The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-17

\. B.-''The Great Amanda of 1898
is an Imaginative anticipation of histor,
not yet made. But the reader need no
regard it as altogether fanciful, be
cause the strange thing herein narrated
might actually occur. No less an au
thority than Rear Admiral Gherardl
after having the story submitted to him
says:
.'The suggestion is q novel and strik'
ing one. and as IA dernier resort for de
Tense would be worth consideration. Inc
use of vast quantities of blazing OH III
place where a strong current or tue
would carry it in IA desired direction. III
a contracted channel. where vessels
could not get away, would probably DE
disastrous TO the most powerful meet.
Rear Admiral Erben indorseS inns
statement. and Rear Admiral Luce mas
already been quoted as saying that 'Ee
plan afforded an excellent means OF pro
lection TO cities located as are New
York and Philadelphia.
The work of the diplomats was end
cd. More than four months had elapsed
since the destruction of Il United States
shin of war in a Spanish harbor. For
over n month representatives of the two
Governments had been in Paris. engaged
in an attempt to settle by peaceful mean
the differences growing out of that fate
ful event. and the more recent occur
rences which had added to the long
existing bitterness between the two ma
tions. The American commissioners
had steadily pressed their claims for
full reparation for the injury upon their
natiou. These demands had been met
by postponementS. excuses and vague
promises from the representatives Of
Spain.
1t was evident that the latter were
depending on the policy of delay which
had in the past been the chief reliance
OF Spanish diplomacy. At last the at
tempt To reach a peaceful settlement
was seen to be hopeless. On the morn
ing of June %. newspapers printed the
information that the representatives of
the United States had quilted Paris for
London. They had presented Spain the
ultimatum that unless the government
at Washington was informed within a
week that its terms had been acceded
to. peaceful relations between the two
nations would come to an end
This news was received with satisfac-
ton in the United States. The Amer-
can people. with more than ordinary pa
thence. had listened to the repeated
pIeadings of their leaders to wait. But
there was in every patriot heart stern
determinations that the deaths of the
bluejackets. who had persisted i'll the
turgid waters of Havana bay, should
not 60 unayenged.
Now that every peaceful resource had
n 4 ~. = 4 L..
advisers felt that the only dignified and
honorable course was TO compel by
armed force the reparation which pa
tient negotiations had failed to secure.
Had not this been their determination
they would have been driven to it by
the temper of the people, which would
brook no further delay. For four cen
turtles Spain had tyrannized over some
part of the western continent. At last
she had attempted 20 bully the chief ma
ton of that hemisphere, and its citizens
felt that the time had come TO drive the
Spaniard forever from the new world
The result of the expected hostiities
was awaited with confidence by the
people of the United States. Thanks to
the timely warning of events. it had
been possible to prepare. in Il measure.
forces of the country had been concen-
trated at Atlanta, within striking dis
lance of the Spanish possessions in
Cuba. At Key West Admiral Sicard
had collected fleet composed of the
finest fighting vessels of the American
navy. in Asiastic waters a smaller fleet
was gathered ready to pounce down upon
the Philippines at the first announce
Of hn1 Ia ms.
Mt Havana: the remainder of her fleet,
which. as a whole. was inferior to that
of the United States, was on the other
side of the Atlantic. 1t seemed impossi-
BILE that she could strike a single effec-
tive blow in the approaching contest.
One thing only married the serenity
with which the Americans viewed the
impending conflict. 1t was known that
Spain had been desperately seeking the
aid of other European powers. Now, it
was rumored that France, yielding to
the nIoneyed influence by which she
was dominated, and which. having made
large loans to Spain on the security of
her Cuban revenues. was vitality inter
ested i'll the maintenance of Spanish
power had consented to an alliance.
This report was vehemently denied by
the French minister of Foreign affairs,
but it found color III the fact that the
French fleet was congregated Mt Iou-
Ion, while most of SPANS available war
vessels had assembled at Barcelona,
within days sail Of the former place.
War with Spain might give no oc.a-
sion for serious concern. At best she
could not muster more than 20 vessels
in fighting trim. But it would become
another and much more serious matter
for the United States if the second
naval power OF the world was to be ar
rayed against her.
On June % the Spanish fleet sailed ont
of the Mediterranean, and it was an.
nounced that it had departed for Cuba.
On the next day it was followed by 80
battleships and cruisers Of the French
navy. In Paris the destination of this
fleet was announced to be the cruising
grounds off the western coast of Africa
where, it was said certain eyolutions
were to be held. 1t was denied that the
departure was in any way connected
with the sailing Of the Spanish war
ships. But the two events were imme.
diately joined in the opinion Of the