The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-05
INVASION OF SPAIN.
CASTlLlANs FEAR ATTACK IN THEIR
HOME POSSESSIONS.

Precautions 20 0uard the Coasts and Ad- !
jsosnt Isiands- Reasons why wsr Nay.
Have to he Carried Into Europe-Dim-
Guilty Of Transporting Troops to Spain.
From the elaborate preparations
which Spain Is making to defend the
coasts of the peninsula, as we'll a. the
Balearic islands, 1t would appear that
she has information to the effect that
her war with the United States will
not be confined TO this side of the At
lantic, but that II will eventually ex-
tend to the old world. In fact, there Is
every reason to believe that the Span
iards anticipate possibility of an
American descent upon their coasts and
an invasion of their kingdom. Dis
patches recently received from Wash
ington tend to confirm this belief, for,
after losing Cuba and Puerto Rico, and
possibly the Philippines, If the Spaniards
refuse to come to terms and persist In
declining to accept peace, 1t will be
necessary for the United States to cross
the ocean in order to bring the struggle
to conclusion.
Some such step as this would natural
ly appear preferable to permitting the
conflict to drag on for years, necessitat-
ing the maintenance of both the army
and the navy on war footing, with
American maritime commerce and trade
in constant danger of attack by Spanish
warships or privateers.
For the United States to invade Spain
with the object of bringing the war to
conclusion would prove an even still
more arduous task than for Spain to eli
Their defend Cuba or to make any de-
scent on the American coast. Whereas
Spain has in the island Of Cuba and In
Puerto Rico bases Of supplies for any
attack on the United States the United
States has nothing of the kind on the
European side of the Atlantic, and
would, of course, have to begin by cap
turing the Canaries for the purpose, u.s.
: ing them for recoaling, reprovisionine
, and retitting the feet before actually at
;, tempting to effect landing OF Ameri'
can troops ON Spanish shores.
Without expiating here on the enor'
) nous difficulties which an American
, army would have to face in Spain itself
:, where every peasant is more or less ac
70 customed to guerrilla warfare, 1t may
- safely be taken for granted that step O
: this kind on the part OF the Onlte'
States would lead to serious imbrogh
20 between the latter and some OF the con
u tinental powers of Europe. 1t Is wei
40 would have brought about an arme
~ intervention in behalf of Spain in Amer
~ lean waters had they been able to &c
Germany, Italy, Russia or England I
w ioin them. But the proposal was ne
" only CURLY rejected by England, br
likewise frowned upon by Russia, Will
w Germany and Italy, after hesitating IL
a time, cold shouldered the proposal.
u III Should, however, the war extend
ke Enrope and American troops inva6
TO- Spain itself it is extremely probap
III; that France, either with or without q
) co.operation of the other continent
ier powers, would support her neighbor
ne renelling American invasion OF Europ
me Only England and possibly Russ
hu would be likely to express their disa
Try proval of France taking part in G.
us fray. Continental Europe, IN TACT, Is
the strongly opposed to the United stat
my beooming factor in old world politi
'n nu as is this country averse to Europe
lor powers becoming factors not merely
American politics, but anywhere III I
Inc western hemisphere, and it is possil
ow that even other countries besides Franc
nal nerbaps Austria aud Germany, mig
he disposed to assist Spain in her eff'
iue to prevent Uncle Sam from Obtaining
ino foothold in the old world. =,
the see from Washington dispatches Il
ing the naval officers there regard the p
chase of SO large number OF merch'
ives vessels and ocean liners by the COVE
lace ment as an indication that they
oca- destined for the conveyance OF Anne
rue can troops to Spain. II the Uni
rel States authorities have any such Int
ton. they will have to acquire
greater number of vessels than u
have got now. When in 1882 Engi'
aw- sent a small army Of O,OOO mel
med Eovnt. she was compelled to employ
bor- many merchant steamers ana iine,s
liars the purpose as 10 'eni
ison out of gear all the ordinary steams
vain services. In fact, it will tax TO the
did most the shipping resources now at
the disposal of the government to con
ents an army Of 20, 900 or 30, 900 men TO
'um. ba, which is only few hours ois
he from the American coast.
why Itwould be ridiculous to attempt
him invasion of Spain without at ieas
have force of 100. 600 men, and these y
i'd it their supplies. their artillery,
go Of horses and mules and all tho imp
menta of great army, would nee
tate the use of several hundred
transports and liners for their con
pret. anoe across the Atlantic, always
some ing in mind that the landing on the
calls my's coast must be made in force
no is not in driblets If it Is to prove sue
} was full. g..
vater That the Spaniards are hrmiy
WINGED of the likelihood OF an Amer
Invasion of their possessions IN Eu