New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-12
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TARGETS FOR WATSON'S Guns.

TARGETS FOR WATSON'S GUNS.
The coast OF Spain is an attractive one TO
an attacking feet. 1t IS not as extensive o!
some five hundred miles as the coast OF |up"
But 1t possesses many more large towns anu
cities, and these are. on the whole, better auapf
ed to bombardment than those or Cuoa' FOR
in the first place. many Of them are fortified rs
Is The custom in the military countries oi r"
rope. and are therefore legitimate objects %
attack; and, in the second place they are gen
orally in exposed situations directly on 'hc
coast and not at the inner ends OF deep, purse
shaped bays. as are those OF CUBA Inc erraH"
Of Commodore WatsOn's fleet Will therefore De-
while in some respects arduous, direct anu
practical one ard yet one invested with more
romantic and picturesque interest than is usual
in our modern wars
The Spanish coast is naturally divided INTO
three parts There is one stretch or hve nun
dred miles at the north and northwest from
France to Portugal fronting on the Bay OF
Blscay and the Atlantic Ocean. second, OF
one hundred and fifty miles 1T the southwest
from Portugal TO Gibraltar, also fronts on the
Atlantic The third, OF eight hundred niles al
the south and cast, from Gibraltar to France
fronts on the Mediterranean Sea. Which OF
these will first be visited by Commodore Wat
son Is not now 10 he revealed. bat any one OF
them will be found well furnished with targets
for both biz guns and small. ON the first
named stretch of coast. for example. Is san
Sebastian the great Spanish watering-placc ana
summer home Of the King and Queen Regent.
with a MORO castle marking II as place
properly to be attacked. The large and r,ch
city OF Bilbao is also fortified Unfortunately,
II lies on a river eight miles inland, and is thus
not as easily accessible as one might wish.
Santapde: and all other places on the Blscay
coast are unfortlded. and so may not suffer
bombardment. though they may he visited. But
when we pass Cape Ortcgal we find Corunna
the naval port of Fcrrol. most attractive place
with a large population, great wealth and COM
Ecrce and, by way Of invitation TO our guns Il
huge arsenal and dockyarl and a lot of forts
Finally. Just above the Portuguese line. Is Niso'
m lmportar; commercial centre, with at least
enough OF fort to justify some tuiIn.naiory
attention.
Comm. down 10 the second division OF the
coast there IS Ayamontc, with fort; scarcely
biz enough for notice. There i NcreS The third
city Of tie kingdom. IN wealth. with Scarc'Iy
defence enough to warrant attack. Rut the
bright particular gem of tids coast is Cadil. the
wears ago n richer one than London itself. It's
situation IS almost Identical with that Of CaviIe,
which suggests that Watson may be found 10
resemble Dewey. The place is strongly forti-
fed and is a great naval station. and is rich In
cllgercn; memories. II is really an idrAi place
for attack. promising plenty OF work 'or all
kinds Of arms and splendid results ~ the cnd
Of the day. Beyond this there i The slightly
fortified town Of Tariff, which might receive
few shells In passing. % encourage TIE Others.
ana then The strait a. Gibraltar j. passed anu
we enter tie Mediterranean
Along this third rcara 81 rolst there are many
rich cities. bu' only two " Thorn a-r ''r'l'l"i'
Perhaps our men may v-lt Ma.a-l ant Al
rcr.a FOR grapes. aIi Alrarf" for ~ 90. nnd
Denia and Valencia FOR oranges. anl Barcelona
for inspection OF SPANS Industrial and COM
merclal capital But they Will probably not
lombard them. for they are all unforiihed
But there Is Cartagena. second only u CadN
rs naval station, with MORO castle AMI
several Other forts; and there Il Tarragona
with Jus, forts enough 10 subject II 20 attack.
Besides those. OF course there arc The Canary
Islands which are now fortified. and which
may well repay a call on the way; and the
Balcarcs also fortified enough FOR attack, but
not enough FOR defence; and there Is Ccuta. on
the Moorish coast, which might make nice
base OF operations for our fleet.
Altogether II Will be strange II Commodore
Watson and his men DO not fall in with some
small chickering's" in which they may gain honor
and advancement. II will be n PITY Of course.
to ravage that interesting and historic coa>t
But the prime and chief pity IS that Spain her
self. by her mad focs. should not merely have
provoked IT, but made 1t necessary. To para.
phrase the legend Of the Garter, EVIL 10 him
who evil does Spain has done evil, and evil
must befall her