Kansas City journal., 1898-03-04
SAYS SPAIN WOULD BE "EAsY"
Prominent British ShipbufIder and
Naval Expert Thinks She Would
Re QufekIy Whipped.

BE Quickly whipped
London, March 3-"The United States
will have every town on the Spanish coast
blown to atoms. / am ready to wager, a
month after the beginning of hostilities,"
said William Allan, NJ. p, to the New
York World correspondent.
Mr.. Allan represents the Gateshead divi-
sion in the house Of commons, is one of the
largest shipbuilders on the Tyne. and is
an acknowledged high authority on naval
questions.
The World correspondent had asked him
II there is any likelihood that Spain can
buy war vessels now building In British
yards from the government which ordered
them.
'It would not do Spain any good IL she
could buy them" Mr.. Allan answered.
But except those ordered by Japan. there
are very few orders in the English yards
from foreign governments, and Japan won't
sell.
II can't conceive why Chile should sell
ships TO her ancient enemy to be used
against the United States. which helped
her so generously to her independence. But
even should Chile or Brazil sell ships to
Spain they would be of no use to her.
81 have always expressed in the house
OF commons. as you know, my admiration
for American warships. i challenged our
government to test the new cruiser Power
fui by sending her across the Atlantic at
full speed as the United States government
had sent the Columbia, but our government
declined.
II consider that America has some OF the
very finest ships afioat, and know the
American sailors to be as good as any in
the world.
"why. Spain is a retrogradc-a moribund
nation. If she should snap up all the war
ships available all over the world she could
not give the United States cause for an In
stant's concern.
IL believe In tho grit. tcnacity and flght-
ing capacity of tho Anglo Saxon race as
against these Spanlnrds. who are fed on oil
and garlic and are without stamina. why,
I'm the olden days our buccaneers used to
beat them, and they havc not improved
since then-rather the contrary.
1T would be nm easy matter for the
United States 10 capture the principal
bpanish arsenal Mt Trubin. near the north
coast and not far from ovicdo. The place
ts not dcfensihlc. us your navy department
doubtless knows.
But there will be no war. Tho Spanish
government knows II would be the signal
for n Carlist rising.
They will have some kind OF n revolu-
tion la Spain before long. but as TO war
with tho United States. there will he none.
II have never believed TINT the United
States wants Cuba. but I expect they will
employ all their influence to establish a
republic there"
MIR. Twedde. the manager OF Thorny-
croft's famous torpedoboat works at Chis-
wiCk-on-the Thames. raid to the Worlds
correspondent: II don't think the Spanish
navy can cause the United States much
concern.
II really don't think Spain has much Of q
chance OF getting warships In Englands
wards from the governments for which
they are being constructed. The great ma
1Ority of the ships now on the stocks are
for the British government. which. OF
course. won't sell.
II don't know OF any for Chile. but Ar
Gentlna has three under construction. Ar
Eentina won't sell. for know when France
offered TO buy some torpedo catchers we
were constructing for Argentina the lat
ter declined TO sell.
Spain has four torpedo eatchers about
20 feet long each. and with a speed OF
twenty-eight knots on the stocks in Clyde.
but they are not yet delivered, as the speed
trials were not successful.
''rruc. they build warshlps Themselves
and have just voted credit for naval pur-
poses. hut their capacity as construct ors
may be Judged from the fact that they have
Just launched battleship which has been
Ia the stocks eight years.
Then. IL Spain wants TO buy ships here
Tor war PURPOSES she must act before a
state OF beliigerency arises. The instant
war ~ declared the Brttish government
viii place an embargo on all the war YES
sells being constructed. and not one will be
permitted TO leave our ports. except TO go
10 some power other than the belligerents
1f our authorities suspected that ordinary
steamers were being fitted for use in any
way by either bellgerent they would be
stopped In the same way"
Inquiries by the World correspondent at
Yarrow's torpedo boat works Blackwell
elected the statement that the firm is build
ing four torpedo catchers for Japan and
four for Austria. Neither power would sell
the ships to Spain.
At the Thames Shpbuilding Company's
works, where the largest and most power
ful line battleship ever built is in course Of
construction for Japan. the managers said ::
We have nothing Spain could purchase
as we are building only two lire battle
ships: one for our government. the other
for Japan. II Spain is looking out for
ships. her agents have not been inquiring