The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-22
STRENGTH Of Spanish NAVY
THE FIGHTING SHIPS OF KING AL
FONsO IN RATTLE ARRAY.
Daniel 4. Sickles. EXT. ). Mintster
10 Spain-Compariaen Of the Fleets
Of This Country and OF spain.

General Daniel Sick.es. who was United
states minister TO Spain during the last
Cuban war. has been reported since the
present trouble began as speaking In dis
paraxemsnt of the Spanish navy. To a
press representative who asked him for a
dennite statement OF his views the general
said.
ANY rating OF the Spanish navy as Il
stood at the opening OF this war or even
up 70 year or so ago Is out al date to-
DAY. l am not an expert in naval mat
tiers and speak only from observation
and experience among fighting men.
The naval armament OF Spain has inn
proved even within the past year and
taken as a who.e Is today quite the
squa. OF our own in point of efficiency.
ships and guns. Spain has been en-
ergeticaliy at work the past year in an
ticipation of combat. and her activity
has been successful 70 the extent of her
means. All her resources have been de-
voted TO that. She has not paid her
army. but has spent the money on her
navy. II is better than 1t has been for
years. Her torpedo fleet should not be
dangerous In actual combat except at
night or during fog. Long range guns
could neutralize torpedo boats With fair
chance to sight them.
AS for battleships. We have three SUI
perior TO any three Spain has and may
coon have four. / mean the Indiana,
Iowa and Massachusetts and the Oregon
when she arrives In ships OF the second
c.sss. of which the vizcaya is one, I do
not think our superiority is SO marked
In torpedo boats and torpedo boat de-
Stroyers Spain has the advantage at pres
ent.
Frankly. then. making due allowance,
the two nayies are a c.ose match so far
as vesse.s go. But look for a display OF
superiority in officers, in discipline. IN APP
pointments and equipments on to part
OF our navy: hence We may adj
vantage in close lighting. a hip
of war is an intricate and .ted
engine. and for efficiency Ia 49,, cool
headed Anglo-Saxons are better than hot
plooded. excitable Latins. England al
ways shows superiority in this respect
over warm-blooded nations.
Americans have all the natural quail
tiles of the English and are also good
navigators, We should not underrate our
foe. The Spaniards are brave and plucky,
but hot-blooded. In the confusion of bat
tie they will not equal our seamen. The
machinery OF modern ship Is soon out
OF order In heated action. The turrets
get fast. the wrong ammunition Is
brought forward. the steering apparatus
gets disabled. and high state OF disci-
pline, OF GOODNESS and sef-possession il
ed from a European source that Spain
has retained English and Scotch en-
gineers TO handle her ships Of war; sS4sl,
IT the two fleets come together. look
for the destruction OF half OF each OF
them. They'll fight sure and Il will not
be at Ave miles or three miles or one
mile. but they will come to close action
A few shofs from the heavy guns will
destroy vessel.
SPANS one disadvantage on this side
the ocean VIII be lack OF docks to go
into for repairs and refitting. She has
but the one at Havana at best. and X
that is lost to her side she cart refit with
out crossing the Atlantic. In the matter
OF construction some OF the earlier ships
OF both navies will prove faulty. Men
cannot fight In close. cramped quarters
This was shown during our war. espe-
cia.ly In the cases OF the Confederate
ironclads Tennessee and Atlanta
Naval engagements between the United
States and Spain mean horrible aanguin-
airy encounters such as the world has
never seen. The result OF a sea battle
will be annihilation for one and possibly
the almost complete destruction OF the
other antagonist. II Is quite possible that
a fight at sea will end in the sinking of
Doth warshipr
The Spaniards believe they can easily
defeat us. but that Is the arrogance OF
ignorance. Their officers have 10 per cent.
less efficiency than ours, their sailors are
neither better fighters nor nayigators
their gunners are about the poorest OF
all so called civilized nations, and while
III apparent armament they compare
favorabiy with the United States their
guns have not the caliber OF Uncle Sans
death dealing iron and steel tubes. and
consequently there Is nothing probiemat-
teal in the equation.
A comparison OF the fleets OF this cotn-
try and of Spain is OF paramount import
snce to enable one 10 accurately forecast
the result OF Spano- American conflict
AS the two navies are constituted al
present. without taking into consideration
the vessels that comprise the reserve OF
both countries and the vessels that are
not on the fighting strength OF cur navy,
but which patriotism would speedily
place there. the following is significant
The new warships Spain is reported TO
have recently purchased and those we
have bought are not included In the ap-
pended list, and neither does II include
those which are now beisg built:
SPAIN.
disbursement