The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-04-25

NOT NOW FOR HAVANA.


Civil war the military campaigns were
conducted by the newspaper reporters,
editors and the jingoes. Their cry was
"On to RICHMOND" and at last the mill
itary genius of General Scott was over
persuaded and the Federal army got as
far as Bull Run; thence to run home
again.
There is no definition for the news
paper reporter and editor any more
than for the air we breathe, but the
lingo" everywhere and always is a
"phool."
Now the war cry is, "On to Havana"
1t is senseless cry.
The real and only objective at pres
ent for the military power of the
United States is the Spanish navy. If
the United States navy can slick" Qet
us use plain SPECIFY the Spanish navy,
it is all up with Spain, Cuba, Porto
Rico, the Philippine Islands, the Can
airy Islands-peace-all you want-can
be had for the asking.
On the other hand, if the Spanish
navy can lick" the United States navy
1t is all up with the United States, for
the time being, and long, costly and
bloody war will follow.
You do not believe it? Well, you will
agree with me, that if the Spanish
navy can whip the United States navy
it will be all up with any United States
army encamped on the Island of Cuba.
Any such army can operate there only
upon condition that the United States
navy can destroy the Spanish navy.
The initiative Of the conflict, 1t being
therefore merely naval, have been
Disguised with the jingoistic, precipi-
tate character of our campaign.
1t is a fundamental rule that given
three men of equal strength, two of
them can click the third, without
much injury to the two, but with death
| to the third.
The Napoleonic maxim is, that the
| art of war consists in having a stronger
force in any given fight or at the key
point Of the fight, than your adversary
| Now the Spanish navy, on paper at
| least, is very formidable. 1t is folly to
assume that the Spanish navy is not
Will II appears W pe' III soins re-
| spects-in torpedo boat destroyers-lt Is
| far and away superior to our navy.
That navy Is now concentrated. Ii
can be launched against any point on
| the Atlantic coast.
Our navy is not even assembled, for
| the really great battleship, the Oregon
| is to-day probably near MonteVideo OF
Rio, at least four Thousand miles from
| Key west and out OF coal and In some
| danger from a Spanish torpedo boat.
Any decisive battle between the two
| naVies, with the Oregon out, Is folly
| for us. Our present effort should BIZ
| to make sure of safe junction of the
Oregon with the rest of the fleet.
\ Again, 1t should be our policy to in
| vite, and force, so far as possible, the
| Spanish navy to come over here and
fight our navy on this side of the At
| lantic.
But If that navy does come over tc
| fight us it should find our navy united
| How could it be invited If the Spanish
navy should strike at Newport News
or through Long Island Sound, while
the bulk or great portion of our navy
| would be engaged in maintaining Oh
| supporting an army corps on the Isle
| de Cuba" and permanent blockade OF
| that island.
! Spain shows far more military gen.
! Jus than we are showing. She cannot
| defend Porto Rico or Cuba with hel
|