Driftless

Donor
I would imagine that the Canaries would be very hard to hold for the US - by 1898 standards, they were a long way from home. The navy wasn't that powerful and most of the heavier units were low-freeboard ships designed more for coastal work, close to home ports (though the Oregon's "dash" from San Francisco around the Horn, up to Florida would make them look better for the task than they were). It would take a few more years of lessons learned before the US built up a true sea-going fleet, capable of projecting power across the globe. The Spanish fleet of 1898 was generally in really poor condition to fight, so that was a key factor as well. Also, the standing US Army (pre-war) was only about 26,000 men, so coming up with a long term sufficient garrison force would take some political work back home.

Also, I think your point about shocking the European powers is correct. I can't imagine the British, French, or even German leadership looking favorably, or sitting idly by, while a nation of "cowboys and shop keepers" seized a strategic portion of the European backyard.

I think anything more than a very temporary forward base for coaling, ammunition and provision handling would have been a reach.
 
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