The sun., 1898-02-27
IN PEACE TIME, PREPARE! |!
PREPARATION ON POSSIBLY THE
EVE OF VAR.
The Army nnd Navy RousinF Themselves After
Thirty Wears OF Rcpoac-.A vigorous Rs-
nunkeninE-stendJ,s says tho t.oysrnment.

WAsIIINGToS Feb 2B.-As the signs OF war
grow darker over tho Cuban horizon. public mon
of all shades OF opinion arc becoming cooler
and calmer. but not less determined. Every
ono understands that the country is face to face
with the stern contingencies OF war. While
there is no shrinking from the responsibilities
of the situation the dominating feeling Is that
inhammatory speech and hasty action are
altogether out OF place. While fiery feeling
permeatcs Congress. IL Is held in checl1await-
ing executive action. Tho President having SO
large n share Of the responsibility resting upon
him, 1t is deemed just to him that his plans
should not be broken in upon by exciting d. debate
or resolutions, and that war should not be
forccdif peace with honor can be maintained.
There is almost universal support for the posi-
tion that It is tho part of wisdom, even II every.
thing pointed in the direction of design, to treat
the Maine disaster before the public as acci.
dent until ndisputablc evidence to the contrary
is found. This is regarded fair to Spain. just
to ourselves, and as manifcsting degree of
dignity which must commend our course to the
nations
At the same time, ordinary prudence. and the
commonest regard for tho interests of the coun.
try demand that behind this veil OF selfrestraint
and self-possession every possible preparation
should go forward for such steps as may be nee
essary in case the present widespread convic-
tion that tho Maine wns destroyed by hostile
hands shall be sustained by the pending inquiry.
Thus the situation, conciscly stated, seems to
be this: There will be no public move on the
part of the Administration until the facts are
asccrtained and officially promulgated. Tho
theory Of accident will be accepted until clearly
disproved, but in the meantime every prepara-
tion which prudence dictates will go forward
with unabated energy, as il the official report
had already made 1t clear that the Maine was
destroyed by premeditation.
Those who are Qucs tioning the accuracy of re-
ports Of apparent warlike preparations along
our whole eastern coast and characterizing
them as sensational, ought to BIO able to under
stand. upon the slightest reflection, that under
the grave surrounding circumstances the
most sensational statement which could bo
made would DO declaration that the
Government is doing nothing. 1t would
even be sensational to insist that the
authorities were content with anything less
than the utmost efforts which could be put
forth in tho direction Of preparation. Active
efforts are everywhere in progress to bring
about tho greatest possible degree OF readiness
with the means at hand. 1t cannot be affirmed
with too great emphasis that no present aspect
Of the pending Spanish situation. nor any that
Is fe to arise 70 possible S opening Of
his advisers. In WDtd. every thing Is being
done that would be done il it were regarded
as certain t hat war was finally to result from
the Maine n fair.
Those who have been most impatient for
radical action on the part of the President are
beginning. to compr ehend the importance OF
every days delay. Each ono means adequate
protection Pro Of some hitherto exposed point. BY
pcned that guns. gun carriages, mortars and am
munitiop for them all were just approaching
> Of spring work. when tho Maine incident oc.
CURED: As result safety viii be rapidly Sc.
all of this work would have been done during the
season. but Il would of course, have progressed
Unquestionably within the next ten days
every ship and monitor and every available en-.
gin, Eine OF harbor defence will be in the position
defence. And. 1t should be repeated. none OF
this work is because war Is now regarded as
either certain or imminent. but because the
conditions are such will not excuse o failure
to make every prepeTation for war.
erly belonging to the present situation were the
only points demanding consideration, the task
OF the President and those 3 aiding him In these
when the immediate duties of the State Depart
ment. and the thought necessary in Treasury
clearer idea will be obtained OF the varied and
perplexng duties which tho situation imposes.
pared to address Spain mpon all questions which
tho results OF the pending inquiry at Havana
dors and Ministers to ali courts must have full
information and instructions. The questions Of
revenue and loans arc. OF necessity. intimately
associated with every step In war preparations.
They could not be ignored at this juncture.
There arc questions OF land forces. of existing
supplies for land and naval expeditions OF
transports. OF the militia, and the Naval Re-
both OF our new guns and monitors; Of planning
Immediate campaigns, perhaps OF landing forces
IN Cuba: in short OF the almost countless sub;
Jecte which are inseparablY connected with and
which will demand immediate settlement in
case hostile demonstration Is forced upon us
hNr fhn ID M ifNrt tN..N
While the resources for waGing war are
abundant. many years have passed since such
suddenly arisen. But every moment is being
utilized with an energy and wise direction
1t does not follow that these mdi
simply show that Il trouble comes. it win lind find
tho best attainnble state OF preparation. 1t
may be accepted that these and all similar ques-
tiors are now in the hands OF capable experts.
nation will at once become known.
Such advance inquiries and studios as are now
mand on Spain. instant action will follow 1t is
not conceivable that time will be allowed after
s1. such demand as may be decided upon: to enable
with troops to reach Cuba The policy OF tho
Administration would undoubtedly be to strike
and most effective blow which could be dealt
As to dealing effectively with the Spanish
there IL no want of absolute confidence on the
part OF our naval officers. Tho present effective
lorce OF thc spanish army IN cuba Is reported
to he about 10000. This Is a well.urmed force
having modern breechloadng rifles. 1t is not
well disciplined. but Is held 10 he u courageous
body. Tho great weakness of the Spanish occu-
patton is in the question OF supplies Our Con.
suls, report that it has frequently happened
that both officers and soldiers of tho regular
Spanish Army have begged food from our con
sulates. With the few HORRORS closed by our
ships through which alone food can reach tho
troops. the problem of dealing with these land
forces would he greatly simplfed.
1t will be understood readily that the destruc-
n nj liz tad nj inv alvin
most important elements Qucst ions quite apart
from those raised in the Presidents message. |
For tho moment these have been laid aside and
the present question as 10 whether tho United
States has been attacked by the wanton dc.
struction of one OF It's ships and the murder OF
the crew has taken their place. Questions OF al.
tonOmy and its failure, of unciyized war. of In.
human starvation, of millions of damage To our
commercial interests, of her millions expended
in patrollng our COASTS to intercept flibustcrs-
all these must wait uuOn the determination of
the still grhvcr question which may bo involved
in the destruction of our hattleship. If IL shall
be established that the Maine was accidentally
destroyed. then the questions pending before the
calamity 10 that ship would bo revived. That
hey rpgpiyiup EpnaTntn tFpnt 10 Ia hot