The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-10
DISPOSITION OF PHILIPPINES.
II Is Thought That One Port Ought Ia BE
Held for a Coaliug station.


New York Cor. of the Philadelphia
Comparisons of views which are be-
ing made in the exchanges. I'm private
offices n the clubs maxi 1t clear that
some doubtful questions have been an
swered by the naval battle In Manila
harbor and that other quite as import
ant questions have been raised by that
victory.
1t is now regarded as fairly well es-
tablished that in a naval conflict i'm
which the opposing fleets are of about
equal strength and are handled with
equal skill the result will probably be
humiliation or at least the complete
disabling of both fleets.
That is the view which has all along
been taken here by some of the marine
engineers and IL is one which has been
suggested by some naval officers. If,
for instance, equally matched fleets,
one under the American and another
under the English flag. should meet i'm
naval conflict the probabilities are that
the. ba title would not end until both
fleets had been destroyed or at least
seriously disabled.
Therefore. II is presumed that a
smaller fleet would defeat a greater
zone. provided the lesser feet We're com
manded with the skill shown by Com
mcdore Dewey and were manned by
ailor as well disciplined n admir-
ably trained as the sailors who obeyed
Commodore Dewey's commands appear
To have been. while the greater fleet
lacked these qualities.
The opinion is general that in respect
of discipline. skill. the capacity 10
maneuver and to fire with
the fleets in American waters compare
favorably with that which Is COM
manded by Commodore Dewey. where
as. on the other hand. there is no rea-
son to suppose that the Spanish fleet
now crossing the ocean is better Off.
cered or Is manned by more competent
or better disciplined sailors than was
the Spanish fleet which me, Comma
dore Dewey's fire last. sunday morning
There is no doubt; about the drawer,
Of the Spaniard whether on land or a
sea. He fights like an animal at ba,
n he prefers to die rather than Z,
surrender. But the experience in tn,
harbor OF Manila justifies the belle
tina; the American fee when IL meeti
the Spanish ironclads now crossing tn
ocean will under tactics suitable to thu
in which the fleets meet displa,
I the same skill IN evolution and man
euvering. the serne accuracy of fir
and the perfect discipline which char
acterized Dewey's command. and 70
that reason. although the Spanish flee
now crossing the Atlantis Is more pow
erful than the one destroyed on sun
day. yet there ought to be confidenc
in the ability OF the American feet no
only 10 defeat but as completely to de
stroy the Spanish fleet as Dewey de
stroyed his antagonist.
In other words. the experience G
Sunday has cause the conviction 10 b
general here that in a naval engaes
ment ironclads victory NEAR
complete success. not merely the sue
cess established by scattering or driy
ing away the opponents. but the ann
hilation OF the opposing fleet. For II
believed that the Spanish officers wi
again destroy their vessels rather tina
surrender them. just. as they destroye
them on Sunday.
IL Is therefore the impression that
u feet wins any victory IL will be q
permanent and conclusive as that
Manila Either Spain will utterly d.
stroy u battleships and armed cruz