New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-06
THE STATE or THE WAR.

The bombartlment OF Santiago has been post
poned. wisely but not for long time Cen
eral Pando has succeeded In reinforcing the
garrison of that city, in spite OF the Cuban in
surgcnt army which was 10 head him off. The
garrison IS therefore actually more numerous
than the bescging army, and. taking Into ac-
count its advantage of being behind breast
works and on the defensive. may properly be
reckoncd from n third to n half more powerful.
Now. the rule Of war is that the attacking force
should be considerably more numerous ana
more powerful than the defensive, and it would
certainly seem the part OF wisdom to wait I'M
,i that rule can be complied with. The wait
ing need not me long ReinfOrcements may he
sent to General Shafter in a few days Or Ad-
m!ral SIMPSONS feet may enter the larpor,
movement Of which the practicablity Is now
being earnestly discussed. Should II do so IL
might easily give to the attacking force the
desired prcponderance OF poyer Ihere Ii no
useful purpose 10 be served by bOmbardng the
city before the Army is sufficiently strength
ened TO he able TO take possession OF il. 10 90
so would be merely 20 destroy property as II
for the sake of destruction. After what mas
lust been done we can afford to wait day or
two for completion OF the job.
The inter annihllaton Of Admiral Ccrvera s
fleet leaves no Spanish ships OF war in Amer
can waters save number Of small. unarmored
gunboats These can easily be held in check
by the lighter craft Of our own Navy. and our
big ships can therefore he spared with entire
safety for other work such as the reduction OF
the forts of Porto Rico preparatory to mill
tary invasion. bombardmen: OF Spanish coast
cties-a most desirable proceeding for the i'm
mediate future-and the pursuit and destruction
OF Admiral Camara's fleet. II Is gratifying to
no assured that prompt and energetic action
will be taken in at least some OF these dlrec-
lions When the enemy is ION the run then
Is the time TO press him hardest
According TO dispatches from Manila At least
half of the German and other foreign warships
left tina, harbor Immediately after the arrival
there of th2 Charleston and the troopsh'ps car
rying the first detachment Of General Mcrrtts
army. II Is earnestly hoped the report is true.
The foreign ships were there Ostensibly-we arc
DESTROYS Of believing. really-for the protection
of the foreign residents In case Of need before
sufficient American force was at hand. Well,
sufficient American force Is now nj hand, and
SO the mission of the ships is ended. The
United States will, Of course welcome the ma
vies Of the world az visitors to those water'
there are too busy to do much entertaining, and
the presence OF any unusual number OF foreign
ships might b. misunderstood.
The same dispatch says that Spain Is won
dering whether the European Powers have
abandoned her 10 her fate and are going to let
America have free hand In the Philippines
Her uncertainty on that score need not be OF
long duration. This country has by right. and
we may modestly add. by might. free hand
in the Philippines, and intends to keep II. using
1t In a way that will command the approval NJ
the best moral sense OF the world and that will
promote the best interests Of civilization In that
quarter Of the globe. Spain ought 10 DO able 10
appreciate that fact by this time. She has had
enough of her illusions dlspeled. one would
think, 10 make her sceptical as 10 the rest Of
them. She ought TO be able TO see that she IL
beaten in this war, that her colonies arc lost 70
her beyond redemption and that the best pos
sible thing for her TO do is TO accept the situa-
ton and make the best OF II. But II she has
not yet learned that lesson the United States Is
in prime condition TO continue the work 81
teacher. at Manila. Havana, Cadiz or elsewhere.