The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-04

minister of marine) than TO send TO all the
newspapers comparative statistics of the
two contending squadrons. By this com
parlson he sought TO direct public attention
to the immense superiority of a squadron OF
ironclads over a squadron of wooden vessels
dried up by the heat in those ATTITUDES.
Spain undoubtedly sees therein the heroism
OF our marineS; but she sees also, and
above all, the hefarious crime of the gov
eminent. 1t is unfair to blame the enemy
for possessing forces superior to ours: but
what is worthy of being blamed with all
possible ~vehemence is this famou govern
ment which allowed our inferiority without
neutralizing it by means of preparations.
With reference to the catastrophe FL
Corregidor island, with great refiectors and
guns capable of sweeping the see for miles
around. would hays Kept the american
there were only a few wretched guns TAX
en- from the war ships a few days before.
basely delivered over to the grapeshot OF
the Yankees, a fate nobler and more worthy
of respect than those laneful minister's Who
brought about the first victory and its first
victims"
Ell Heraldo de Madrid says: "It was no
caprice of the fortunes of war. From the
very first cannon shot our fragile ships were
at the mercy of the formidable hostile
squadron. They were condemned to fall. one
after another, under the fire of the Amerl-
can batteries, powerless to strike and were
defended only by the valor In the breasts
of their sailors. What has been gained by
the illusion that Manila was fortified. What
has been gained by the intimation that the
broad and beautiful bay on whose bosom
the Spanish feet persisted yesterday has
been rendered inaccessible? What use was
made of the famous Island of CorregidorY
What was done with its guns? Where were
the torpedoes? Where were those defensive
preparations concerning which we were re-
quested to keep silence?"
Ell Heraldo. referring further on to the
extent of the disaster, says: I'VE cannot
it for the Information of the country; and
although the greater portion of yesterdays
Gabi soHe c%0nnS1i MAS MAS Tef,5ged t to , the subject aS1 ! !;
note, leaving us in ignorance respecting its
views of this fateful event. There is moth
ments attit N this matter is a desire to
hide a part the truth. This, however.
EI Libera ands that Parliament insist
on having thrown upon the causes OF
the Manil .lsaster. 1t says: Those of
whom in THESE columns we have requested
an explanation of the occult causes Which
brought about the catastrophe of Manila
have met our demands with silence. They
have employed force to silence those who,
real authors of a great misfortune and for
this nave proclaimed a state of siege. Our
eyes would indeed be full Of tears md our
souls filled with sadness, but our vital
forces would not be weakened if we were
certain that the destruction of our Philip
pine squadron and the glorious death of its
crews were attributable solely to wars
vicissitudes. Unfortunately. we have not
this consoling gertrude. Unfortunately, we
49, SA ~
the disaster of Sunday will be repeated in
other places owing to the same causes. This
suspicion, embodied in the public conscience,
does not allow the investigation of the ac-
cuSation, and, If necessary. the punishment
to be delayed. Our fatherland requires its
soldiers to fight without Analysing the risk
or counting the numbers, but not that they
should do this under conditions of horrible
inferiority and while employing weapons
deprived of their edge"
Some of the assertions of FL Heraldo have
caused still further sensations in Madrid.
1t says: Even a purely numerical advan-
tage, if we had enjoyed II, would have been
utterly useless without guns of larger cali
Der, without protection and without the
means of attaining a speed equal to hat
of the enemy's ships. 1t is not a question
of numbers, but of the quality of the war
ships. We are certain that Admiral Mont
ejo himself and the brave officers OF his
squadron did not entertain one moments
hope of victory. We have reasons for be-
lieving that the admiral over and over
again drew the governments attention to
the insufieiency Of his forces and resources.
and repeated these warnings in very unmis-
taxable terms Immediately after the decla-
ration of war;"