Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-20
WHO WILL FIRE FIRST?
Naval Officers Speculate On the Block
ade of Havana.
IT DEPENDS ON GENERAL BLANC0
Captain Genera! Has Rece:ved.Defi-
mite Orders From Spain.
FLEET ANXIOUS FOR ACTION

Special From staff Corr, spondcnt
KEY WEST, Fla, April 20.-The officers
of the squadron are hoping that when the
ultir,atum to Spain expires rot an hour
will be lost in getting their warships under
way for Cuban waters. Intimations re-
ccived from Washington tave been to the
effect that that is what is expected from
them, and the fleet is in readiness
This morning the talk has been mainly of
what constitutes a peaceful blockade and
of how long such a condition might last.
Said one officer: Il only know of one peace
full blockade in the history of naval war
fare during this century. that was when
the English fleet blockaded Greece. 1t was
peaceful enough until Turkish ships APP
peared in those waters and gave the Eng
lish vessels lively engagement
Something like this may happen off Ha-
vana. The shore batteries at Havana are
extensive and they have plenty of aminuni-
ton. For weeks the men who man these
guns have been receiving instructions how
to handle them and have been engaged in
practice
Orders to Gen. EluncO.
A month ago, when the Sagasta ministry
sent word to Blanco to prepare for war 1t
was officially intimated in Havana that
this instruction carried with it discretion
to defending the city by aggressive tao
tics in the use Of the means under his con-
t1ol
At that time the Spanish naval authori-
ties had probably decided on the policy of
Withdrawing all ships from the vicinity of
Havana instead of risking them against
squadron. Blanco, 1t is stated, had the
power to open fire on the first American
warship which appeared in sight. If Spain
rejects the ultimatum and accepts war he
.nay think this is the best way of defend
ing Havana 1t will be entirely question
of expedlenoy.
If anything is to be gained by more time,
then the shore batteries will remain quiet,
" hile the first stages Of a peaceful block
ade are entered upon by the American fleet.
That may open way for the surrender
of the city without bombardment and with
out even firing a shell. But it would be
unsafe for Captain Sampson TO proceed un-
der this assumption and to expose the ships
of his command to the danger of such a
mistake.
Batteries May Open Fire.
1t is at least an even probability
that when the fleet appears in Cuban
by Blanco to open fire with a view of keep
ing them from creeping in too close to
shore.
A bombardment Of the city proper by the
fleet would not necessarily follow because
the silencing of the two largest batteries
might be accomplished without a single
shell being dropped into the main portion
of the town. When the two great batter
les are sienccd Havana is taken in a naval
sense, though 1t may not be yielded
by Blanco until smaller batteries are re-
duced The population is not likely to suf-
fer much if the bornbardment merely con-
sists in reducing the batteries. The hills
offer a refuge and they lie close to Havana.
They know the range Of danger and can
be depended on to get out of it. Quick ac-
ticn will be mere merciful to them than
a long drawn out peaceful blockade with
the suffering that must come from shut
ting off food supplies. PEPPER.