The herald., 1898-05-08
ExPfRIS ARE PUZZLED
ALMOST UNABLE TO BELIEVE
: THE TRUTH
WHAT DEWEY DID OFF MANILA
Has Enectually Disposed Of Spanish
Prestige as Naval Power-Dip-
lomats Make Comments


lomats Make Comments
Associated Press Special Wire
: WASHINGTON. May IA day Of ex-
citement such as today has not been seen
In Washington since the days when re-
ports came In Of great victories during the
civil war. Official and unofficial WASH
ington was in ferment, and few Of the
employees in any of the departments could
maintain their composure sufficiently to
30 on with their routine work. The ex-
citement was contagious, and senators
and representatives mixed into the crowds
that gathered around the navy head
quarters and gazed wistfully at the ma
hogany doors Of the navigation bureau,
behind which the cipher experts, under
lock and key. were slowly decipherins the
words that conveyed Dewey's glorious
message to the American people.
Wonder Grows
A close study of Admiral Dewey's two
cablesrams during the day only increased
the wonder felt early in the day by the ma
val experts at the extraordinary results
achieved by the admiral almost without
injury. The reports that came before the
cutting Of the cable were of character to
indicate that Dewey was going to make
quick and thorough work of the seizure of
Manila. but 1t was feared that in 50 fierce
m engagement against Spanish fleet,
combined with the shore defenses, the
American heet must surely have sustained
q great deal Of damage. loss of life and
other injuries That was regarded as in
evitable in a combat between two navies,
for even the Chinese, in the battle Of Yalu,
managed to infiict a considerable amount
of damage upon their Japanese antago-
nists.
Yet, in this battle Of Manila, lasting two
hours at least, according to the reports
received, and resulting in the destruction
Of the entire Spanish fleet. and the silence
ing Of their forts, not an American life was
lost and not an American ship was in
Jured. A few men, 1t is true, were slight
ly wounded, but that is frequently the
case when vessels indulge in target prac-
tice. There are all sorts of theories
among the officials to account for this, but
In the absence of facts, it is hard to form a
reasonable hypothesis.
Wait for the Mail
Probably the true explanation will not
be Forthcoming until mail advices are at
hand, but the Spanish naval prestige has
received blow from the battle of Manila
from which It cannot recover for very
many years.
Admiral Dewey cut the cable himself.
and though he offers no explanation for
doing so, 1t is believed his purpose was not
only to prevent the Spanish governor
from communicating with his own govern
ment. but also to prevent the foreign con-
suls at Manila from interfering with his
plans by cabling protests to their govern
ments. He made 1t impossible for them
to summon any war vessels to enforce the
protest they were expected to make
against the siege Of Manila.
Two More Vessels
A closer examination Of the two cable
grams shows that in the news, as original
ly given out, the names Of two Spanish
vessels had been omitted from the list of
those destroyed. These were the Don
Juan de Austria and Isla di Luzon. The
Austria was 113O-ton vessel, IA knots,
carrying four 7-inch guns, and also ma
chine guns. This makes eleven ships de-
stroyed by Dewey in the short space of
two hours.
Diplomats Comment
Inc refuarkdDi0 disparity between the
casualties on the American and on the
Spanish ships. as shown by Dewey's re-
ports, was a source Of special comment,
and the military attache Of one Of the
embassies said such disparity was without
. parallel in history. That the spaniards
should have lost $50 killed and $50 wound
ed, while the American loss was confined to
few men slightly injured, is regarded by
the foreign observers as clearly disclosing
the utter worthlessness of Spanish arms
The ambassador of one Of the great pow-
ers said 1t showed that the guns of the
Spanish forts, as well as those on their
ships, were worthless, otherwise they
would have inflicted at least some mortali-
ty upon the American sailors.
ut recalls Solferino," said he. "At that
time France and Austria were at war, but
the range of tho French guns was longer