Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
OUR J0VIAL " FITZ. ,
MS GREAT SUCCESS AS AMERICAN
CONSUL AT CUBA.
HlSHLIGHT OF THE SITUATION,
A Comparison OF Our Navy with
That of Spain--Why the ImpetuOus
Dons should Fear Us-Other Inter-
estinG Facts.
lrnrresnnndence of the Dlspatchl

Correspondence Of the Dispatch.)
In the midst Of the swirl of events in
cuba and the vacillating cowardice that
has distinguished Spaniards in authority
curing the struggle for freedom, one fig
IRE has stood firm as a granite pillar
Americans have been proud of him from
the start, and well has he upheld their
reputation for good judgment in choosing
foreign representatives.. 1t is almost
needless to say that the man referred
70 is Fitzhugh Lee. our Consul in Ha-
tana.
The country at large. and Virginians
IN particular. are familiar enough with
his name and his admirable firmness in
dealing with crises in Cuba that have
threatened TO involve this country IN
war with Spain. but, perhaps, there are
few not so familiar with his features.
The picture published herewith, which Is
taken from a photograph furnished 10
this paper. especially by Consul Lee, ana
signed with his autograph. gives an ex-
calent likeness Of his genial face.
FITZ AN OBJECT OF ADMIRATION.
r. has taken more than an ordinary
strong man 10 hold the consulship reins
n Cnba during the stormy times there.
10 one has been able TO say anything
I'm. words Of admiration about the way
Fy-zbueh Lee has done it. He has been
he FIRST 10 respond to charitable cans
"a we'll as to make his voice heard Wheh
The bieh-handed actions of the naughty
pons have called for the talops OF the
American eagle to be displayed just d
little 10 remind Spain that there Is d
limit 10 Uncle Sans patience WITH the
bettleship Maine anchored In Hap@n'l
hsrbor the Consul has little need 70
bother about the action of mons thdt
,is. IN "a moment with cries Of "Deatn 10
Americana" and disappear as qulch'y
when threatened with the butt END OF
rfa re has. therefore, been concen-
tr,ti,g his energies on the work OF Te-
rs,-r1 the needs Of the starving anu
diving among the pacificos., and trying "
fsve the lives OF the innocent BABES ",
whom the curse OF war sits neaViiy -
the present time. Aorbo,
With the battleship IN the ia.
America may dismiss the anxiety 80,
has been born Of the fear tnal a
moment our Consul may be attaoS $500 90,
killed. The Maine could knock Iia e.
ebout the ears Of tho spaniaros III ne 81
order and II the Spanish navy sle In,,Ic
- a. tbe fracas our boats coulo
80. - ca~a of them, too. provided
a.. .,,,,o-rroent Is wise enough 20 keel
-. ,..seeis within steaming distance oil
possible conflict.
COMPARISON OF FLEETS.
This newspaper has already puD ahlIn,
The illustration shown with thls' e' e1onc
any one who sees II 10 noue a. eoh+
the relative difference between re- n
,-,. 80 y, mis- country and those
crstr Nv snecial request, we puDhsn
rg,in the vessels are all Drawn i,o -,
80 ie,eet photographs of the Vessels' az az
,hov the distinctive features Oh co.
inc ~ the originals in the mihules' W
tails. or sboviu
M Demonstrate what poor sho" ~ !"
e-si- ,,.o,,ld make In duel between ne
c',o-,,to eeet and that Of the Unite
s,.tes the figures are all that Is he0e1
tary. II. cnaf
AGAINST our 90 armored ships' 60 %,
could only bring II the l.OfV guns - ~,
navy would only have opposeu ~ I
o. on the boats Of the SPANS. cote
weight OF ordnance the Oni1eu 81 =
would be UNNECESSARILY suPe sup ~ tsS Z
have "a Guns OF from 40 TO % tons, 10
I'm :, - 10 tons. 81 of from 70 o.
tons and 1850 guns OF s-ton s,d brin
opposing guns that Spain oo AZ 20
against us would be: 10 or from -,
tons. 40 from % 20 40 tons; 80 VI
Go 20 tons. and 554 under tons.
Concentration being OF inpo.'asiI0I Ia
the ART Of war. the fact tnat span 1t 10,
in point OF numbers, Few mo- az
than the United States, would De q s.''
advantage 10 the Dons, Tor on, ar
1 ships are infinitely more forHiusO SCI,
heavier armed. Thus. the Ohlso1 c.
Possesses % unarmored ships WIZ 80 80
has q. but having three times az "'~.
steel armored vessels makes tne -
vantage All on the side of this count
Tor one modern battleshlp - iho4y -t,n
match for a whole reel OK 0'N
unarmored boats. =, DoAT
SPAIN HAS MORE TCRPEDO.D.t,o
In thu matter OF torpedo-boato, nv o
terribly-uncertain factors In future =,
tights. Spain has the advantage ioI -
POSSESSES 60 OF tho first-class variety %
- Of the second, while the Onite~ =,
has only 10 OF the first and u -
tecOnd-clAss. =,
TO Offset this advantage OF Spain, =
United States has powerful meet OF -
and monitors, some built for 'ne sApsS !
purpose Of sinking an enemys noa' -
blow from the steel spur. ~ ~ 49,
up whether or not these formidaDie So
proved boats will not be able TO siyo :
torpedo-boats a good start ana tnen -
them IN tho competition OF destroyins
k>stils esst. In the opinion Of some