The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-26

Mr.. George w. Gable, the novelist, now in
England, says Englishmen think Americans
do not take themselves seriously enough
and do not appreciate their own greatness.
AS an example, he says, they point out
that the American newspapers continually
use expressions of surprise at the success
of our arms in the present war. They say
that the papers seem to regard 1t quite
an unexpected thing that our soldiers and
sailors should be cool under fire and should
display such heroism and excellence of dis
cipline. In England they regard such traits
as a matter Of course. They don't expect
prise when their soldiers and sailors do
their duty. They have no more doubt that
their men will behave like veterans and win
glory for England than they have of the
names Of their ships or regiments
There is some foundation for this COM
ment. There was undeniable and general
surprise over the first great achievement of
our navy, that at Manila, and the feeling
was only less in degree when Cervera's
fleet was destroyed. The surprise in this d.
rection may be easily accounted for. The
navy, and its supposed knowledge was in
the nature of transformation. There was
a general impression, growing out Of the
talk of public men who were supposed to
know what they were talking about, that
our navy was inferior to most European
navies, both in character and number of
vessels. 1t was known of course, that we
hI1ild haff
but 1t was vaguely suspected that these
would not stand the test of real war. The
country had not, in fact, been actively in
terested in the navy, it's participation in real
warfare seeming very unlikely, and its con-
struction and maintenance concession to
rational pride rather than an actual neces-
sity. The great agricultural and manufac-
turing community had read with more or
less interest about the white squadron"
gave them only passing attention while at
tending to more pressing matters. 1t may
be truly said that the discovery that we
really had a navy in good working order,
and of which other nations were afraid,
was made by multitude of people in the
United States on receiving the news of the
Dewey victory on the first of last May.
Even then it was half doubted if such a
triumph could be repeated, and when it was
repeated the surprise was only degree less
than before. 1t was not that the people
doubted the courage of officers or seamen;
they had simply given so little thought to
their existence, their training their mpor-
lance, their ships as factor in the public
service, that the surprise was that of the
learner. not of the unbeliever. That this is
the case is shown by the different attitude
toward the deeds of the army. The cour-
age, the daring, the endurance and the per-
Torrance of the troops, both volunteer and
regulars, at Santiago were wonderful and
excited the amazement and admiration of
representatives of foreign armies there for
sightseeing purposes, but were accepted by
Americans with qualification, to be sure,
but as a matter of course. The army has
been in evidence far more than the navy;
the personality and traditions of the Amer
lean soldier come a little closer to the peo-
pie than those of the sailor, and it is as
stunned that he will meet all demands upon
him. The surprise would be were he to fail
in this direction
But the American people learn rapidly.
They are getting acquainted with their
navy now and have such confidence in lit
that they look with serenity at the pro-
posed bombardment of the ports of Spain
an undertaking that would have filled them
with CONSERVATION three months ago. Eng
land has had more experience in naval war;
fare than we, and it is natural that the
Briton should regard the matter in some
what different light, but if, hereafter, as
seems likely. We are to have colonies across
the seas, with the attendant probability of
trouble with alien nations, our navy, al
ready a joy to us, will be to us as constant
source of pride and comfort as England
finds hers.