The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-06-02
SPAIN AND THE POWERS
Current English Criticism on the
Conduct Of the War.
SOME EUROPEAN MIsaIVINGs.


Settlement - RumOrs OF a Triple ALI
ance With France and Russia.
Current comments on the conduct OF
the war, or rather ON the absence of any
well conceived and unvacillating plan
OF campaign, are not calculated to fiat
ter the board of strategy at Washing
ton. A good deal more is heard in club
circles in London than is to DO read in
newspapers, the latter being unani-
nous in their anxiety to avoid any.
thing likely to hurt American suscepti-
bilities. No one, of course, expected a
display of great military efficiency such
as can only be the outcome of a long
and systematic training through the
maintenance of great standing army
such as the United States never pre-
tended to have organized, but without
which it is impossible to embark nova
days on war with any promise of i'm
mediate success. The failure, however
OF the many and fast American cruisers
to obtain timely information as to the
movements Of the Spanish feet is more
unexpected, and it establishes even
more conclusively the absolute neces-
slty OF special training in modern naval
warfare. l may here mention that dur
ing the naval maneuvers carried out |
yearly in British waters the admiralty |
directed particular attention to this very
question of scout duty, and specialists
declare that the Spanish feet would |
never have eluded the vigilance of ex-
perienced British commanders.
1t is also noted in this connection
that the Spaniards have enjoyed an i'm
portant advantage by the very fact of
their backwardness in journalistic en-
terprise." The so to say abject readi-
ness with which the authorities at
Washington placed at the disposal of
newspaper representatives the most i'm
portant campaign projects and the alb ,
solute disregard of public interests with 7,
which such information was heralded
70 the world at large by section of the
American press, come as an astonish- >
ment TO those who know that one of the i.
conditions of success in mod
ern warfare is secrecy This sort of
,oram populo strategy is contrasted un- 7
tavorably with the quietness and unob.
rusiyeness with which Spain has been
IDLE to concert the movements of her
leet
The Immediate effect Of all this must "
Ne to protract the duration of the war
even If Admiral Cervera' S fleet be now
lefeated, his successful tactics and the =,
tout front presented by the troops in T. T.
juba are calculated TO encourage a peo- ~
Ie like the Spaniards TO determined tt
distance. But as prolongation of the ~
Iruggle VIII certainly entail more oner. -
US conditions OF peace and may posi- =,
ly compel the United States TO carry !"
le war into Europe by attacking some H ~
orts Ill Spain it is apprehended that VI
'rlous complications will then ensue. -
events take such "a turn, the United 49,
tates, 1t is feared, will be forced. how 70
'er reluctantly, to abandon its tradi- GO
onai abstention from European pol. 90 %,
les and embark in a course of vast 20
llltary and naval ornaments. on
Nothing could show more vividly the ~
volved state of international relations S S
Q world over than the misgivings 80 80
th which the European powers view 1 az.
Q developments of war possessing Wv sn'
INA facle only local significance aT
med in cor+i,o,,ta, yIOiio uncon' doc
pean monarchy which has remained Vi
Us far outside the alliances binding -,
other great powers The fate of On. u
ana Puerto Rico would in itself be
like moment to Europe. But the
ECU OF their severance from Spain ON
stablllty OF monarchical institutions H..
'hat country concerns almost every &c,
Snlng house in Europe, especially 81
er the terrible explosion witnessed a -.
Italy at this very juncture. Further. e.,
re- the ultimate ownership of the Oh;
llipplnes is matter which must 40. -
waite the difficulties of peaceful set. to,
nent tioi
.hese, however, are not the only per. ao.;
King elements of the situation. Snoin ~;
n possession Of certain points of great CO
ltegic Importance as affecting naval -
'tery in the Mediterranean. and II 10 no'
ed that she may be disposed IN e. 90
re, In connection with them. conces. ne :.
Is 20 such continental powers as NAV a o.
er FAVOR her in the prosecution of a..
war or assist her in concluding n la. -.
lt peace. Port Mahon, in the Bale. ou e
islands, Is most important naval c.
; and Russia has long coveted q - lo :
allng station" in that quarter 81"
ta' thanks to modern artillery, men. ''-0
ICES Gibraltar as a key of the Medi.
lnean, while, for the same reason To >,
IA Carbonera and Punta Carnero To
q render the tenure of C;brol.o To Il
arlous IN time of war. Moreover. ra -,
political and CONNER. Tell
influence which Spain exerts in
COCO has, mp to this held the bal. r,,.
between tho rival efforts of France Ere
England TO secrre q firm footing in To ii
country, Marocco being not the
OF dying nations on Lord Sails. rher
8 list. France has always looked But q
the annexation of Marocco as
ssary complement OF her Tunisian Not
Algerian doninions, and since the MOI
lSlon Of her ugssegsions 4, ,,,os.o,.,, But s
"a her succaee;,,, a., - VIII,