New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-05
SAMPSON EMELA1ES DEWEY.

The tedious vigil OF the American fleet OF
Santiago has been supcrbly rewarded. Adj
miral Sampson and his untirng command bad
TO wait long, but their chance came at last. and
the blow they struck will be remembered as
long as the flag fonts over an American war
ship Cervera's squadron. elusive, redoubtable.
long dreaded deadly to our troops though cor
nered, has been obleratcd as n fighting force.
wcllnigh all the desperately brave enemies who
manned it have been killed or captured. includ-
ing the Admiral himself and our ships are free
to combine with General Skaters army and
compel the surrender Of Santiago This Is the
achievement which SIMPSONS dispatch com
pactly describes 1t was, In truth. present
worthy of the glorious Fourth. 1t does not de-
tract from the merit Of the great performance
to say that Cervcra put himself ut SIMPSONS
mercy That. as the event proved. Is what he
did but that Is also what he doubtless hoped
with some reason to avoid and would have
avoided IL he had been dealing with seamen OF
his own cabre He did not catch Americans
off their guard nor by the suddenness Of his
sally disturb their composure or impair their
efficiency. He might have run a gantlet diff
ferently composed or II he had had different
material at his command he might ut least have
made his own destruction costly to his destroy
ers But he could neither escape the fearful
accuracy OF American gunners nor find loop
hole through the curving line OF steel which
shut him from the open sea. nor inflct even q
semblance Of the loss he suffered
When the details Of Admiral Dewey's astound-
ing exploit In Manila Bay were received and 1t
was known that he had not lost single man
in the actual fight. It seemed indeed that the
age Of miracles had not passed Now. while
the amazemcnt IS still almost strong as the
admiration which that event produced, II IL re-
peated in both its great features OF complete
achievement and insignificant sacrifice. We do
not forget that one Of Dcwey's men succumbed
as he was going into action and that Captain
Grldley was faithful unto death or that Snmp-
son has n loss Of one to report Their memories
are sacred, but reckoning as we must reckon
when stupendous forces are engaged and mo-
mentous issues are at stake It is not cruel 10 say
that the offset Is iniinlteslmal. II will always
remain n mystery that two fighting sQuadrons
could have been annihilated at the cost Of only
three lives without substantial injury 10
single one of the vessels which wrought such
havoc.
In one respect the work Of our feet OF San
tlago is an even more conclusive testimony 20
the quality Of American seamen than the work
done in Manila Bay The Asauc Squadron
was enabled to go ut its task and finish II with
out wearlsome delay. SIMPSONS men had been
under long suspense in climate which ut this
season Is fearfully oppressive. 1t seems i'm
possible to believe that their physical energy
has not been to some extent impaired by the
protraced strain. but every incident OF their
incessant watch and final onslaught shows the
eate and unsubduable spirit that fires them.
1t was great day In the shining annals OF the
American Navy; one Of the decisive days in this
glorious war.