New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-27
WAR IN EARNEST.

We are now getting down TO business. a nom
military Nation cannot adequately begin great
campaign in day. Nor is II a matter Tor won
derment II It does not for some time appreciate
the magnitude Of the task before II and Put
forth efforts commensurate with The need
thereof In 1861 II will he remembered, the
mistake was made Of Understanding the ex-
tent and duration Of the war. and scmc men
who did not make the mistake. but declared at
the outset what all later found 10 be true. were
looked upon as alarmists II not rs lunatcs. In
the present case no disastrous mistake mas been
made. but Government and people are rapidly
coming to realize how great Is the task before
them and are meeting its requirements with all
the speed compatible with prudence.
The second call for volunteers will put tho
Government In possession Of military force
large enough for home defence and for pushing
the campaign abroad IN all three ways at once
The quota allotted to the Philippines has been
considerably increased. but certainly not to too
great a number There are hints that a second
detachment OF similar size IS to proceed forth
with TO Porto Rico, where the task will be much
lighter than elsewhere. The third and by far
the largest army for foreign service WILL OF
course be that intended for the Invasion OF
Cuba. in which island the hardest work OF all
Is 10 be done. Not only prudence but the most
rudimentary common-sense demands that the
force sent thither shall be strong enough to deal
with the Spanish Army and the volunteers SIN
xle-handed without placing any dependence
upon aid from the insurgents. And the Spanish
Army Is probably nearly II not quite 10000
strong and the volunteers number $4,000 more.
An army able easily to vanquish them on their
own ground must be large and we'll drilled. end
cannot be quickly improvised Those who are
impat,entlv clamoring for instantaneous cen
ouest OF the island are simply demanding hicks
without straw.
The fleets are doing well. The public has not
been abe TO follow or understand all their
manpuvres and has now and then been inclined
70 crIt,cise them adversely 1t Is now apparent
that such criticism was ill-advlsed. At not
single point have the fleets been remiss. They
have safeguarded our coasts, they have main
tanned the blockade OF Cuban ports. they have
done some effective bombardment OF coast de-
fences and they most successfully trapped the
Spanish feet 40 that It must be either captured
or destroyed. None Of these things may have ap-
reared as brilliant or have appealed to the
imagination as forcbly as Admiral Dewey's per-
Torrance at Manila But even Nelson could not
have a Trafalgar every day.
Now It is war In earnest. Army and Navy
will push things The lines Will be drawn
tighter and tighter around every Spanish hold
ing. until at last the flag Of blood and gold IS
crushed down and swept from the hemisphere
It has too long dishonored. 1t will not be all
beer and skittles. There will be some long ana
weary marches, hard battles. perhaps heavy
losses. He reckons I'll who leaves them out OF
war. But these things will not be half az bad
as they would have been had the Government
allowed itself to be stampeded into war before
II was ready, or into undertaking movements
for which It was not prepared. It Is war IN
earnest and the Nation Is In earnest over It, ana
in such case there can be no doubt as TO the
final outcome.