The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-23

most naval critic in Europe. Mr.. Will
son said:
II have made considerable study of the
| war prospects between the United States
and Spain, and though some people, Sir
] Charles Dixie, for instance, who are well
| informed, seem to make a great point Of
the Spanish navy possessing so many tor
! pedo boats, in my opinion this is but a
temporary advantage. Torpedo boats in
action only last very short time, and
their crews are soon worn out.
Il think that operations will most likely
take place on the Cuban coast, for the
reason that the Spaniards must hold that
island. for if they should lose it they
would be deprived of their best basis.
Suppose, for instance, they took their
cruisers to lombard Boston, Philadel-
phia and Baltimore, the Americans would
run their battle ships right into Cuba,
thereby covering the landing of their ex-
petition. The Americans, on the other
hand, must keep their eyes on the Span
ish torpedo f1otilla, which has to be reck-
oned with.
LAS. regards the probable duration of
the war, that is very difficult question.
Spain decisively beaten, I should say that
she would then withdraw from Cuba, as
she would know that any further resis-
lance would be hopeless.
'Supposing the big battle would be in
decisive, the war would probably last a
long time, because both fleets would have
to put in for repairs to their ships, and
neither side has great facilities for re-
pairs, Which is most important point
Tt would be weeks before they could go
to sea again.
AS tothe relatives trength Of the Spanish
and American navies, Mr. Wilson said:
The Americans have the advantage in
their four big battle ships, not counting
the Texas, which is obsolete and in infer
Tor condition. The Spanirds, on the other
hand, have the advantage in speed. owing
to their five armored cruisers ready for
sea; but it IS very difficult to believe that
the five armored cruisers would have the
slightest chance against four good battle
ships Spain has, of course, one battle
ship, the Pelayo, but she Is of very in
ferior type, and a, comparatively old ship.
Then comes the very important ques-
ton of crews. There Spain has the great
advantage-on paper at any rate-because
she has large reserves and America has
practically none. Further, the seamen of
the United States navy are of so many
nationa1ities that they can hardly be
called national force. Judging from his
tory, however, they will fight well, though
their efficiency will be lowered by the
fact Of their necessarily being so large a
number of raw recruits.
LAS regards the officers of the Ameri-
can navy, they are undoubtedly first rate,
perhaps the best in the world, thoroughly
scientific, and at the same time practi-
cal, though it must be remarked that they
have ths fault of being too old.
The great defect of the Spanish navy
Is the want of honest organization. There |
IS so much corruption, as I have been
told, among Spanish officers. that target |
practice is never performed at all. though |
ammunition is entered as expended. This |
may be true or false, but it shows what |
their own nation believes.
Another point, think, is worthy Of |
notice-they have never won at sea /
against Anglo-Saxons; the British walked |
through their fleets in 171 and 1877: again .
in the Napoleonic struggle the great EN-
perOr gave orders to the French fleet that |
two Spanish vessels were to be counted /
as equal to one French ship.
Little or nothing is known Of the Span
sh naval leaders outside of Spanish Off
cial circles, but they are well educated
men.
The Spanish navy has one submarine
torpedo boat, the Peral. which was re-
ported at one time to be a pretty good
boat, but has since proved TO be a failure
There is talk OF another boat being pro-
ected or building. but I have not much
.aith in original experiments emanaung
rom Spanish navy yards"