The Washington times., 1903-03-20
"On to Lisbon"
The Alleged Plans of the Navy for
Blockading a European Port.

Under the HamIng head lines, w III
Attack Europe Plans for Block
ade of a Portuguese Port by North
Atlantic Squadron An Object Les
son." etc, our distinguished morning
contemporary, the Washington
Post" gave its readers the other day
an account of plans which the Navy
Department was said to be maturing
for sending the North Atlantic feet
to the western shores of Europe as
soon as its winter cruise in the Carib-
bean comes TO an end.
Europe" the account started out
to say. ''is TO be given an object les
son with respect 10 the power and eff
tieiency Of the United States navy"
And the "objeet lesson" was to consist
in bloekading the port of an imagi-
nary hostile European nation.
Our squadron was TO display its
ability to steam 5000 miles and main
tain blockading operations in spite Of
AAiF A4SAdltNE IlOAl It's Ublut U00t- 4
was to show the effete monarchies of
the old world that the idea of carry
ing on American naval operations in
European waters was not the pipe
dream of board of strategy, but an
achievement, the feasibility of which
our fleet would demonstrate TO the
everlasting discontinue Of Europe's
panic-stricken hordes.
For the distinguished honor of fur
nishing the proper background TO
these operations the Navy Depart
ment was said TO have selected the
port of Lisbon, Portugal
Our esteemed contemporary accom-
panied the zrrsy of these alleged
plans by such a wealth of detail that
il took ones breath away and almost
discouraged any attempt TO infringe
upon It's copyright for ill-bred
asininity by critically examining the
sources of the wondrous tale The
Post" in fact, had already detailed
the admiral for command of the feet,
had assigned TO him the proper staff,
had told off the ships that were to
compose the squadron, had provided
for an abundant supply of coal, and
had even mapped out the route by
which Lisbon was to be approached.
The little diplomatic difficulties in the
way of carrying on operations in for
eign waters were to be smoothed over
by plans that, as far as the writer in
the Post" was concerned, certainly
had the merit of artless originality.
The fears of the Portuguese officials
were to be allayed by bountiful enter
iainments on board Of the feet while
"bloekading" Lisbon, though it was
conceded with great naivete that
the presence of the feet would sun
doubtedly have an important moral
effect upon the country visited, and
the rest of Europe as we'll" As a
concession to the sensibilities of the
Portuguese sonneteers, however, the
fleet was TO have no ''liberty" Lis
bon. at least.
We cannot give all the details
d,yelt lovingly upon by this master
of naval fiction IN the course of his
amazing tale Enough Is given 10
show the degree of childish enthusi-
asm bestowed by him upon his task
That task We have never seen
equaled. Conceit, vulgarity, and ig-
norance struggle between the lines for
supremacy Indeed, it would be diff
cult 10 which of these TO award the
palm. And above a chorus Of "copy
cats" in the daily press following this
prince among roorback manufactur-
ers, Won hear the shrill notes of the
"Boston Budget to Lisbon -
Ii is uncomfortable that the United
States should make such demonstra-
ton before the port Of a friendly
power, without that powers consent.
or that such consent c, sid or would
ever be given. The story, rs the
New York Sum remarks, is "EoH-
sense" 1t is worse-it is criminally
idiotic
Professional Ethics.