The times., 1898-07-26
TUESDAY. JULY 26. 1898.
The Watson Mystery,


Early in the present month il was an
nounced. not without some attention to
dramatic effect, that the Eastern
Squadron would Immediately proceed
10 the coast Of Spain and that the yes
sels forming it had received peremptory
sailing orders. Europe at once ex-
pressed incredulity, holding that so Sc
rious a matter would hardly be used by
the Administration for foreign adver-
tiSing purposes. There may have bean
some ground for that cynical opinion,
and it may even be true that the chief
idea involved was to scare Camara
back into the Mediterranean, and shake
Watson as the bad. badgering bogy
man before the frighted vision of the
Spaniards, so that their teeth might
chatter and their souls yearn for the
salvation Of unconditional surrender TO
the United States.
Such thoughts, perhaps. belong to the
field Of speculative philosophy. What
is d concrete fact is that the Eastern
Squadron has not assembled, and that
it is far from likely to frighten any
The Times as a matter of news, an
nounced that the expedition had been
abandoned. This was strenuously de-
MED in Administration circles. Accord
ing to the naval authorities, il was still
a stern purpose, the accomplishment Of
which was only postponed TO give Porto
Rico a living chance to fall. Then it
would be carried out.
We notice. however. that, while The
successful occupation Of Porto Rico is
regarded as the matter Of a few days,
preparations for a fleet TO carry the
war into Spain do not seem to be un-
duly hastened. The armorclads and
cruisers which were TO do the deed of
terror are discovered to be sorely in
need Of dTydocking, that their bottoms
may be scraped clean. Whether this is
to be done because it is necessary, or
only TO provide a naval enterprise
which would be an ideal one for Samp-
son to command, we are not in posi-
ton 20 say. In any case it is evident
that the department considers it wise
to remove the barnacles before it tries
TO remove Camara's squadron, and so
forth. If there had been more disposi-
tion in the past to remove barnacles.
peace would be nearer than, mayhap,
it is today.
We do not mean to assert that il is
not the intention Of President Mckinley
TO attack Spain at home. Probably il
always has been his idea to do so. But
he has been induced to delay until after
the Porto Rican business has been dis
than that his advisers should persuade
him now TO wait for the destruction of
the barnacles. and after that for the
capture Of Havana?
It cannot be possible that this weary
wait between acts has any connection
with a hope for peace without more
persuasion. We suspect that Spain is
willing enough for peace at a Spanish
price. It is said that the Madrid gov
ernment is about TO make the abject
concession Of proposing an armistice,
during which the terms Of an accommo-
dation can be discussed. Such an over
ture really ought TO make a deep i'm
preston on the President. It's cool as
sarance. for example, one would think
would send q whole fleet of battleships
kiting across the Atlantic TO teach a
needed lesson on the other side.
That might be done, too. without in
terfering with Mr.. McKinley's des re
70 avoid the infiiction of unnecessary
pain or damage upon the enemy. AS
Stunning that the moral effect of seeing
the ships would be sufficient TO make
Camars surrender and encourage the
Spanish government to strike its flag.
all danger of any accidental hostility
might be averted by sending Sampson
in command.