New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
A BORN FIGHTER.

II the latter have been praised at the expense
Of the former, 1t is perhaps pardonabie. for Mel
sons genius as a fighter so great as to
readily overshadow all his other attributes. He
had tremendous difficulties to contend with. de-
fects Of education, vanities Of temperament, and
so on. Compare him with his great contempt
rary and rival. Bonaparte. and he is obviously
the lesser man in craftsmanship and breadth Of
grasp Yet how significant 1t is that Napoleon
is the only one of his contemporaries with whom
he is fairly comparable Moreover. when the
long list Of details in the comparison has been
traversed sometimes to the advantage Of the
Englishman sometimes 10 that of his antagonist.
il is seen that on the crucial point they are al
most equally matched; in what might be called
military divnation the two closely resemble one
another Both had the penetration to seize the
true significance Of a complicated and obscure
situation to seize il in flash and to take adj
vantage quickly Of the opportunity hidden to less
gifted eyes. The difference that still exists be-
tween the two is not. however difference call
culated to exalt Nelson. Captain Mahan again
ana again points out that the insight and oppor-
tune inspiration which were so marked in Mel
son We're after ALL brought into play. not mere
~ by the special occasion. but for that occasion
alone In the most restrictive sense Of the term.
In other words, Nelson took no such broad view
of the whole European situation Napolean
took. He played for the stakes at hand, and
won them through a stroke Of genius. But hav-
ing won them. his political sagacity was insult
fcient TO show him the best path to pursue in
order to follow up the victory to the uttermost.
1t is true that England did not ask him to do
this. He was at the orders Of the Admiralty,
and with the fullest discretion that he could re-
ceive at the HANDS of that Board, he was still
far from being free rover. with nothing to do
but make war against the French he so hated.
We mention the rather obvious fact simply TO
avoid conveying the impression that Nelson fell
short Of his chances in putting a period TO his
leg when he had won victory But the caution
having been taken, due weight must be given
TO that lack Of imaginative scope and majesty
which we have noted as dfferentiating him from
his imposing French enemy.
In touching upon that lack the reader ap-
proaches at an important point the fusion Of
Nelson's public and private characters to which
refer ence has already been made. The limita-
lions in statecraft which he showed as a fighter
are the equivalents Of his limitations as man.
He was an opportunist if ever there was one,
and that an opportunist in tactics will be an OPP
portunlst in morals is proposition which might
sible His relations with Lady Hamilton, how
ever, may be for the moment passed over. What
is more important is to observe that in warfare,
at least he turned his opportunism TO such
good effect that one forgets the absence Of
well-pordered and far-reaching plan. Nelson
himself said THE object of sea-offlcer Is to
embrace the happy moment which now and then
offers, Il may be to-day 1t may be never" He
never missed the happy moment, and II the al
most stately simplicity OF his attack at Ira
falgar excites our admiration for his strategic
brilliancy. the artless character OF his splendid
stroke at Cape st. Vincent is quite as inspiring.
in fact, the latter exploit stands out In Captain
Mahans pages with the dazzling light OF an
entirely unprecedented and perfect work of
art. We will not attempt to transfer to this
place Captain Mahan's summary Of the battle.
1t is enough to state that by quick leap upon
his chance, acting without authority and with
reckless Indifference to consequences. Nelson
brought his ship, the Captain. close to the Span
sh vessels, San Josef and San Nicolas. and
there engaged them so superbly. and at such
q telling moment in the manoeuvres OF the two
fleets. that he enabled the British van to catch
up with him and continue the glorious work
he had begun. Captain Mahan notes that "the
dramatic and picturesque surroundings which
colored the seizure Of these two Spanish ships
have doubtless given an exaggerated idea Of the
danger and difficulty attending the exploit" on
the other hand. he is poweress to counteract
that idea, telling the story Of the capture
well as he does. Nelson leaped from the Cap
tain to the San Nicolas, and after a slight
brush with small arms. reduced that vessel to
complete submission. He then passed from the
San Nicolas to the main chains Of the San Josef.
and author is constrained to add that "af-
ter all. 1t was big thing. this boarding first
rate ship over the decks Of another hostile
Ship not inaptly characterized in the fleet as
Nelson's patent bridge"