Evening journal., 1898-07-28
CAPTAIN NIAHAN ON THE AIR
MAZDA.

to the June Century an article on "The |
Spanish Armada" Introductory to a
longer paper on the same subject by
William Frederick Tllton. Captain
Mahan says, among other things:
The Armada entered the English
channel on July 30, and on the 9Th OF
August anchored of Calais, having
traversed the channel successfully In
weeek. There several actions had oc-
Cured. Mono was decisive; but all
tended generally In favor OF the Eng
lish, who utilized their advantages OF
speed and artillery to hammer the foe
with their long guns, while keeping
out Of range of his muskets and lighter
cannon. The Spanish losses in bat
tie, by a Spanish authority, were
600 killed and 500 wounded. The Eng
lish loss. from the first to last, did
not reach 100. Such discrepancy tells
Its own tale; but It is to be remember-
ed. moreover, that men slain means
sides pierced and frames shattered.
Shot that fly wide, or that cut spars,
sails and rigging, kill comparatively
few. With hulls thus damaged, the
Spaniards had to confront the equi-
noctlal gales of the Atlantic.
At Calais, friendly town, Parma
might possibly join; but there was ne
harbor for big ships. and It was un-
reasonable to expect that he, with the
whole charge Of the Netherlands on his
hands, would be waiting there, ignO-
rant when the fleet would appear, or
whether It would come at all. Medina
Siuonia sent him word of his arrival;
but It could not be hoped that the
English would allow the feet to oc-
cupy that unprotected position undis-
turbed. The wind being to the west
ward they anchored at a safe distance
to windward, and on the night Of Au-
gust sent against the Spaniards eight
fire-ships. The ordinary means Of di-
yerting these falling, the Spanish ad-
miral got under way. In this opera
ticn the fleet drifted nearer the shore,
and the wind next day coming out
strong from the northwest and setting
the ships bodily on the coast, he, un-
der the advice OF the pilots, stood into
the North Sea. Had Flushing been
in their possession, It might with good
pilots, have afforded a refuge; but Il
was held by the Dutch. The enemy's
ships, more weatherly, drew up and en-
gagged again; while the continuance OF
the wind, and the clumsiness OF the
Spaniards, threatened destruction upon
the shoals OF the Flemish coast. The
sudden shifting Of the wind to th,
south saved them when already in only
six or seven fathoms OF water Here
again. was no bad luck; nor could i
be considered a misfortune that th'
southerly breeze. which carried then
to the Pentland Firth. changed to tn,
northeast as they passed the Orkney.
and entered the Atlantic, being thus
fair for their homeward course.
The disasters OF the Armada were
due to the following causes: l. Th'
failure to prescribe the effectual Grip
ping OF the English navy as a eondi
ton precedent to any attempt at In
vasion. 2. The neglact to secure be
fOrehand a suitable point for making
the Junction with the army. COmbina
: tions thus instrusted to chance havI
no right to expect success. 3. Th
several actions with the English fail
: ed because the ships, which could ex
ert their power only close to the en-
emy, were neither 30 fast nor so hand
} as the latter. Only thdse who have tn
advantage of range car afford inferior
fly OF speed. 4. The disasters in th
Atlantic were due either to original un
seaworthiness, or to aamage receive'
in action, or to bad judgment in taking
unweatherly ships tou close sO tn
shores OF ireland. whsr strong west
3 erly gales prevailed, aod the coast wa
inhospitable.