The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-12
GEN. MACARTHUR
AS 4 PROPHET
HOW HE ..HIT IT OFF, ON THE
SPANISH WAR.
If He. Does as Well on Americas Res
Iations with Germany, 1T Is Time
Uncle sam Was Getting Ready-A
Bit of Interesting History.

The prophetic abilities of General
Arthur Macarthur, U. S. A., were
proved and recorded five years ago at
st. Paul. The success he thus OBJ
tanned as an expert in stating and
solving the military problems likely
to confront the United States gives
Importance to the prediction he made
recently at Honolulu, that war be-
tween this country and Germany
would probably occur in the immedi-
ate future, and that the field of con-
test, would be the Pacific ocean. Diplo-
matte necessity has forced the gen.
eral to deny. his alleged statements.
But General MacArthur's prediction
was incorporated; in a report to Gov
ernors Garter by Colonel Jones of the
Hawaii militia. who declares that he
repeated the substance of CONVERSE
lions with the general.
It was on April 2, 1898, three weeks
before the war With Spain began, that
General Macarthur, then adjutant
general Of the department of Da-
kota, was interviewed at st. Paul
upon the probable conduct of the war.
Quoted the next day as IAN officer
of rank General Macarthur said:
"All of the regular army, no
doubt, much of the national guard,
and perhaps a number of volunteers
Will be called upon to do duty along
the. seacoast. But very few of these
troops will ever catch sight of a
fighting Spaniard The enemy would
scarcely dare to land men at any point
and the only active service of our
army would be in connection with the
capture of Cuba. The Spaniards might
avoid the large. cities and land where
they could do but little damage, but
| think such, raids will be mere ina
! ginatiOn.
I'VE shall have many more fighting
h no tn OF
tack us, and if the enemy's ships Are
kept out of mischief wherever they
lschance to he, all the rest of the coast
Twill be. &as safe as if thes4wars were
! being fought on Mars. What is nee
Eessary, in order to prevent a Spanish
war vessel from finding herself alone,
| like a deserted stage girl in a black
| gown, is an abundance of small fast
boa is that can maintain perfect line
of reconnaissance and still be able to
! get out of. the way promptly.
I 81 The first shock of war will take
place, without doubt, upon the sea. No
troops will probably be moved from
this country until the supremacy of
I the sea is decided. Yet should the
Spanish refuse to leave the island
after their eet has been driven away,
weSshall either invade in force or es-
tabli snS an open port for the in
|surga1fts. ~ So
I5zfAllllo5 la uIchS1aI III IL saw llir>
lzCuban insurgents too much credit for
1 ,enterprise and efficiency, suggesting
that they might defeat the Spaniards
in the. field while a small American
garrison held am open port, he fore
saw accurately that ''our troops will
1 not suffer as much as one might
imagine from yellow fever or other
. diseases. for no soner would we take
a port than We would set. to work all
the methods of recent sanitary
Il science
J. Events have notably justified Gen.
eraI Macarthur in the closing para
grap PHI of his former prediction wher
he declared contrary to general opin-
. ion that "even Havana, old and rotten
\ .as. 1T physically, morally and po.
litically, can be turned into a reason
(. ably wholesome community by thoro.
lly draining the city and driving out the
IsWeyIer Spaniards.