Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-20
BRITISH OFFICIALS TALK.


New York, April 2O-The impending
war is the sole topic of conversation
here, says the London correspondent of
the World. To whatever complex mo-
tive 1t may be due, the undeniable fact
is that English feeling has been to the
end. dead against war. John Burns last
night said emphatically: Il am firm
ly convinced that even at this eleventh
hour war could be averted If Great
Britain used her influence with the con-
tinental powers to bring pressure
which might be made Irresistible on
Spain 10 grant concessions which
would satisfy America. My sympathies
are with the United States. but / am
totally opposed to war, though can
understand and appreciate the feeling
for II by the American people"
This was the burden OF the comments
generally made, though the other mem
beers OF parliament are averse to further
Interference at either Madrid or Wash
ington.
Sir John Columb, a conservative
member Of parliament and a retired
naval officer. author Of many import
ant works on naval questions, said.
Il am very doubtful of the strategic
knowledge and ability of the Spanish
naval commanders. They are brave men
and good navigators, but l should NOT
be surprised If their strategy proves
entirely defective, as l don't mink they
have had any training.
by latest reports they have locked
up their fleet at Cape Verde, but 1
fancy they have not been quite 50 fool
ish as that, and their ships VIII next
be heard of a good deal westward of
those Islands.
THEY must know that Americas plan
n en- he n IA n nj
tack ON Cuba within twenty-four hours
after the declaration of war"
Are the Canary Islands and Cape
Verde Islands strongly fortiiled2"
They have some modern earthworhs
there, but these should suffice. MS no
admiral would be justified in rslSing
his ships against any modern earth
works armed with moderately good
modern guns. Besides, / have always
suspected that France has a lien on the
Canailes. She has immense financial
interests in Spain for which | am in
clincd to believe the Canaries are Sc
curity.
"a don't believe the United States
navy viii operate so far away as the
Canaries and l can't think 1t would be
good tactics for them to do So"
Capt. Philpots. member Of parlia-
ment and a retired naval officer. who
served with distinction in many parts
of the world, said
at il difficult to form an opinion of
the strategic plans of SPANS naval
commanders.
ION the data available / don't be-
lleve their concentration at Cape Verde
has any other object than awaiting ia
vorable weather 10 convey torpedo
tiotilla across the Atlantic.
1T is very ticklish job to get tor
pedo destroyers across, and We are now
just at the end of the cquinoctial gales.
M . hAll h. .sI .f 90
Cuba one uf these mornings.
81 served IN the West indies and
know cuba, and my opinion Is that by
for the mos; formidable antagonist the
United States Is likely to encounter is
yellow fever
"The efficiency OF the Spanish fleet
Is point I would not like to speak
upon. All can say is that It remains
to ba proved"
william Allan. a member OF parlia-
ment said:
"tInder new conditions naval warfare
the deciding factor will be- in my opin-
ion--not scamanship. but 'steaman-
ship
NAVAL captains who don't thorough
ly understand the machinery of their
ships viii come of badly in future nav
al engagements.
Everyone is interested In naval mat
tiers ard IL awaiting this war with the
keenest curiosity
"The American navy Will give the
first reliable Illustration of working
under conditions Of the highest efiici-
ency of the modern engines of marine
warfare"
Mr.. Dalzlel said last night that he
had handed in notice OF the following
question for Thursday to Arthur Bal
four;
whether he is aware that the tor
pedo gunboat Audaz. the property of
the Spanish government. is now under
going repairs at the docks In Cork, and
whether instructions VIII Immediately
he Issued to the customs authorities
that In the event OF war being declared
before her repairs are completed she
shall be detalnedP'
The British government may be
trusted to take effectual measures to
prevent repetition of the Alabama
affair.