Fantastic Spanish-American War Predictions by Navy Admiral from 1896

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

Verlag: Washington, D.C., 1896

Beschreibung

Francis M. Bunce Archive, 1896-1899. 3 documents, 10 pp. In an insightful paper he read before the Navy Board in 1896, Admiral Francis M. Bunce predicted that the best way to isolate Cuba and support the insurgents in their war with Spain was to use the U.S. Navy to neutralize the Spanish navy and blockade Cuba and Puerto Rico.This small archive also includes Bunce's 1899 honorary degree from Yale University and a copy of a fascinating April 1898 letter by Union Army veteran John J. McCook to President William McKinley, urging him to leave any fighting in a war against Spain to the professional military men rather than the "Jingoes" (of whom Theodore Roosevelt was the most famous). Acting Secretary of the Navy William McAdoo called high Naval officials to a secret defense planning meeting. Attendees included Rear Admiral Francis M. Bunce, commanding the North Atlantic squadron; Rear Admiral Francis M. Ramsay, chief of the Bureau of Navigation; Captain William T. Sampson, chief of the Bureau of Ordnance; Captain Henry C. Taylor, president of the Naval War College; and Lt. Commander Richard Wainwright, chief of the bureau of naval intelligence.[1] On December 23, the board submitted their report to Secretary of the Navy Hilary A. Herbert, outlining a plan for the defense of the coast in case of war with Spain.FRANCIS M. BUNCE, Autograph Document Signed in docketing with initials, "FMB. "Special Problem-Cuba, Dec. 1st 1896," Paper read before Board of Navy Department on War College plans concerning war with Spain, December 16, 1896. 7 pp., 8 x 10 in. #27771"This island extending E & W. about 600 miles with an average width of about 60 miles, is in its eastern and western parts hilly & difficult for military operations. Its central portions are also mountainous. The Spanish occupy the coasts and fortified ports with their army and navy and have garrisoned the principal interior cities, few in number however and of minor importance politically and economically. The insurgents hold the open country in general and moving in small bodies, destroy crops, railways, and the small detachments of Spanish troops, endeavoring to protect them. Occupying central and interior positions they strike from these in all directions towards the coasts but are prevented from occupying any ports upon either by the garrisons thereat and the naval forces." (p1)"The Statesman's Year Book 1896 gives ten per cent of Cuba's area as cultivated & states that its annual imports of a value of 56 millions pesos are chiefly food-rice, jerked beef and flour. The present war has continued since February 1895, upwards of 100000 additional troops have been landed and half that number of men of its residual population have been in arms. To these add all non producers the inhabitants of cities and consider the destruction of crops by both parties with loss of production from the war and the conclusion is inevitable that an imported food supply is absolutely essential to the continued maintenance of the war or indeed the occupation of the island by Spain. Food stopped, the garrisons of all fortified seaports & cities must capitulate, an uprising of their population and humanity compelling."A blockade by our naval force, with the destruction or capture of that of Spain about the island, would produce this result and that quickly. Vessels not destroyed or captured but forced to take refuge in protected harbors would add their crews to the consumers. Relief could only come by sending a superior naval force from Spain. If sent it would arrive only after a consumption of its coal and water. Unless immediately reinforced greatly by purchase it could not hope to succeed in defeating our forces awaiting its coming. Our available force at home is sufficient to meet any arriving fleet in action. For blockade however it should be increased by a large number of small fast armed steamers from the steam yatch [yacht?] and coastwise shipping. The de. (See website for full description). Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 27771

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Fantastic Spanish-American War Predictions ...

Verlag: Washington, D.C.

Erscheinungsdatum: 1896

Einband: No binding

Zustand: Very Good

Art des Buches: Archive