Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-06
Epigrams Of the War.

~
large number of epigrammatic sayings
that will go down into history. Sew
Graf American authors have added cpl
grams of priceless value to literature,
but our soldiers and sailors in the heat
of battle and the flush of victory rival
the most scholarly of them in this re-
spect. There is nothing studied or far
fetched in these; they are not epigrams
of the French school but they are the
'saber cuts of Saxon Speech" which
appeal SO strongly to the vigorous,
healthy American mind Perhaps some
every person in the country who reads
the papers, were never uttered by the
persons to whom they are attributed
Perhaps bright correspondents are re-
sponsible for some of them. but they
are all too good to be forgotten, and,
anyway, the persons said to be their
authors might have uttered them, and
ought to have done so, whether they
did or not
Bill Anthony's report to Captain
Sigsbee, Excuse me, sir; have to re-
port THAI the ship has been blown up
and is sinking" is something unique
and striking, if not strictly epigram-
matte 1t shows the GOODNESS and disci-
pline of the typical American sailor,
who has not his equal in the world. In
the awful chaos of death and destruc-
ton that ragged around, Bill Anthony
calmly saluted his captain who rushed
from the cabin and made his formal re-
port of the situation. 1t was superb,
and was equalled by Captain Sigsbee
pend Judgment message to the Ameri-
can people. That phrase no doubt
saved the country from immediate
war for which it was in no way pre-
pared All this was in Havana har-
Dor, two months before war opened
Since the war has been in progress
many of our best fighters have been as
successful as Captain Sigsbee and his
orderly in expressing themselves in
concise, mcaty English. They have
spoken as well as they have fought
I'VE will make Spanish the court
language of hades," declared Captain
Evans when war was declared and he
has certainly done his part to make his
promise good. Don't hamper me with
instructions; with my ship l am not
afraid of the entire Spanish fleet"
cabled Captain Clark of the Oregon 20
the board of strategy, and events have
proved that his faith in his magnificent
battleship was fully justified. You can
fire when you are ready, Gridley," said
Commodore Dewey, cool and calm, on
the bridge of his flagship, as his little
fleet steamed into Manila bay in the
dawning light of that ,memorabe Sun
day morning to win the most remark
able and complete naval victory in all
history. And when the same Captain
Gridley, whom Dewey addressed died
few weeks later his last words were.
THE battle of Manila killed mo, but I
would do it again" There you have
the patriotism that makes death beau
tiful and our sailors and soldiers in
vincible. ITO hell with breakfast; let's
finish 'em now, shouted a Yankee gun
ncr to his commodore, when the fleet
at Manila, its victory assured, with
drew for an hour that the men might
have something to eat. The world is
learning that the men who had rather
night than eat cannot be beaten. Don't
get in the American line of fire" said
Commodore Dewey to Prince Henry Of
Germany, and if Germany is wise it
will paste the advice in it's hat and
read it often. The hero of Manila
voiced the American spirit. We want
no foreign intervention or interference.
We can manage our own affairs. This
quarrel with Spain is our own. To the
| world we say, Don't get in the Ameri-
can line of fire.
Il have them now, and they will
never get home" said Commodore
| Schlcy whom Cervera's fleet entered
Santiago harbor. The story of how he
! kept his promise, is one of the bright
| est pages in all naval history There
| must be no more recalls; iron will break
| at last declared Lieutenant Hobson
| ready and anxious to take the Merri-
mac into Santiago harbor, a deed of in
diVidual heroism never exceled
Don tswear boys; shoot" commanded
| Colonel Wood of the Rough Riders, as
his command entered it's first engage
ment, From a military or a moral
point OF view the advice was perfect.
Don't mind me, boys; go on fighting"
| Sasped Captain Capron of the Rough
| Riders as some of his men paused 10
, care for him when he fell That was
the spirit that caused Santiago to sur
render. Self was forgotten; it was
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