New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
REASONS EOR PEACE.

A modern ship is 4 great machine. ike other
machines. it can be used with the best results
only by the most competent machnStS. A
high degree of scientific and technical knowl-
edge is requisite. The working Of complicated
engines in varying conditions Of weather. with
different depths Of draught and az different
rates Of speed: the working Of boilers. with
different 1ualitiec Of fuel: the effectiveness OF
greater or less natural draught. the quickness
Of chang, Ia direction at different rates Of speed
and different conditions Of winds or waves. the
measure Of steadness at;ainahle for accurate
use Of guns at varying rates of speed and DIFF
farcnt angles Of direction with the waves. are
but II few Of the many things which must he
thoroughly studied In order TO get the best work
from the great machine called a ship Of war.
Wien any part of the complicated machinery
breaks down. by accident or rs the result Of
hostile shot, the efficiency Of the whole depends
on The skill with which mechanics can remedy
the difficulty.
Spain sent ont great Armada in days when
seamanship and courage rather than mechan-
ical or scientific knowledge were required. though
it was destroyed. But In modern times Spain
has not been one Of the foremost nations in any
department Of mechanical skill Only about
in manufactures of all kinds With enormous
deposits Of iron ard other ores Spain does little
in their manufacture, and with sixty Medter-
rancan and hftyslx Atlantic scaports the steam
tonnage Of Spain Is less than 10000 gross and
the sailing tonnage less than 10000 With
about 2OO0oO square miles Of area and 1900
OO0 population. Spain has 7.Gl5 miles Of rail
road-lcss than Michigan alone, with a porula-
- lln oil.
are mainly Of raw materials and wines. but
were last year in value only about SlSo,or.-
600 II is not from such n nation that multi
tubes Of skll'd mechanics are readily recruited.
nor has Spain been able to man her navy by
voluntary recruiting.
II has been wisely said by men having lnrge
information at command that il Is not possible
10 predict the fighting qunlity Of an army man
for man. until il has been tried. Neither can
the fighting quality Of a naval force DO pre-
dicted. so far rs II depends upon the courage.
the temper aud discipline Of men. But when II
comes 10 the use Of machinery II Is somewhat
less difficult 10 Judge whether nation almost
wholly destitute Of familiarity with IFS use or
construction. or with mechanic arts In the
higher branches will supply n force of high
average efficiency. II IL not many days since n
mere gNnnpr's matH on on" or Inc great war
ships now or Key West by instant comprehcn-
sion and action prevented an accident which
would have sent the great vessel 70 the bot
tom. II was not his business to know all about
electrical machinery and wires. nor was II his
bushes. to srik" from The hands Of an officer
n connection which would in another second
have proved fatal But lie knew enough and
was quick enough 10 save the ship. Men Of
that type can bc trusted To get the best results
from complicated machinery. while some others
cannot.
Because no civilized man wants war. or
thinks lightly of the loss and the suffering II
must involve II is timely to call attention 10
the vast difference between n nation Of I3.hl0.-
600 people moro than half mechanics or IA
miliar with the use Of machinery and nation
Of loss than 100000 people Of whom not
one in twenty has any such training or IA
milaritv. Physical courage personal prowcss
in feIts of arms. gave The SpanHrdI and others
their places IN the worlds record n century
more ago II Is no humiliation 10 Spain 10 say
That her people cannot hope 10 match this Ma
ton in the construction and use Of modern ma
chincry And in these days war Is chiefly n