray. Continental Europe, in fact, is as
strongly opposed to the United States
becoming factor in old world politics
as is this country averse to European
powers becoming factors not merely in
American politics, but anywhere in the
western hemisphere, and it is possible
that even ether countries besides France,
perhaps Austria aud Germany, might
be disposed to assist Spain in her effort
to prevent Uncle Sam from obtaining a
foothold in the old world
l see from Washington dispatches that
the naval officers there regard the pur-
chase CT 50 largo c number CT merchant
vessels and ocean liners by the govern.
ment as an indication that they arc
destined for the conveyance of Ameri.
can troops to Spain. If the United
States authorities have any such inten-
ton, they will have to acquire far
greater number of vessels than they
have got now. When in 1882 England
sent small army of 90, 600 men to
Egypt, she was compelled to employ so
many merchant steamers and liners for
the purpose as to temporarily throw
out of gear all the ordinary steamship
services. In fact, it will tax to the ut
most the shipping resources now at the
disposal of the government to convey
an army Of 90, 600 or 80, 600 men to Gu
BE-, which is only few hours distant
from the American coast.
Itwould be ridiculous to attempt any
invasion of Spain without at least a
force Of 100, 200 men, and these, with
their supplies, their artillery, their
horses and mules and all tho impedi.
menta Of a great army, would necessi
tate the use Of several hundred large
transports and liners for their convey
ance across the Atlantic, always bear
ing in mind that the landing on the enc.
my's coast must be made in force and
not in driblets if it is to prove success
full.
That the Spaniards are firmly con.
WINGED of the likelihood of an American
invasion of their possessions in Eurons
is. as have stated above, evident from
the treasure and troops which they are
devoting TO the defense of the coast and