Washington sentinel., 1898-05-28

lished" war policy TO tight land
battles in Cuba all summer long!
Now, no one acquainted with
the facts Of Mr. McKinley's posi-
ton can fail to give him sincere
respect. He has gone into this
war with conscientious scruples |
against it. He is a civilian, unia-
miliar with military and naval
matters. He is surrounded by
civilians, all Of them originally and
strenuously against war. He has
a weak Cabinet of civilians. He
has a lawyer at the head Of the
Navy Department, a lumber
dealer at the head Of the War De-
partment.
All these adverse elements must
make it extremely hard for him, to
form correct military judgments,
must add enormously 20 the bur-
den OF his anxieties. 1t is easy to
understand why he has made and
is making a kind hearted war.
1t may not be kind hearted, but
it is certainly necessary to try to
tell Mr.. Mckinley just what the
people are saying about his policy.
There is the most striking con-
trast between his preparations and
his present policy. In preparation
for war he and his assistants ad-
mirably sustained the traditional
American character. They were
all vigo-, all energy. In the con-
duct Of the war there have been
vacillation and languor
The first announced policv was
the famous gigantic Cuban feeding
scheme. This was abandoned, re.
adopted, abandoned again, and
after many halts and changes a
| policy of peaceful blockade was
substituted for it.
Famine was substituted for feed
ing.
Then the land invasion was an
nounced. 1t has been reannounced
from Washington almost every
day since April z5. when the first
call for troops was Issue]. Each
day il is set for to morrow or the
day after, or next week at the latest.
Again, there was the case OF poor
Schley, tied up in Hampton Roads
with steam up for nearly month
and Washington promising his
sailing orders every day.
Again, there was the matter of
the Cape Verd fleet. 1t left St.
Vincent on April 29, and everyone
knew that if it came over it would
make Tor the nearest neutral port
to get coal and news. The obvi-
Gus duty was to spend the ten or
eleven days which the fleet must
consume in crossing in first taking
Porto Rico, and second, setting a
trap at Martinique. No move was
made until FIVE days after Cervera
left. Then Sampson by stretching
his orders bombarded Porto Rico.
But his orders were so kind
hearted" that he could not finish
his good work. And as nothing
had been done to meet the Spanish
arrivals at Martinique and give
them a suitable welcome, they
coaled and began their clever game
OF dodPe without being disturbed.
And further, ever since their arri-
val the whole American navy in
the West Indies has been busying
itself with them and with nothing
else.
Sixty cats, great and small, Civ
ing their undivided attention to
four Spanish rats and three Span.
ish mice!
Finally, there is the policy to-
ward Dewey. When Dewey sailed
for Manila it was the obvious duty
of the Administration to prepare
to back him up. But nothing, alb
solutelY nothing, was done in this
direction until May 8-seven days
after Dewey had wiped out the
Spanish fleet!
And then what was donep Why,
languid preparations were made
to send lot oftroops seven thou
sand miles to the Philippine Islands.
That is. preparations we're made
TO prolong the war instead OF to
shorten it, And this in the face OF
the fact that the quickC st and only
really effective way to help Dewey
was to take Porto Rico, lombard
the Notifications Of Havana, she'll
the city itself, and so strike down
the Spaniards that they would in
stantly and eagerly sue tor peace.
All these matters show how
fixed is Mr.. McKinley's idea that
this war shall be a long war. But
all together are not so significant
as his resolve to change the war