Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1898.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 141, 23 June 1898, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1898.

It must not be supposed that because we hear bo little of the Spanish-American war its progress has been stayed or that nothing effective is being done ; but as no really important engagement has been fought or viotory won Bince. the entrance of Admiral Dewey's fleet into Manila Harbour, the extent of news sent out to Australasia ia comparatively small. Preparations, however, are steadily proceeding for the invasion of Cuba and co-operation with the insurgents, and it is probable that when the unhealthy, or yellow fever, season in J^the island has passed moro decisive steps will be taken. In the meantime, it is likely that the war m*y be terminated before any attempt is made to take Havana, for there are indications that the fate of the Philippines may decide the whole issue, and that with, the fall of Manilla Spain may be induced to givo in. Civil war is also apparently on the point of breaking out in unhappy Spain itself. It is true that a good number of American troops are being landed in Cuba, and that there has been fierce and determined fighting in the viointy of Santiago ; but the endeavonr to enter Havana by sea ad well as by- land has been postponed till the "fall," or autumn, Ky then there may be developments to render farther bloodshed unnecessary, it is also probable, on the other hand, (bat Admiral Oervera'B fleet may be captured before long, hemmed in as it ia supposed to be in Santiago, and the arrival of Admiral Camara's re« lieving tquadron may precipitate a great and decisive battle at any moment, though it is reported today that the squadron has ignomi- 1 niously put back. It must be remembered that the tusk of capturing a fleet is mnch more difficult in Cuba than it was in the Philippines, The island is garrisoned bv many thousands of Spanish troops 'who are by -now innured to the climate, while the cooperation of the rebels, though

an important factor in the American campaign, is discounted by the circumstances that the ' insurgents ' are for the moßt part ill-armed, having only the short range Remington rifle while the Spaniards have the Mauser, j a flrst-olass magazine with an effective rauge up to 1000 or 1200 yards. In order to assist the rebels and make their co-operation of more valne the Americans have devoted much time to the landing of the Krug-Jorgonaen magazine rifle, for the nse of the Cuban auxiliaries, and this process, Mow and full ot risk as it must be, is still going on. The difficulties of the invas--ion of Cuba are not comprehended here, but in America both statesmen and generals realise them fully. Mr i s pringer, who was the United States Consul at Matanzas, on returning to New York gave the appended estimate of the task the Americans would havejto undertake: — " It will lake more than 60,000 men to subjugate the Spanish in Cuba* The Spanish on the island will be able to raiae betwenn 250,000 and 300,000 men. In my opinion the insurgents caonofc muster more than 35,000 or 40,000 men at the most, and they are for the most part, ill-provisioned and equipped. The .Spaniards could have oonqnrod the insurgents were it not for the rottenness ci (heir army Money that is intended for the Soldiers rarely gets to them, and siupplies are short, insufficient, and baJ, The soldiers are half-hearted, half -starved, and unwilling fighters. They go out, make a sortie, or an attempt at an attack, and then come back and claim they have won a victory." When it is borne in mind that Spain is fighting without hope, in fierce despair, for the sake of tradi* tion and because she is deadly proud rather than with a desire to retain a land whiou she had virtually lost before the war began — and when it is considered that she has already done enough to assort her right to continued recognition as a European Power— it will be seen that she may withdraw from the war, even sue for peace on honourable terms, without loss of prestige or dignity, The movement for peace by the Catalonian Union may have a Carliat origin, But it is a significant indication of the feeling among the masses in > u pain ; and it may be assumed that all Europe, iucluding Britain, would help forward peace if it could bo uone without disturbing the balance of power or causing new complications. It is therefore reasonable to believe that the fall of Manili rather than the fall of Havana may be the last act of the war, and that the final catastrophe is within measurable distance of accomplishment.