The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-13
HON WAR Would END
Naval Officers Compare the
Strength of the Navies
OF AMERICA AND SPAIN
But One Result, Whether the
Time Be Long or Short.

conceded to be an unfortunate certainty
it is interesting to speculate upon its pro-
gress and its probable results; the rela-
tive fighting capacity OF the Spanish and
! American sailors and navies; the wars
! supposed duration and the manner of its
beginning and its probable progress. Up
on these features the opinions of exper-
fenced men are most valuable. The New
York Herald presents the opinion of seve-
raj naval officers and others whose views
will command attention and be entitled to
| credence.
Captain O'Neil, chief of the bureau of
ordnance, navy department, was not in
clined to talk just now upon this SER
ious subject. Il consider it an uncertain
matter" said he, speaking guardedly.
Nobody can tell how this thing will be-
gin or how it will turn out. 1 would not
hazard guess. It depends on the condi-
ton existing when war begins-granted
that war is TO come-and still more upon
conditions that may arise. L do not think
that the war will start with sudden de-
cisive battle. The Spaniards are apt to lie
DdlCh anu AulOC 10 ~ N4iC as Ir9I e IL
by any chance there should be any odium
attached to the war they wish US to bear
the blame of bringing it on.
81 think the war will open, not by any
specific declaration, but by some overt
act.
Undoubtedly our navy and our men are
superior to theirs. Our men are specially
superior. They are better trained, they
have finer staying qualities, they are of a
superior race. Spain has been a great
country, but she has long been retrograd-
ing. We have been continually progress
sing. The Anglo-Saxon is superior to the
Spaniard. There can be no doubt of the
ultimate outcome of the war.
IF by any seemingly impossible chance
our navy were swept off the seas, we
would build another and continue the
fighting to final victory while few ser
ious reverses would put them out Of the
conflict"
Rear Admiral Ramsay, retired, regard
ed war as an event too serious for passing
discussion. Said he: ~ perfer not to talk
about it. Harm is done by speculation.
We cannot tell how long our final vic
tory might be delayed. We thought our
last war would be of very short duration.
Yet very lively fighting was kept up for
four years. 1t is not well to underesti-
mate your enemy"
I found Paymaster Barton, retired Of
ficer of the navy, this evening in a rather
communicative mood concerning the COM
ing war. His opinion summarized was
that the war would probably be short,
sharp and decisive and that he would be
surprised if it lasted mora than three to
six months.
AZ was in Havana during our late war"
he said, ''at a time when a number of
Spanish ships were floating in the harbor.
They all had high sounding names. I re-
member the Numantia, the Arepelis,
Queen Isabella, the Ever Faithful City of
Saragossa-think of a battleship with a
name like that-and others of like titles
Their officers were SNOWY fellows, but
they did not strike me as good for rough
usage. Nearly all the engineers of their
ships were Scotchmen-even spoke the
Scotch dialect.
Now. the point of this is that it is not
fattering to Spanish institutions of naval
learning that they had to get Scotch en-
gineers and other foreign machinists. At
this time they seemed poorly prepared for
fighting. What have they done in late
years to improve their preparations?
Very little that I know of, While the in
tricacies of ship machinery and ship man.
agement have grown wonderfully. The
complications of a modern battleship are
bewiIderng.
Their sailors are not the equal of ours
in training. or in natural ability, or in
tenacity of purpose. They cannot begin
to match US as fighters"
1T is hard to predict how the war will
turn out but don't expect it to last more
than three months, and I shall be greatly
surprised if fighting continues at the end
of six months.
How it viii begin or proceed I do not
know, but should be perfectly willing to
see the whole fleets Of the two nations
lined up for battle and see them fight at
a signal l am sure that our boys would
give good accounts of themselves. If the
war should begin so that we could catch
them slngly We could destroy them efTec-
tually. l don't fear their torpedo boats as
much as most people do. Our rapid fire
guns can bore right drought those boats.
The result? Of course We would first
free Cuba. Then I fancy we would take
possession of Porto Rico. We would take
in the Canaries, and likewise the Philip
pines. and perhaps turn the Philippines
over to Japan. She is anxious for thom.
We would probably so on Up into the
Balearic Isles and free them from Spanish
oppression. We would hardly be content
until we had swept the Spanish flag from
the Western seas.
yes. don't doubt that the war is com
ing. II must come unless Spain backs
squarely down, and Spain can't do that
because it would involve the dissolution Of
the home government Our boys around
Key West and everywhere are eager for
the fray. They only await The word and
they are ready 70 go"
At the home of one OF the nigh officials
of the navy I found several officers Just
a pleasant dinner. As I entered
I heard the host say: IF We get this
thing closed up the insurgents or our
hands and a treaty Of peace signed with
in q year We VIII he mighty lucky"
WHILE UNCLE SAM DELAYED !
spain Slipped ia and Bought Two
Cruisers Away
New York. April I2-ReEardirE the /