The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-05-27
WHAT THE WAR CRITICS SAY.
Not yet Il

At this writing (s4th) the long and try
ing inactivities and delays that have at
tended the operations Tor inoperation) of
our military and naval forces have incu-
bated broods of war critics not only in all
parts, of the land, but in every part of the
world. This has been adefensible, if not,
as it is not, pleasant fact to record. AT
home. where the entire horizon of strife
is generally bare to the vision of multi
tudes who had much strategical and tao
tical experience on land and sea in our
civil war, Impotence at the Fabian poll
icy of somebody, or some set of bodies, in
authority somewhere is deeply and loudly
expressed, while, abroad, public criti-
cism deals chiefly with the great tardi-
ness with which Dewey's gallant victory
at Manila has been supported and his sit
uation relieved. Indeed. no actual relief
can now reach the Philippine squadron
earlier than in July-and that, criticism
aside, is certainly deplorable. An Eng
lish naval writer in friendly review de-
clares that this delay could not have hap
pened in the day even of wooden bulls.
And we find that the numerous critics
much as we regret to say it-seem to
hold some tenable ground and can readily
enough elucidate their syilogisms as to
what the situation could have been made
by prompt and practical handling. If the
government, for instance, had not relied
on Dewey to win, it would have ordered
him home; and when it told him to fight,
at that instant it should have, day and
night, doubled every energy to hasten to
him men, munitions and supplies. Fiji
teen regiments of regulars could have
been turned at once toward Manila, and
that would have put the Philippine ques-
ton safely out of the problem.
They claim that the blockade of Ha-
vana should have been effected by de-
stroying promptly every Spanish ship in
preparation at any harbor of Spain or of
her West Indian dependencies, and that
the enemy's whole purpose of increasing
and perfecting his fleets could have been
shattered by restless and daring assaults
on his ships or formations wherever they
were even in the harbor of Cadiz
OF course. the war critics haven't any
more usefor strategy boards than for
straw batteries. They claim that coun-
Gil of experts or otherwise not absolutely
on the field of operations is practically
far better out of existence. A board
helpless to eight out its formulas can
accomplish no victories by just thinking
them out. The critics tell US there was
never a strategy board that wasn't over
cautiously defensive and fearful for the
safety of points utterly improbable Of
hostile attack. and that its inevitable in
huence is to impede practical results and
to chill the ardor of those in command at
the seat of conflict and danger. They
cite the operations of Farragut, Grant,
Sherman and Dewey, of Lee and Jack
son, notable as campaigns s'without or
ders, and invite few examples of sue
cess under long-distance direction.
Other things the war critics are saying,
but we shall advise patience, watchful-
ness and GOODNESS. Experience is slow
but thorough teacher to all who would
learn. There are lots of big chunks Of
wisdom for us to get ont of this war.