The American and Spanish navies according to the Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 16 March 1898

This newspaper published an item dealing with the strength of the Spanish navy regarded an eventual war with the United States.(1) She reused an item of the newspaper Liberal according to which the Spanish navy consisted of 170 unites included 17 armoured and 29 non armoured ships, 80 gunboats, 14 torpedo boats, 14 destroyers and 25 transports. Spain was at that moment also one of the few European countries allowed to supply letters de marque. The next day paid the newspaper again attention to this subject. It was believed that the main port of the American fleet was necessary to protect the coast line while barriers with torpedoes and other stuff were not enough if there wasn’t a competitive force available. On the other hand was the coal bunkering for the Spanish fleet a huge issue. An example was given. The Spanish Viscaya travelled from Spain towards New York and had there to load again her coal bunkers. When both navies were compared than it was clear that the Spanish navy was the weakest. The United States possessed 12 battleships against Spain 3, 6 monitors against Spain none but Spain numbered 7 armoured cruisers against the 2 American. But there were one armoured ram turret ship and 27 protected cruisers all steel-built at American side against the 5 steel-built and 8 iron-built on Spanish side. There were also 13 American floating batteries and just two iron-built apparently not high sea Spanish coast defence vessels. The Spanish number of torpedo boats was much larger as the American.

Note

1. The Spanish-American War of 25 April-12 August 1898 lost by Spain. The Spanish navy suffered heavy losses and the Spanish colonies Puerto Rico, Guam and Philippines were handed over to the United States which latter country also temporarily controlled Cuba.