The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-10

in the fercest naval battles which have
been fought in the last half century. Ref
erence TO the memorable conflict in Abe
marie sound is a sufficient illustFa ton as
to the character of her fights. That was
an instance in which the three qualities
of courage, GOODNESS, and expert gunnery
were vitality essential. The situation was
one of life and death. 1t was one in
which the least trepdation, the slightest
touch of confusion or wild excitement, the
most trivial inaccuracy in the matter of
craftsmanship, would have cost a heavy
loss in every detail.
AS it was, there was displayed a per-
lection of bravery and splendid dexterity
in sunnery which proved the excellence of
American craftsmanship both Federal
and Confederate. In fact, the general
prowess which that battle called forth de-
mOnstrated to the world that the cop1bin-
ed puissance of an amieabIe American
nation would constitute a power utterly
inyincible. II clearly disclosed that a
union OF Northern and Southern forces,
endowed with their intrepid pluck and
self-controlled GOODNESS and caImness in
battle would qualify the nation beyond the
peradventure Of a doubt to successfully
combat the best navy afoat
Il understand the striking differences
between gunnery to-day and what it was
a generation back. At the same time, 1
know equally well that exactly the same
qualities which made a good gunner then
contribute 10 the same end now. good
American knows no such thing as fear.
The word timidty is to him an unfamiliar
term. For that reason, his nerves never
become fiuttered with an excited anxiety.
There is nothing which more quickly de-
stroys accurate and deadly gunnery than
either nervousness or excitement
There may not be much of the close
range firing in this contest such as we en-
dured during the days of the civil war. In
the first place, I don't believe the Span
iards viii suffer US 40 approach too close
to their boats. Nor do / appre bend much
danger from the play of Spanish guns.
Our only source of peril. ifAhere be any at
all of consequence, will bS found in the
Spanish torpedo boats. Their action in
battle is strikingly in harmony with the
Spaniards' natural treachery of heart
They are boats which seldom attempt to
perpetrate their havoc except under the
cover of darkness or fog. Seldom will
they be seen to charge a boat under the
clear sight of unclouded conditions. They
will rather wait for darkness, for fog, or
until a heavy curtain of smoke obscures
and hides their maneuveres, and then they
Will attempt TO steal up and strike some
covert and stealthy blow. Therefore they
need watching.
Americans to-day and Americans of
thirty years ago are very largely the
same. Our present age gunners, on board
our fleets, are compelled to handle large
guns and more complicated machinery.
But the same qualities which made the
gunner of the past are equally requisite
for the gunner of the present. And those
qualities are conspicuous on ever ship.
THE condition has arisen in which 1
made a prediction, and it is a prediction
which was made thirty-four years ago.
based on experience, not on mere specula-
ton. l have stood in the midst of a storm
of shot and she'll in which Americans alone
were the hurlers of the thunderbolts. l
said then that the world contained no race
of men whose capacity for victorious
fighting could parallel the United States.
What said then / am now prepared to
reiterate. Time will soon show that when
the American guns are trained on the
Spanish enemy and American blood begins
her united fight, the ultimate ISSUE with
its train Of events, will be a speedy tri-
umphs of the Stars and Stripes. Spain
can never stand under our American
dash