New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-02
Cuba, and no more convincing vlnoicanon Oh 'ne
VICTORY!

dispatches from the East He he"S an N0
from Spanish sources and through Spanish
channels. Whether on that account IT De or
he not Trustworthy, so much Is certain, that 1t
is not unduly favorable TO the American cause
II It depart from exact truth It is IN the other
direction What, then, is the Spanish report
officially sent by the Spanish Overwhelmed
OF the Philippines TO his home Government at
Madrid? There was a fierce battle IN the mar
Dor Of Manila and Cavite The American Meet
fought the Spanish feet and the Spanish forts
at once Two Spanish ships. the largest IN
their feet and the only ones Of more than LOU
tons, were utterly destroyed. Two others. next
in strength, were either destroyed or badly
damaged. Several others, not individually
specified. were sunk to avoid their being capt
ured The Spanish Admiral was forced 10
transfer his flag 10 a petty gunboat or l'ooo
tons And the American fleet remains In place
in the harbor Of the Spanish capital and Its
men have made and hold a landing on the
Spanish shore
tory complete and farreaching victory. for the
American arms, and utter ruin for the arms OF
Spain. For, by their own confession. the Span
lards have lost the bulk Of their feet. And
while they say they inflicted some damage upon
our ships. they do not claim to have sunk or
otherwise destroyed one OF them. The safe pre-
sumption Is, therefore, that all our vessels are
afloat with the Stars and Stripes above them.
while the bay IS strewn with Spanish wrecks
and lined along its shores with battered and
sllenced Spanish forts. 1t is result that has
been expected. but It will none the less bring
exultation to every American heart The little
target practice at Matanzas the other day pre-
pared US for good accounts Of our gunners'
work whenever they might be engaged. This
far more serious affair on the other side of the
world has shown that all ships IN the American
Navy are manned by men who know their
business, and who, though citizens OF the most
peaceful country IN the world. are yet past
masters IN the arts Of war.
The opposing fleets at Manila were described
in detail and their comparative fighting
strengths discussed in these columns a few
days ago The opinion was then expressed that
the fewer American ships would be able TO beat
the more numerous Spanish ships. IN esti-
mate that has been spendidly verified The
Spanish ships were nine in number. The Amer
leans were only six That Is. exclusive Of dis
patch and supply boats And the six beat the
nine 1t is true that the American ships were
larger than the Spanish the total tonnage Of
the six being 1861 against only 1882 OF the
nine But 1t is 10 be remembered also that the
Spanish were fighting in home waters, with
every advantage Of position on their side. They
were. moreover, lying under the guns Of friend
ly forts. The Americans had TO fight both fleet
and forts at once. and to look out for mines in
the harbor and torpedoes dispatched from the
vantage must he reckoned to have been on the
side Of the Spanards It was as II n Spanish
squadron had entered New-York Harhor and
fought our ships inside Of Sandy Hook, exposed
feet
That IN such circumstances the Americans won
IS to be attributed to the simple fact that they
are Americans. That is. they are Intelligent,
we'll disciplined and drilled clear-sighted and
steady Of nerve. fully understanding their ships
and guns, and able 10 use them IN the most
eToctiva manner Those are tho Ouolitie@ that
win. The personal factor, we have often
argued is every bit as important and pre-
dominant in these complex fighting engines as
ever In the old days when wooden frigates lay
yard-arm TO yard-arm and the boarders poured
across the blood-dripping bulwarks. 1t is vain
TO put trust I'm reeking tube and iron shard'
II men be not behind them. War is a game
Of blood and iron, but 1t is the blood that tells,
the blood and Drawn and brain In this case
we knew beforehand that the men there
men equal to any task that any men might do
and It was on that ground that confidence was
felt in the triumph Of our arms. And our arms
have trlumphed gloriously. OF that we may
be sure. 1t Is established by the enemy's con
! fession. Seven thousand miles from home in
Leslie waters our arms have triumphed. And
the summer isles Of Eden, lying in dark purple
spheres Of sea- to-day are witnessing the Stars
and Stripes floating in victory above the van
ouished flag Of Spain.
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