Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1898 — An Old Navy Man’s Views. [ARTICLE]

An Old Navy Man’s Views.

Editor Republican: If you will give, me space I would like to give my view on the Maine disaster. First some say she had no business there at all, as this government knew there was war there. That is true, and so did all other nations know war existed there, and that is the reason why our war have always been in Cuban waters. From the time the first trouble began it is the duty of an honorable nation to bo represented by one or more of their war ships which was not the case in this case, but by special consent the Maine was admitted to Havana Harbor, and not only that, but in all cases foreign war ships are always conducted to their anchorage by the government officals as in this case. It is foolish for any sane man to imagine for a moment that a port like Havana would not bo protected in time of war, not only forts, torpedos, sub marine mines, but also war ships of their own. I contend as I have from the first report of the disaster, that it was a well laid plan of placing our noble ship over one of these mines, which could bo discharged any moment, that they saw fit. And they saw fit to do it, because it is part of their nature the cowardly villians. The reason why the loss of life was so great is the time it happened. If it was day time, it would not be so great as they would not have been below and asleep. If it was at sea, it would not be so great either, even though it happened at night, as only half the men sleep while the other half are on watch. Not so in port, they all sleep at night except a small watch at the different posts. It, is foolish to say that men on war ships are careless, let mo tell you that is not so with any Nations’ war ships I know something about how careless things and men are on American war ships. (The motto on a war ship is this:) “There is a place for every man and everything, and every man and everything must he iu this place, at all times.” The ship I was on was in Japan all through the Japaneese Rebellion of 1868, and we wore in all the ports wherever our interests wore at stake, and never was blowed up because we always looked and was careful for danger, and their harbors were mined with torpedos. If war comes with Spain as 1 can see no other way short of war it will be a short war as it will be power against weakness, brains against superstition arid money against none to speak of. Spain is responsible. John O’Connor.