Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-07-28
England on the American Navy

AltnOugn Jne achievements VI Jul
navy in the brief ninety days Of the war
speak for themselves and stamps the
quality Of our ships and men as second
to none, it would be mere affection to
say that we are insensible to the instant
recognition which our brilliant success
has received at the hand of the English
people, This recognition has been too
instant unanimous and altogether spon-
taneous for us to doubt for q moment
that it represents the national senti-
ment.
1t is well known that the ideas Of the
English people are reflected with great
Inuerfry rher leading Journals, and
the following comment on the Santiago
engagement will be of special interest.
The Saturday Review remarked:
1T is impossible for us not to feel a
certain pride in these achievements OF
men of our own race. Every English
man, too, will remember that 1t was
the possession of this same quality
the fine workmanship which the
Americans display-which gives us
victory both ON land and sea; and some
thing peculiar and noble happened IN
this fight which showed in far higher
way the kinship between the two peo-
pies:
" Don't cheer, shouted Captain
Philip, the poor devils are dyingP 1t
seems to US that this expression OF
tender, sympathetic humanity is just
as fine as the Kiss me, Hardy, OF the
dying Nelson"
In the course Of a lengthy review OF
the fight, The Spectator said:
THE whole performance OF Admiral
Sampsons feet was in accordance with
the best traditions of the Anglo Saxon
navies, and every Englishmnn has read
Of their doings with flush OF pride.
There was the same old, hard pounding
as the Elizabethan seadogs used. the
same curious mixture of steadiness, dar-
ing, coolness, and reckless dash. The
moral aspect Of what was almost the
first and Of what must be the last fleet
action between the Spanish and English
races is very much alike. In both
cases it was the man behind the gun
who, in the last resort, won the battle.
The battle shows that the American
navy is q most efficient fighting ma
chine. We did not need to be told that
here. We knew it already. They
however, did not know it on the Cont
neut, though they apparently know it
now. For ourselves we have little
doubt that the American fleet could
face even that OF France without any
great risk of disaster, in spite of the
fact that, by the rules, the French fleet
is ten times stronger. We believe this
could be done il it were needful; but it
won't be, as America won't be attacked
by France without our taking hand
in the game. Sampson, Dewey, and
the officers they have the happiness to
command are able to destroy French
ships Of vastly superior power, just as
we did hundred years ago.
"As for the German and American
navies, there can, Of course, be no com
parison. The Germans are fine sailors
and brave men, but navy struggle be-
tween the United States and Germany
would be very short and very com
plete.
The Speaker remarks: The greatest
credit is due TO the American navy for
the manner in which this operation has
been carried out Like the exploit Of
Dewey, the sea fight at Santiago has In
his American kinsman n worthy ally
and rival. so far MS her fleet Is con
cerned, America need not fear compari-
son with any country in the world.
II will be seen that the English peo-
pie. who follow all naval operations and
devolopement with feverish interest.
have been quick to recognise that the
secret Of our success lies in our excel
ent gunnery. The estimate OF our
ability to face the French feet ten
times stronger" than our own, makes
too much both Of our own prowess and
the numerous superiority OF the
French. Their feet il not ten times
nor even three times as strong "a our
own If it be taken at three times as
strong in ships and material we agree
with The Spectator that the personal
element would probably, as in the last
century, more than offset the difference.
Scientific American.