The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-24
The Messerwer.
THE SUN OF 1T.

I1dRO ana LuS WOO0S dIC AuiA "a Gill;.
1t is conceded that the Spaniards will
fight well. Hot work is ahead. 1t is
favorably reported as to the good con-
duct of the Cubans who have been
armed by the Americans. They show
dash and courage
That is a most abominabIe story as
to the Spanish destruction OF the
brave men under Hobson with their
leader. If true it not only reveals a
deep d~epravity, of brutality on the
part of the Spaniards, but it will call
for severest retaliation. In fact the
war will degenerate into butchery
without any quarter granted. We
can hardly persuade ourselves that the
awful story has any basis in fact.
1t appears. that two of the American
destroyed in Santiago harbor by
mines. 1t would have been a tremen-
dous blow to our navy and would have
furnished much encouragement to the
watchful, cunning enemy. Our navy is
too small as it is, and if two battle
ships were lost without corresponding
damage to the enemy it would be most
Geplorable.
The tax now in Washington is for a
third call for troops. If they can be
cared for properly and we'll armed it
might be we'll to call out $4,000 addi-
tional forces. 1t is reported hat our
army of Cuban invasion is too small.
Without pretending to any wal wis
dom or of seeing beyond the present,
weeks G the Messenger urged that
an army of not less than SO, 900 should
be sent to Cuba, with a reserve of not
less han 125, 900 men. This was said
before the Manila army had been de-
Veloped into the size called fOr-more
00Othan 10000 men, Or an invasion of
Porto Rico had been thought of. The
report nOW is that the expeditions to
Manila, Cuba and Porto Rico will be
vigorously pressed. The third expedi-
ton will leave for Manila on next
Thursday if it can be got ready.
Reports unfavOrable to the Cubans
have been made from time to time.
But it is apparent that they are prov
ing active and serviceable. They read
lily n dashingly cooperate with the
Americans and have beyond ques-
ton rendered effective assistance al
ready, and after General Skaters lit
tie army is landed we may expect the
insurgents to prove helpful and reli-
able allies. That the Cuban force IS
much smaller than it vas held to be
for a long time is certain, but prob |
ably there are still in the field $4,000 or
20, 900 of the men who have, given so
81 overwhelmingly greater, for the
last forty months. The Spaniards
with their great force have been un-
able to suppress the rebellion and
to squelch and destroy the insurgent
forces. OF course 5000 men could not
drive III 200, 000. But they did
keep within limits. The New York
Times takes a favorable view of the
operations of the Cubans, and says
this which is pertinent:
Z "The reasons why the insurgents |
have not thus far been more service
able to us are the same reasons why |
they could not expel the Spaniards
by their own unaided efforts. What
they could do was to make the inter- |
dor of the island u%ntenable for the in
Naders, and his they did. They were
not strong enough to hold and keep
open a port, and arms and ammuni-
Eion could have been supplied to them.
only at a considerable risk, even If
They had been able to pay for them.
1.-The Spaniards held the seaports but
They held nothing else. The insur-
gents could subsist upon the country
and make it difficult and dangerous for
the Spaniards to penetrate the inter-
6or or to leave the coast line and the
trochas. More han that could lot be
done without "sea power"
; With Is, 900 or 10000 Americans to
NGlp 'uCLA, dlu ShO AhAS 90 w
cooperate with the united forces of in
Nasion and occupation It may be hop
ed that brilliant results will follow
o If only one town is to be cap
tured, the efforts made will not be
Important as to results. An army large
enough to smite the Spaniards n
where looks to us as the special thing
needed. Occupancy alone of a little
corner will not bring big results. The
Cubans know every province and will
be capital guides in invasion as well
las fair helps in the pinch Of war. 1t
6s thought that as many Cubans will
cooperate with General Skaters force
as he commands. Probably so, till both
combined numerically will lot amount