Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-02-18
BALANCE OF POWER
 LOST WITH THE MAINE
Span Has More Serviceabie Battieships Than This
 Nation.

Washington. Feb. 16-secretary Long and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt called a consultation in inc forenoon Of all the chiefs of the Navy Department and Several of the officers of high rank not di- rectly attached, like Commodore Schley, president of the Lighthouse Board, who has Q brilliant repu tation as a gallant officer, and is possessed of great discretion. The purpose of these consultations was to secure the best expert testimony as to the probable cause of the dis aster, while at the same time ascer- taining to what extent the naval situation has been affected by the loss of the Maine.
 A good deal of disquiet was ex- hibited when it was shown that the loss of this fine ship had done a good deal to destroy the balance of power, theoretically, between the nayies of Spain and the United States. It now leaves only six serviceable iron-clads. as against seven in the Spanish fleet.
 Every confidence is felt at the de- partment in the commander of the Maine, Captain Sigsbee, and until it is really established otherwise, there is every disposition to charge the accident, if accident it was that destroyed the Maine, to some cause beyond the usual range of human discretion.
 The coast survey steamer Bache, is now lying at Key West. The superintendent of the survey lost no time this morning in inviting Secretary Long to make any use of the vessel in this emergency that he might desire. The invitation was gratefully accepted, and the Bache has been ordered to proceed at once to Havana. with wrecking paraphernalia.
 Congress, while adopting a bellig- erent attitude toward Spain, failed to provide for an increase of the navy, whereas, Spain, threatened with war, has been hastening her ship construction A year and q half ago the Spanish navy had buf three armor-clads in commission, tha Alnairon to oqaendo, the Vizcayo and the lnfanta Maria Teresa; the 1 United States had seven, as follows: the battleships Iowa, Indiana and 1 Massachusetts, the second-class bat ships Maine and Texas and the ar mored cruisers Brooklyn and New York. Since that time Spain has added to her commissioned force, the battleship Pelayo, which has been fitted with new machinery and modern armor and armament; the armored cruiser Carlos V, the ar mored cruiser Cristobal Colon. She is now pushing the rebuilding of the battleship Numancia, which will shortly be ready for commission.
 Within the next few months she will have ready for service two 1000 ton armored cruisers of the most modern type, the Cardinal Cis- neros and the Catalona. During the period named, Congress has re. fused to authorize any additional vessels or to even provide the armor for the battleships Illinois, Alabama and Wisconsin.
 It is evident from the above that the margin of safety, So far as the United States is concerned, has been steadily reduced. Where a year ago this country could have muster ed fleet of battleships superior to that of Spain, today Spain has the advantage of us in point of tonnage equal tc 5000 tons.
 or course, this disparity may be more apparent than real, but that could be proved only in actual com bat
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