The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-20
RIGHT ARM OF THE NATION


The American people have much to be
grateful for and to be proud of In remi-
niscences Of the war with Spain, now
happily merged into. peace. Conspicu-
Gus among these Is the action of our
feet in Cuban waters. particularly in
the blockade OF the port of Santiago and
the subsequent destruction of Cervera' S
fleet.
Our people, in the last few weeks, have
had such an embarrassment Of riches
In the way Of military and naval tri-
single out any one instance of military
or naval adventure demanding or de-
serving their special recognition or high
est note Of praise. Nor do we intend,
especially at this early day. ere treaty
of peace has progressed further than the
initiatory stage, to provoke any conten-
ton to that end. The disinterested and
unimpassioned pen of history will, in
good time, show to whom and to what
circumstances that note of highest praise
Is due.
But It is a labor Of love to Americans
everywhere to refer to the splendid dis
cipline maintained in that fleet and the
high standard of naval duty manifested
throughout that blockade by the officers
and crew Of every vessel under the COM
mands Of Admiral Sampson and Commo-
dore Schley. This discipline and its i'm
mediate results have been surprise to
the great naval authorities Of the world.
There Is a feature of this discipline
this intelligent regard for logical Sc
Quences, this acute sense Of RESPONSE
bility for high and sacred trust-which
the general public, by reason of the "em-
barrassment" referred to. does not grasp
in its entirety. 1t consists of the amaz-
ing, instant engagement in action, by
our battleships and cruisers, of Cervera' IS
fleet, almost upon the very moment of
its emerging from the harbor Of Santi-
ago.
Let the public recall the possible con-
sequences Of the escape of the hostile
ships. Let the sentiment of apprehen-
sion which, in view of the menaced bonn
bardment by Cervera's fleet. prevailed
in the undefended cities Of our Atlantic
seaboard. and all the evils, real or ap-
parent, consequent to the presence of
this powerful Spanish armada in Ameri-
can waters, and the Importance of its
destruction at once reveals itself. Let
Il also be borne in mind that from the
time 1t was definitely ascertained that
Cervera's fleet was bottled up in San
tiago harbor until that fatal July morn
ing when. in vain effort to escape. it
was IN a brief moment literally wiped
out of existence by American guns, five
long weeks OF patient watching and wait
ing were endured by the officers and men
of the squadrons under Sampson and
Schley.
Does the general public realize the i'm
perative requirements Of this long vigil?
There was not single moment, day
or night, when this vigilance could be
relaxed. The battleships of the enemy,
concealed behind the headlands OF San
tiago harbor, were known to be swifter
than our own, equal in naval appoint
ment, and one Of them. at least, supe-
rior in point of weight of metal and
numerical strength Of crew. But no man
knew at what moment of the day or
night these Spanish en-of-war might
emerge from tbeir hiding place and ten
der battle or attempt to escape. Hence.
there was no let-pp in the vigilance of
the blcckading feet. Its purpose in those
waters was the capture or destruction Of
that Spanish armada. and the least SUI
pineness In its vigilance might be seized
- the opportune moment of the willy
spaniard. Not only was there ceaseless
watching for the enemy. but every yes
eel e the feet. or suficiedt number to