LOCALISING THE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2304, 28 April 1898, Page 22

LOCALISING THE WAR.

If the statements in the New York Sun c*n ba relied upon there is no intention on bhe par!] of America to confine operations to Cuba. That pager boldly declared that in the event of war Spain would be assailed at points in other quarters of the globe, Puetto Rico, within one day'e steaming of Cuba, is one of the points. Across the Atlantic lie the Canary Island*, of which Tenerift'e is the iriosfc widely known, These islands, says the Sun, "have been coveted by all the maritime Powers siDce the discovery of America and ths Gape of Good Hope, and they would be of particular value to England, as constituting a convenient station on one of the two routes to India." Santa Cruz, the cipital of Teneriffe, was so well fortified 100 'years ago that it resisted Nelson, bub here again tbe superior "pounding power of modern warships would tell, ai/d the Sun does cob think it would take the United States long to capture it and the reet of tbe group, with regard .to which it remarks tbafc England would buy the islands from America at the close of ihe war. A » till more daring flight is the suggestion to. seize the Balearic Isles. Port Mahon, the chief harbour of Minorca, it; is remarked, would be of peculiar advanbage to a maritime Power, as ib is one of the finest harbours ia the Mediterranean, if not absolutely the bast. Finally the Sun points ouS that owing to the defence of Spain's sea coasts having loug bsen neglec'ed, several of the most important Spanish cities, such as Barcelona, C*diz, Valencia, and others couid be bombarded. • Auckland, April 21. When the declaration of war by America was made known this morning the American Consul displayed the Stars and Stripes from tha window of his office. Mr Thomas Henderson, local manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, states tha'; to avoid passing the portion of the Atlantic where privateers are likely to intercept vessels, cargoes could ba taken by vessels from the colonies to San Frarcisco and conveyed overland to New York and Boston. Though the overland "freight afc present is £6 13s 4d per ton, cargoes could be conveyed to the ports named at | about the same cost as would be the case were j cargoes by vessels by the JoDg sea I route and the time oi" the voyage largely reduced. Another alternative would be to ship to Canada — to the pur&3 of St. John, Halifax, and Montreal. The American Consul here has received quite a large number of offers from youog men volunteering to fight for America against Spain, including many offers by " letters from outdistriefcs. It is currently repo:t:d" tbafc the American vessels Mary Plasbrouck &a& Evie Reef), now in port, have received instructions nob to leava for New York owing to war being now eliacsfe a certainty. So far no instructions have been received to that tffecb by the Evie Reed, which is on charter and is loading up gum as usual. In the case of the Mary Hasbrouck tha vessel may be dslayed a little longer iv loading. April 22. Captain Browne, o? H.M.S. Taurauga, spesking to a special reporter, said he ciineided with Admiral Pearson's vitwa. He had no doubt of ! the ultimate wsue of the war. America must triumph over Spain because of her greater reI sources and energy. Regarding privateering, ho I considers this, is one of Spain's greatest helps, for Spanish commerce is iDfioitpsimal except in the Mediterranean, America's eot&tctefce on the high sea 6is to Spa ; n as a hundred (o one. He. has no doubt that Spain will send out very many privateers lo harass the American shipping. America was cot at all likely to encourage privateering, for the simple reason that Spain has so oversea commerce. He believes that the Central and South American Republics will fib out; numerous privateer?, especially such countries as Brszii and Cbili. He thinks the privateers may do damage to the AmericAii shipping in the Pacific. As for the Spanish fleet afc the Philippines, he does not think American shipping need fear mvich from tb<-m. There are American warships on the Pacific coast, also on the China station, and a verss'&l like H.M.S. Torch, now iv Auckland Harbour, could blow the Spauiah vessela &b the Philip- . piues cut of the w&ter. Captain Browne did j cot think England would ba involved in the i war, though if the privateers insisted on searching British vessels there might be unpleasantness. April 23. Evidence of tho sympathy felt here for the United States io the coming struggle is shown by the facb thab Mr Ft ask DilHugham, the American Consul here, m constantly receiving j applications from roen who wish to go and J strike a blow at the Spaniards for the benefit of i the States. The consul thanked the volunteers, ] and said he fully appreciated ths good feeling j that had prompted th<»ra, but so far he had no ! authority to enroll wen. Me Diliingham states that, frera personal applications re>':otvod and offers s&ni) by letter he believed it; would be qaite possible to r.iise a reijitnenr in Auckland alone if there waa any t-eed of men. Some ladies have also \vriiti?nfco ths consul volunteering to go to the froi*b *.r»l st?vf! as nurses. Wellington. Apri! 23. f lhe American Consul ha* received offers volunteering to go to America from 4-0 or 50 young men, but no authodly has been ruoeiv&d by him to engage person? outsidts the (Mates. A!l stocks of kercssno are held for higher r*ric«3, and cigarettes and cigars — especially the former — are expeefcod to me.