The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-09
CHANCES AND POSSIBILITIES OF
WAR.

WAR.
Probably there is not person in Chris
tendon, outside of Spain, who has the least
doubt regarding the final result of war
between the United States and Spain. AS a
matter of course, it would end in the over
whelmng triumph of the United States, but
this result might not be reached as quickly
nor as easily as many people imagine. The
press and statesmen of all European coun-
tries agree that such war would have but
one ending, but some of them have accom-
panied this with an intimation that the
United States might receive some severe
knocks before she got the advantage,
pecially at the beginning. One London paper
said: "Of course, the United States would
be the victor, but she might have bad
quarter of an hour of it," meaning that
Spain might infiict some damaging blows
at the beginning. This should be recog-
nized as possibility. We Americans are so
strong in our patriotism and so confident
of our ability to cope with any enemy that
we are apt to overlook the possibilities
of reverses. They would not be very likely
might, and it would be unwise not to recog-
nize the possibility and be prepared for its
occurrence. The first defeat of Bull Run
was all the more stunning to the Northern
people because they had not dreamed of
the possibility of such a thing. The bewil
derment soon passed away, and the second
uprising of the people was greater than
real while it lasted. There is no probability
of q Bull Run defeat in a war with Spain,
and not much probability of any serious
disaster to American arms, either at the be-
ginning or at any stage of the proceedings,
yet the unexpected often happens, and a
self-poised people should be prepared for it.
In Spain we should have an enemy willy,
vindictive and not altogether devoid of re-
sources. Realizing the ultimate hopeless
ness of the contest and her own desperate
position she would probably attempt some
thing bold and daring at the outset. This
might be a combined attack on one of our
squadrons, an attack on New York, or
something equally daring. A spectacular
opening of that kind would be in accord
ance with Spanish methods, and, if even
partially successful, would add to their
prestige and encourage them very much.
1t is not unlikely that they will try to in
flict. if not the first blow, at least an eff
fective one, as soon as possible. The
chances are against their doing this, but
with one chance out of ten they might pos
sibly succeed. Their navy in the aggregate
is not nearly as strong as ours, but in the
important feature of torpedo boats it is
day stated that fifteen Spanish war ships
were to leave Cadiz Immediately for the
Cape Verde islands, where the torpedo boat
hotilia is now lying. The junction of these
ships will make a very formidable fleet.
The sea-going qualities and the fighting
qualities of the Spanish ships are yet TO be
tested, but the same is true to some extent
of our ships. We should not forget that they
have as much confidence in their ships, Of
ficers and men as we have in ours, and
while there is strong reason to believe
that we greatly excel them in the moral
and material resources of naval combat in
the character of our officers and men, as
we'll as in the character of our ships, there
still remains the possibility of a disaster
to our arms, through Spanish good luck,
an unexpected display Of Spanish prowess.
or from some other cause 1t is character
istic of the Anglo-Saxon race not to be un-
duly elated by success or long discouraged
by defeat. The public mind should main
tain an attitude to meet philosophically
whatever may befall. All Americans expect
and believe that, if war comes, our navy
will drive the Spanish off the seas and out
of the Western hemisphere in short order
and cover itself with glory, as it always has
in every war in which we have engaged,
but if we should be worsted in the first
round we must accept it chance of war
and make the second and following rounds
so much the hotter. Spain may give us an
ugly quarter of an hour, but before the
fight is ended she will wish it had never
been begun.