The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-03


There can Be no Doubt that the span
lsh lsset IN the Pseffle has beea anni-
hflafsd. II - particularly gratifying 70
the state Of Warrington that the frss
great victory should have been Led by
= war vessel named after the capital of
the state. The character OF the light
ing shows that whatever the change
may be In the character Of the war
ships and their armament. American
fighters have not changed In the least
They believed In getting In the first
blow ~ quickly ~ possible and follow
has been much sheorfxing upon the
methods TO be adopted In modern naval
warfare: and II had almost been as
sumed that the practice would be TO
fire at the enemy s& long range and
that the victory would be 10 the best
nnarksmen. Commodore Dewey has not
followed that theory.
No heroic description Of IN oid-time
battle between two Of the antiquated
wooden nsen-of-war could have been
more thrilling or more frau9ht with
personal dash ard physical courage
than the hattie just fought before Ma
Mia Instead of waiting until he could
meet the enemy In the open sea, where
the result was TO depend upon the ac-
curacy Of aim. and the proiectile force
Of the guns. he boldly entered the har-
Dor. boarding the lion In his den. and
reckless Of the forts within the range
Of whose guns ne knew himself to be.
There is no doubt that the United
States squadron was OF q higher order
than that OF the Spanlards. We had
one frst-claxs cruiser OF $500 tonnage
against one Spanish ship of 3.52S tons.
Then we had a second-rate cruiser Of
1890 tons agains. one of 3.342 tons.
Then we had two more second-rate
cruisers. one OF 3.las tons and the other
s.213 tons, 20 engage one small ship OF
1.l52 tons. and third-rate Of 1.700 tons
to engage q ship temporarily armed as
cruiser. whose tonnage. Also, was out
OF proportion to her armament. Then
we had the little Petrol. OF $50 tons. as
the only rapidly moving boat d
On the other hand, the Spaniards had
the advantage, which far more than
compensated for the difference In tom
mage. OF being In their own harbor. Of
being supported by the fire OF the forts.
which kept our ships constantly NOV
ing, and OF a feet OF six or seven. and
maybe more. gunboats which could bs
handled speedily and be sent In among
the larger vessels with very destructive
efrec; II properly directed. The dis
patches are to the effect that the Amer
lean ships Unanswered in order to es-
cape what is admitted to have been a
steady and strong fire from the forts.
These admirable tactics made 1t diff
cult for our gunners TO train their guns
upon the cnemy's ships. The advan-
tage they had was that they always
knew In advance In which direction the
vessels were TO move. whereas those in
the forts had TO keep guessing.
Commodore Dewey displayed great
courage and determination in daring
to enter the inner harbor. 1t seems
safe to assume now that the Spaniards
never supposed that a fleet OF vessels,
bulky and difficult to handle. would
have the audacity to enter the harbor.
The commander took great chances.
but he seems TO be the kind OF man
who never takes chances unless they
are fairly on his side. He could not
know whas the result would be. and
he Is too good a tactician not to have
considered the probabilities. He CAL
euiated them. prepared for them. and
left the rest 10 the skill and the co1r-
age OF his men.