The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-21
A WAR OF "STEAMANSHIP."
WHAT OUR SEA FIGHTS WITH
SPAIN WILL DEVELOP.
British Expert Opinion On the Naval
Conditions and Fighting Qualities
of Yankees and Spaniards.

London, April 20.-Sir John Columb.
conservative member of parliament
and retired naval officer, author of
many Important works on naval cues
tons, said: Il am very doubtful of
the strategic knowledge and ability of
the Spanish naval commanders They
are brave men and good navigators.
but l should not be surprised if their
strategy proves entirely defective, as
| don't think they have had any train
ing.
BY latest reports, they have locked
up their fleet at Cape Verde but 1
fancy they have not been quite so fool
ish as that, and their ships will be next
heard OF good deal westward of those
islands
They must know that Americas
plan of campaign will be to deliver an
attack on Cuba within "a hours after
the declaration of war;
Are the Canary islands and Cape
Verde islands strongly fortified?'
They have some modern earthworks
there, but these should suffice, as no
admiral would be justified in risking
his ships against any modern earth
works armed with moderately good
modern guns. Besides, have always
suspected that France has a lien on
the CanarieS. She has immense finan-
cial interests in Spain, for which l am
inclined to believe the Canaries are Sc
curity.
Il don't believe the United States
navy will operate SO far away as the
Canaries, and 1 can't think it would
be good tactics for them to do So
Captain Philpots, a member of par
lament and a retired naval officer who
served with distinction in many parts
of the world. said: TT is difficult to
form an opinion of the strategic plans
of SPANS naval commanders.
'On the data available, 1 don't be-
lieve their concentration at Cape Verde
has any other object than waiting ia
vorable weather to convey a torpedo
fiotilla across the Atlantic.
1t is very ticklish job to get tor
pedo destroyers across, and we are Just
now at the end of the equinoXial gales.
But l believe they will be heard of off
Cuba one of these mornings.
Il served in the West Indies and 1
know Cuba, and my opinion is that
by far the most formidable antagonist
the United States is likely to encoun-
ter is yellow fever.
THE efficiency of the Spanish fleet
is a point I would not like to speak
upon. All can say is that it remains
to be proved"
William Allan, member of parlia-
ment, SAID:
Under new conditions, naval war
fare will be the deciding factor, in my
opinion-not seamanship. but steam
anship.'
Naval captains who don't thorough
ly understand the machinery of their
ships viii come off badly in future
naval engagements.
Everyone is interested in naval
matters and is awaiting this war with
the keenest curiosity.
The American navy will give the
first reliable illustration of working
under conditions of the highest eff
cheney of the modern engines of marine
warfare"
Mr.. Dalziel said last night that he
had handed in notice of the following
question for Thursday to Arthur Bal
four:
Whether he is aware that the tor
pedo gunboat Audaz, the property of
the Spanish government, is now under
going repairs at the docks in Cork, and
whether instructions will Immediately
be issued to the customs authorities
that in the event of war being declar-
ed before her repairs are completed she
shall be detained?"
The British government may be
trusted to take effectual measures to /
prevent a repetition of the Alabama |
affair