The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-23
THE CONFLICT is ON.
War is at hand.

From the moment the treacherou
dered American sailors, it has been in
evitable.
This country has not desired war ano
has sought in every possible way to avol6
ii. but the conditions have all prevented
Il peaceful settlement. There has beer
no rash or unconsidered step taken by
our government. 1t has rather seemed tC
many to be too deliberate. In the hour
of conflict it is pleasant to think that
no precipitate action has brought on the
struggle.
The presence of our war vessels al
Havana effects blockade that is per
fleet. Their presence there at this time
means war. and battle may be ex
pected at any time when SPANS t1otilla
is in the waters of the Gulf. The result
cannot be doubted, but the battle royal
will be looked forward to with anxious
interest. On the sea, while greatly the
superior of our foe, the odds are not so
greatly in our favor as an engagement
on the land where our superior numbers
would tell quickly If our fleet wins a
decisive victory. it will probably end the
struggle. If the victory is not decisive
the struggle may be waged by the SLOW
methods employed by the insurgents IN
Cuba. This is hardly probable. for
Spain is too far from its base of sup
plies to conduct long war.
Our government is proceeding with
every dispatch to be ready to infiict a
telling blow at the first encounter. Wise
ly the plans are kept secret. The large
cities are amply protected by submarine
mines. torpedoes and other approved
methods Of protection against danger
from Spanish invasion. The New York
Herald has recently shown that the in
habitants of the metropolis are in no
danger. The farthest distance a de-
structive missile can be thrown is said
to be seven miles, whereas New York
is twelve miles from the ocean as the
crow flies" There is not adequate pro-
lection at Beaufort and other smaller
cities, and the authorities ought to lose
no time in affording perfect protection
there and elsewhere. The folly of aban-
doning Fort Macon is now apparent
Though abandoned for years, it is COM
paratively small undertaking to put it
fort and Morehead.
Before Il shot has been fired, the man
who knows how everything should be
done is conspicuous. He can tell how
this attack should be commenced, where
that landing should be effected, who
should direct the operations by sea and
by land, and he will soon be ready to
point out the mistakes and blunders of
experienced soldiers and officers of the
navy. This man will hardly go to the
front. He will stay at home and criti-
cize those who put their lives in jeopardy
to defend the country's flag. At the
very threshold of what we believe will be
4 short struggle, we have this advice to
Mr.. Know-It-An: Don't. The men in
command of the army and navy are
among the best trained officers known
to the world. With them war is n
science They were educated at the ex-
eense of the government for just such
rs the present. They have
fought thousand battles on paper.
They have studied warfare from all
standp0ints, and are presumed to know
their business. We believe they can be
trusted to act wisely. They know tn.
whole situation and surroundings, and
act with reference TO a carefully con-
,idered plan Mr.. .KnowIt-All's knowl-
edge is necessarily crude and limited,
and his plan is based upon superficial
knowledge and partial information.
The best service the men who remain
at home can render is TO have faith in
the chosen commanders and uphold by
expressions Of confidence the brave men
who expose themselves to disease, as
well as shot and shell, to serve their
country. They may make mistakes, but
they are not apt TO do so. The very
course Mr.. Know-It-All would regard rs
n blunder will probably turn out to be
the master-stroke of the campaign. In
a great emergency like the present, it
is true Of civilians as well as of soldiers,
Theirs not 10 reason why" but to en-
courage and cheer the men in the ranks
with faith in them and in the result of
their valor.
WHAT 0TuEDc CAV