The evening times., 1898-05-09
LESSONS OF THE BATTLE.
The Greatest Engagement in An.
cicnt or Modern Warfare.

The Greatest Engagement in AM
cicnt OF Modern Warfare.
Rear Admiral Gherardi. retired. dis
cusses the Manila battle as follows:
"The greatest tribute to the courage
and efficiency of the United States Navy
was paid when Manila fell and the Span
ish fleet sunk beneath the guns Of Com
modore Deweys squadron.
That victory is n practical Demon
stration and an additional proof. If any
be needed. that the great advantages in
naval action are the things pre-eminently
possessed by our Navy.
First, the high efficiency of the drill of
our men: the constant training they have
had in target practice and the fact that
they have been taught that the guns
aboard ship are not there to be looked at,
but to be used. and that the deadly exc
cution they are capable of doing is pos
sible only by their own efforts.
THE victory at Manila was full. COM
plete 1t would have been impossible to
exceed or add to ii in any way
What is Dewey's achievement? He
steams into Manila bay at the dead hour
of the night through the narrower OF
the two channels and as soon as there is
daylight enough to grope his way about
he puts his ships in line of battle and
brings on an engagement, the greatest in
many respects in ancient or modern war
fare.
The results are known the world over
every ship in the Spanish fleet destroy
ed the harbor Dewey's own. his own
ships safe from the shore batteries, owing
to the strategic position he occupies, and
Manila his whenever he cares to take 1t.
Quick and decisive was the blow. He
did not wait to attack a weaker place, but
struck home. unmindful of the unknown
dangers that lurked about him.
although he knew that the harbor of
Manila was so deep and broad that he
had little to fear from mines or torpedoes
at the entrance, he was, of course. aware
that at some part of She bay destruction
awaited him. Yet he took the risk, the
same as his famous predecessor and
teacher. Farragut, who. at Mobile, when
he saw one of his ships blown up by a
torpedo and another rapidly nearing de-
struction. said: Go ahead, Capt. Dray-
ton, Damn the torpedoes!' What his pu-
pills language was We do not know. but
he certainly lived up to the precepts laid
down by the then greatest naval hero.
Another point which his victory en-
phasiZes is that aggressive superiority
means much in naval warfare. In that
quality Dewey was immeasurably superior
to his opponents. His attack was fairly
storm.
Another feature that should not be
lost sight of in recounting this deed of
bravery is the fact that he was flandi-
capped woefully in maneuvering OF
course, one of the first things done at
Manila by the Spanish authorities was to
remove from the harbor all guides to
commerce, such as lights and buoys. This
having been done. it would have required
the highest grade of intelligence to make
use of the limited sailing directions left
in the hands of his navigating officers Yet
had he been maneuvering his squadron in
New York harbor. under friendly eyes,
he could not have been more successful
in avoiding treacherous Shouts than he
was at Manila. During the period of his
ships were constantly moving, vet never
went amiss.
'The reports thus far received Indicate
that the damage to his ships was as tri-
fling as the hurt to life aboard them. and
this. l think. may be attributed to the
skill shown in handling the squadron.
THE accuracy and rapidity of the fire
aaests the thorough drill and perfect dis
cipiine OF the men. and prove that they
kept ever before them Dewey's words he
fore they left Mrs Bay, Keep cool ana
obey orders "''o
That he was not ignorant of the exact
range OF the enemy's land batteries, is
shown by the fact that when he desired
he withdrew his ships and while keeping
out of range himself still kept In pIay
his own big guns.
THE lesson in this as naval exnerta
will take. is that in a wide harbor on
opposing fleet once past the Notifications
may retire at any moment out of range
of the shore guns and recuperate.
1T hasbeen a mooted point among naval
architects, the advantage of woodwork in
side ship as compared with other COM
positions. The question was only par
TALLY decided by the Yalu battle. I think
the Manila fight has conclusively settled
it. The destruction wrought by flying
splinters aboard the Spanish ships was
from all accounts fearful
"All fleets must have a leader and all
credit must be due to that leader for sue
cess in action, as in failure all censure
will be his. But we must not forget that
he has assistants to whom credit must be
given-the captain and officers of every
one of the ships. On them devolve the
duties of organization. drill and discipline
aboard ship, SO thattwhen the time comes
for practical service they will be of the
greatest value.
''The men Of Dewey's squadron were
simply samples of the efficiency of the
United States Navy. and in this case they
iobeyed instructions"