Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-10-03

AS the faction called ~"Jingoes" have
lately sought to create alarm about the
weakness of the fleet and the danger of in
v~asion, the other party feels impelled to
make this ceremony peculiarly brilliant,
and glorify greatly over the ruin of the
Spanish Armada. 1t was, indeed, u great
deliverance. Caesar, the Danes, the Saxons
and William of Normandy invaded Eng
land successfully; but since the kingdom
was thoroughly established all such at
tempts have been defeated, and the Span
iards of 1898 suffered the most disastrous
defeat of all.
1t is one of the stock falsehoods in popu-
lar histories to say that the Spaniards
wanted to conquer England for religions
sake. PhilipII had many good reasons for
warning against Elizabeth. She had en-
couraged depredations on the Spaniards
by men who would now be treated as
pirates. Philip, therefore, employed all
the of his then vast dominions to
conquer England, and early in 1888 COM
pleted LA Felicissima Armada" though
another word was popularity substituted
for most fortunate," and the fleet was
styled "The Invincible Armada"
1t was n queer collection. 1t is not easy
to realize that only 300 years ago galleons
of 700 to $50 tons burden were classed as
enormous war vessels;;'' that smaller yes
selswere rowed by galley slaves, and actual
ly went into action with the hapless wretch
es chained to their benches as described in
Lew Wallace's "Ben-Hur." Yet the Span
ish record tells us that there were "sixty
g%alleons of huge size and strength" (the
largest 1850 tons), some Levantine gal
Icons carrying soldiers, four ships of the
class called "g~alliasses' carrying the heavy
cannon, and smaller war ships and vessels
carrying stores. And on this fleet were
$4,000 soldiers, 5000 sailors, 1000 galley
slaves, 1000 guns, of caliber from 4 to 80
Founders, and the commanders, with quite
a retinue of young noblemen and $50 priests,
the whole supplied with six months pro-
visions and a very lavish outfit of small
arms and ammunition. The Prince of
Parma also had in the Netherlands 30, 900
infantry and 1000 cavalry, picked men,
ready to cross as soon as the British fleet
vas put out of the way.
The British had ample warning, and
were thoroughly aroused to the need of &c
ton. The sea commanders usually spoke
of the Spaniards with undisguised con-
tempt, but the land soldiers took a very
serious view of things. for Spain was then
admitted to be the greatest power in
Europe, and Spanish infantry had done
terrible work wherever engaged in that
generation. So a commission of noblemen
and gentlemen was convened, and ordered
beacons to be set on every commanding
point on the sea coast, ready for lighting,
and continuous signals across the king
dom, that the yeomanry might gather at
instant notice. The national spirit was
~..-.l ..1 NJ nv,
borer provided himself with a weapon, if
nothing better than a stake hardened in
the fire, and the contemporary descriptions
tell of men walking the coa with picks,
scythes on poles and long handled axes.
But in the navy there were experienced
men and sensible preparations, though
both were sadly hindered by Il corrupt and
inefficient administration, and, as it turned
out, the sailors were forced suddenly to
fight when but half ready. Sir John Haw-
kins was treasurer of the navy, with gen.