davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

would attempt to force it's way through the Golden Gate.
 But, unfortunately, though the har- bor is so we'll protected, the city is ab- solutely defenseleSS. Between Point Lobos and Lake Merced there is space of ocean commanded by 20 heavy gun. There is nothing to prevent an enemy anchoring there and bombarding the city at it's leisure; the range of mod ern weapons is more than equal to the task.
 Those who saw Paris shortly after the Prussian siege will realize the dam age which can be done, even by shells of moderate caliber. The Prussians, during the bombardment fired over ten thousand shells daily into Paris, and of these at least five hundred went right into the heart of the city. Great buildings crumbled into ruins, streets were torn up and fires were of con- Stant occurrence
 Since then the science Of high ex- plosives has made marked progress, and what happened to Paris in 1871 would be slight compared to the dam age which a few ten or twelve-inch guns, firing high explosives, could erect on San Francisco.
 Even so far back as 1882, when the British fleet bombarded Alexandria, the damage done was very severe, though the fire was directed only at the fortif1- ca tions The city suffered terribly, large portion of it was burned, and the demoralizing ruin resulted in the down fall of Arabi Pasha.
 The case of San Francisco would be many times worse, not only because explosives of much greater force would he used. but because the Spanish fire would be directed solely at the most vital parts of the city.
 Unlike a warship, city cannot move around and alter it's range. Noth- ing but a seismic convulsion can shift 1t from the spot whereon it is placed. Therefore, to an enemy possessed Of modern charts, it's range is known to a foot. The Spaniards, from the ocean beach. would never catch glimpse of San Francisco, but none the less their shells would fly unerringly over the sandhills, and drop right in the center of the city, say along the line of Mar ket street, from the City Hall to the ferries. And every building struck by one of these half-ton shells, charged with high explosives, would be doomed the loss of human life would be awful and the whole business of the city would be suspended.
 There is little fear, however, that such a bombardment would take place. The city, supposing the Spaniards to hold the winning cards, would pay rather than suffer- The bank vaults and the city treasury, the strong rooms of the Mint and the safe deposits would be rif1ed of their contents, and San Francisco would be saved.
 It would be costly escape, however, especially when we consider how easily
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

the West The American and Spanish squadron may meet near Manila any day, and upon this battle the fate of the Philippines and, in lesser degree, of the Pacific Coast cities depends.
 There Is no doubt that Commodore Dewey will be able to easily dispose of the Spaniards, but if such an improb- able disaster as an American defeat should come about, then the whole ocean would be at the mercy of the Spanish cruisers.
 The ships of the United States would disappear from the face of the Pacific, and a descent in force would undoubt- edly be made on this coast. Nothing but the coast defense squadron would stand between San Francisco and de- struction. Fortunately, there are some strong vessels available for the purpose = the monitors Mon terey and Monadnock, the protected ed cruisers Baltimore, Philadelphia and Charleston, to say nothing of host of mosquito craft which would prove in- valuable for scouting purposes.
 This fleet would be more than match for the strongest squadron Spain could send here, and only in the event of their being drawn off by feint could this city suffer.
 If the Spanish fleet was strong
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

wide waters of the Pacific. Sooner or later, they must fall into the hands of an American cruiser, and hence, at all hazards, the Spaniards would decline a pitched battle
 In the meantime, while this strategic play was going on, San Francisco would be threatened. A couple of fast cruisers, heavily armed, would bring up one morning just outside the Golden Gate, opposite the ocean beach. A formal demand would be made on the Mayor of the city for idemnity-pen- alty for non-c compliance, bombardment and destruction of the town.
 The sum demanded might be any thing the enemy fancied; ten, twenty. or even fifty million dollars. The Mint alone, as our figures show, could fur nish the latter sum with ease. The city would be given but scant notice, prob ably twelve hours, to furnish the money if not the ball would open.
 What of our splendid Qualifications, our heavy guns dispersed about the entrance to the Golden Gate? What of the submarine mine fields about which we have heard so much?
 They are all there and ready to pro tect the harbor against any hostile ves- sel. San Francisco bay is practically impregnable. No fleet, however strong,
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

would be formed into regiments, brt- gades and divisions under officers or sufficient rank in the regular army. Most of the volunteers, when they reached the rendezvous, would be found to be imperfectly clothed and shod, and also, in many cases. entirely ignorant of the simplest features of the life of a soldier in the field. These men must be taught to know what is ex- pected of them on the march and in camp, and what they must do to pre- serve their health.
 With an army in the field hardly one day in thirty is given to fighting. The other twenty-nine days of waiting must be lived through in order that every thing may be in readiness for the one day of work. It is not the one day of fighting which turns the hair Of an officer gray, but the twenty-ntne days of anxiety for his men, the supply of their food and clothing, and the main tenance of health and good spirits among them. Men do not fight well in battle on empty stomachs, and yet the ordinary soldier rarely takes care Of the provisions which are issued to him for forced marches. He eats them all at once or throws them away on &C., count of their weight. and at the end of a long. days march he is hungry, with nothing to appease his hunger. Then comes the trouble. He does not reason; he grumbles and expects to be supplied win more.
 In outfitting an army other things must be looked to besides the men. Horses and mules for carting, artillery and transport service have to be sup piled and trained. A cavalry horse diff fers in weight and general character from one which is to serve with the ar tillery, and as much knowledge is re- quired in choosing animals for military service as Tn selecting men,
 Medical officers also have to be con- missioned and instructed in the pecu- liar duties which will devolve upon them, and supplies of drugs, medicines, hospital equipment and tents must be arranged for. Where many new and unseasoned men are gathered there is sure to be more or less call for the services of a doctor All that pertains to the medical department of the army is. under the charge of the surgeon gen. eral. The drugs are all supplied by contract.
 Soldiers expect to be paid, no matter how much they are fired by patriotism, so the paymaster general and the off, cers of his department must. through reol1isition on the treasurer of the limited States, see that the private Sol- dier receives his SIS every month.
 In short, every department and every officer fulfills certain duties. and it is on the prompt and accurate adjustment of all the wheels of, the complicated ma. chine that it goes and performs the duties for which 1t was created.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

OOO,0OO. In their vaults these banks store away some. $2500, 900 in cash. the property of poor, thrifty depositors,. to whom it's loss would be a terrible blow.
 Then there is the city treasury. The Auditors report shows a balance on hand of*a million and a half dollars, and at times this. sum may rise to over two million dollars
 Next, the Mint, which must undoubt- edly be: the objective point of any treasure seekers. The authorities here are not communicative; they guard Uncle Sam's financial secrets too well. As high official pointed out to me. 1t Is not considered advisable to issue a detailed statement of the treasure hid- den in the vaults of this great build ing. But he admitted that there were some fifty million dollars in silver In million or two in gold waiting for coin age. Thus the Mint is worth any where from fifty to sixty million dol lars to any one. who can take 1t.
 The secrets of the various safe de- posit. concerns are still more carefully concealed. No one. even the official in charge, knows the amount of the treasure hidden in these burglar and fire proof vaults. But it must be many millions, for men of substance are wont to keep bonds there, and their destruc- ton would be almost a national calam- ity.
 Many people are familiar with the United States Subtreasury on Commer- cial street. On the outside it Is a plain, unpretentious business-lke building, but within the display of gold and sil- yer is amazing. It is a perfect treas ure house. Behind the counters men are to be seen all day counting gold eagles and silver dollars. The big strong room at the back is crammed with coin. Here is the official state ment of the money stored in these vaults on Tuesday last:
 Currency .................S 715,9O3 % Gold coin ....................1 15,S14, ,015 50 Silver coin ................-. 26,024 ,659 go Nickel and bronze coins.... 12,7S3 q
 Total ...............s s42, ,567 ,361 61
 If 1t were necessary one could con- tinue at great length this list of the city's wealth. It is needless, however, to tell the world that this city is a rich one Perhaps the best criterion of the volume of business done may be found in the monthly returns of the San Francisco clearing house. Every business transaction, except those on a nurely cash basis, finds it's way through this institution, and last year the monthly clearances ranged all the way from fifty-five to seventy five mil- lion dollars
 It would be absurd to assume that all these riches are at the present mos ment in any practical danger. The factors in the situation are many. and Uncle Sans ships would
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

enough it would. undoubtedly make a false attack on one. of the Puget Sound cities, or perhaps on San Diego, to the south. The coast squadron would issue forth to battle, and the Spaniards might easily by a pretended flight or other subterfuge, keep the fleet occu- pied for a few days.
 The policy of the Spaniards would be to avoid a decisive action, for their dis tance from their base of supplies would make the result disastrous. Even if the Spanish vessels were not captured, they would be damaged to an extent which would render it impossible for them to find their way home across the
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

NOULD San Francisco be bom- barded by our Spanish foe?
 It is a question which affects ;X/ / vitalIy every dweller in the great ". center of California commerce, f63r if a blow Is ever struck at this. coast oi,r city will obviously have to bear the brunt of it. Nowhere on this side of the. Pacific is to be found such an aggregation of wealth, such richly stocked warehouses, such treasure-filled bank vaults.
 Already it is rumored that the Span ia.rds are going to send gunboats to:the Alaskan coast to prey upon the gold vessels coming out of the KIordike. We may take this ruInor for what it is worth; probably it is but an idle ship mans tale. The Spaniards, just at present. have their hands full in Man fla. and cannot afford to detach ships for such distant service. But one thing is certain, however. Should the dons ever reach this coast with a hostile ex- petition all the gold ever brought out of Alaska would be a mere bagatelle compared to the ransom which could be wrung from defenseless San Fran cisco.
 few figures will illustrate the vast amount of wealth concentrated in this. city. The assessed value of personal property in the city. last year was $82,- 201.SS1, While the real estate roll showed the enormous total of S275, ,3S4,- 295. Of course landed property could not be much injured by lombard ment. but its owners would have to bear their share of the burden laid on the city.
 Still more important as holding wealth In the most accessible of all forms, are the banks and the United States Mint and the sub-treasury Ihere are sixteen comnercial banks in San franclSco, having a total paid LID capital or oyer $I6,000,00 The premises owned by these hanks are alone worth nearly $2,OO0,000, and they have depos- fled with them .sufns which: range ac- cerding to the state'of the money mar ket, from $30,000,00G to. $4O 900 000 0f course the banks. do not keen all +bis money In their strong rooms: rnIIcb of 1t goes out again on loan Buf thew aI- ways have on hand at least S10 0on ooo In solid cash, and at times the. arnoi1rt rises to $14,000,0 900: To be exact. on tbe B1st of last July the total amonn+ ns solid cash on hand was .$12. .296. .579 Hera is a splendid prize for any national rohN sber who may have the power to take if
 This is by no means all. We must not omit the savings banks. There are ten of these institutions doing business here, and owning bank premises and ntber real estate worth more than s5.-
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

have to get. very badly beaten In sev- eral oceans before the Dons could make their raid on San Francisco. =,
 It is not to our Notifications, but to our navy, the first line of defense, that we must look for protection. And, strangely enough just now, it. is our fleet in Eastern waters, though SO many thousand miles away, which is really guarding San Francisco. As long as our ships predominate in the Philippines, so long will the Spaniards be helpless to do. harm, to the Pacific Coast. It is quite possible, indeed, that the first great naval battle of the war will be fought in the East and not in
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

the whole danger could. be avoided. A few heavy gun batteries, planted among the sandhills between Point Lobos and Lake Merced, would com. pletely protect the city Their cost would be but thousands, while the cost of a bombardment to San Francisco would run into millions. It is the one weak point in our system of defense, and it should be seen to.
 J. F. ROSE-SOLEY..
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

 %m% mw
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

N GUILD San Francisco be bom- :. barded by our Spanish foe?
 ::- It is a question which affects
 vi+aIIv every dweller in the great
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01

 TIE HRMY

r T IS related of Won Moltke that when awakened in the dead of night with the announcement that France l had declared war against Germany.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-16
MILITARY CARNIVAL.
United States Troops Win Applause at
MadisOn-Square Garden.

NEW YORK, March 15.-The second
night of the military carnival at Madison
square Garden was marked by good attend
ance, three or four thousand people passing
through the gates The programme in
cluded exhibitions by the First Naval Bat
talon, United States Cavalry detachment
flcm West Point and Troop c. N. G., S. N
Y, and the troop of the Sixth United States
Cavalry. from Fort Myer, Virginia.
AS soon as the athletic portion of the pro-
gramme had been run off the arena was
cleared for the soldiers, and Immediately
the enthusiasm broke loose in earnest.
When the United States cavalry detach-
ment from West Point, led by Capt. James
Parker, dashed into the arena the crowd
sent UP a shout that fairly raised the roof
For fifteen minutes the cavalrymen showed
the excited spectators tricks about Cossack
riding. After this they gave pretty sabre
exercise. Capt Louis Wendelrs First Bat
terry succeeded Captain Parker'S riders in a
platoon drill. Troop G came in for a large
share of applause as it galloped into the
arena for an exhibition of bareback riding
and mounted athletics. Last of all came
Captain Cheever and the troopers of the
Sixth United States Cavalry. The exhibi-
tion of Cossack riding, throwing horses and
hurdle jumping given by the regulars
was magnificent, and the applause as the
various evolutions were executed was deaf
ening
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-16
More Pacific Outlook,

LONDON, March 16.-The Standard, re-
viewing editorially all aspects of the Cuban
affair this morning, says: 1T will be a
genuine triumph of craftsmanship if Presi-
dent Mckinley, who has hitherto shown
conspicuous caution and judgment, can sue
ceed in avoiding war"
Another dispatch from Madrid says: 1T
is asserted in well-informed circles that
the negotiations in New York as to the COM
mercial treaty are paving the way for an
understanding between the Cuban govern
ment and the insurgents on grounds to be
submitted for approval to the home govern
ment The aspect of affairs has undergone
complete change, and there is a strong
feeling in favor of peace between the>United
States and Spain"
1t is alleged that knowledge of the fore
going led Mr.. Curzon, parliamentary Sec
retary for the British Foreign Office, to de-
cline yesterday to reply to the questions
put by Michael Davitt, anti-Parnellite mem
Der for South Mayo, as to whether Great
Britain had offered to mediate.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-16
WITHOUT WAR.
Concluded from First Page.)

printed in a paper owned by it's writer, and
addressed to the newspaper men of Madrid
On the margin of the paper appear written
several Spanish words. which may be trans
lated: This is for your honor. educated
pig" AS the paper was addressed to Senator
Mason, it seems that this characterization
was meant for him by the writer. Following
is the text of the letter, freely translated:
There is no Spaniard, not one, who has
not felt his cheeks burn as he read what
an ignoble Yankee senator has permitted
himself to say of our country in the open
Parliament of America
I'VE do not know the thoughts of our pa
triotic countrymen who are in that country
and whose fateS are in the hands of this
grotesque fellow who calls himself Mason,
and who is either one of those crazy ruf-
fans, who everywhere abounds, or else q
worthless coward, who scolds like woman
without having the valor to conduct himself
like a man.
For our part, we desire to make to him
a worthy response, for we are Spaniards,
and Spain, is bound up in our affections,
without which life is worth little to us,
much less, indeed, than is that of the pigs
of the American Republic.
1.-THE nasty person in question declared
that he would not sit at the table with a
Spaniard without keeping his hand on his
purse.
This is quite credible: The purse is the
noble power Of which Mason and his col
leagues boast, as they do of their explosive
balls and dynamite. But they are proud of
nothing that becomes a gentleman, nothing
which is reverenced by the sons of coun-
try whose history is something more than
a record of the hutchery of hogs and whose
flag is something more than the dollar.
This fool believes that all Spain is cog
infant of the loss of the Maine, because we
do not demean ourselves by making denials.
But we have no need to attack save by the
sword nor to disgrace ourselves in making
ready for a combat, and anyhow, it makes
little difference whether the Maine was
sunk by shameful carelessness goes
down before the rain of our projectileS.
Here l make this declaration which my
heart dictates To your honor, oh, degraded
Mason / direct this so modest challenge.
Bring out your honor's fat bulk from be-
hind the skirts of your honors mother, or
those of your honor'S wife and daughters,
If your honor has any. Come out of your
honor's sty pass over the distance, and if
your honor wants to see how a Spaniard
fights do not delay. Choose any place on
the continent of Europe that pleases your
honor, and your honor shall see that the
modest of journalists will meet your honor
there, and will show your honor what your
honor has never learned, and will teach
your honor that here aboundS that pride
that your and your honors friends so lack.
But enough, low-mouthed senator. Here
is my challenge, sworn to and sent to your
honored CD hands. I ask that you will name
the day on which the point of my sword
may be tried.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-16
"OOM PAUL" ANGRY.
He Accuses the TranvaaPs Former
Chief Justice of FaIsehOOd.

PRETORIA, March ia widespread
sensation has been caused by the declara-
ton of former Chief Justice Kotz, while ad-
dressing deputation on Sunday, that when
the case of Mr.. Brown, the American en-
gineer with claims against the Transvaal
government pending in the courts, was
awaiting judgment, subsequently given in
his favor, President Kruger, in an interview
with him Judge Kotz), threatened him
with dismissal unless he obeyed the Volks-
raad resolution. At special session of the
Volksraad to-day, President Kruger de-
clared Judge Kotz's statement false, and
said: 1.-The devil himself never spoke a
greater lie."
Having given his version of the matter
President Kruger, turning to the political
situation, said that people were jealous of
the country's independence and the prog
ress it was making. No one knew what was
going to happen, but they must stand to-
gether. The government, he declared had
replied to the British dispatch and the re-
ply would be published directly. He knew
that it had reached the hands of Mr.. Cham
berlain. President Kruger concluded his
speech eXclaiming: I'VE shall show that
we are a government" cloud cheers) His
governments reply denies the British
claims of SuZerainty.
Judge Kotze has published his notes sup
porting his statement as to the interview
regards himself as still the chief justice
of the Supreme Court until properly tried.
He will first appeal to the people for re-
dress, and if that fails him, he says, he
quarters and to appeal to the Queens gov
ernment.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-16
Consul General Osborne Replies and
Refers to the Proposed Alliance
with Great Britain.
SLAUGHTER OF INSURGENTS
HUNDREDS OF PHILIPPINE NATIVES
KILLED BY sPANIARDS.
Quarrel Between President Kruger,
of the Transvaal Republic, and
Former Chief Justice KOtze.

LONDON, March l6.-The Honorable Ar
tillery Company of London gave a banquet
last night to Messrs.f Hedges, Ferris and
Lewis, of the Boston Honorable Artillery
Company. the Earl of Denbigh presiding.
Among the guests were Consul General Os-
borne, Vice and Deputy Consul General
Wesacotta and Lieutenant Colwell, naval
attache of the United States embassy.
Lord Denbigh, in toasting ''the President
of the United States, equally honored in
England and America said: 1--WE all deep
ly sympathize with America in the sad ma
tional disaster that befell the Maine. Pres
ident Mckinley, cool and level-headed, is
not likely to run the country into any un-
necessary danger, while, as an honorable
ruler, he must be jealous of the honor of
his country"
Consul General Osborne, who received an
ovation rising to reply to the toast, re-
ferred to the talk of an Anglo-American all
lance and testified tc the friendship exist
ing between the two countries. He said he
did not believe that either needed protec-
ton, unless against a combination of pow
ers, but, should that combination ever oc-
cur, he was confident that the protection
would be generously given" Mr.. Osborne
expressed the opinion that the strained re-
lations between the United States and
Spain would soon be removed.
After the customary loyal toast Lord
Denbigh proposed 1.-The Massachusetts,
Honorable Artillery Company" Messrs
Hedges, Ferris and Lewis responded, Mr.
Hedges expressing the desire of the Ameri-
can Honorable Artillerymen that some of
the English corps would visit them.
The Daily News, commenting this morn
ing on the speech of Consul General Os-
borne says: What we have done in this
country is to give public notice that the
combinations of European powers where
with the United States are daily threatened
on the continent does not include and never
will include our kindred selves. Blood
shows itself thicker than water in little
neighborly reminders of that sort, and the
occasion really does not demand more. But
if it demand more, more would be said. and
we firmly believe all that the Americans
happened to consider needful would also be
done"