Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-07-13
CAPT. mAnAn ON THE ARMADA
The Great Naval Tacticaan Discusses
the Cause Of the Disaster.

Tho Great Naval Tacticisn Dascusses
the Cause OF the Disaster.
Can't. Alfred T. Mahan contributes
to the Century an article on ''The Span
ish Armada" Introductory to a longer
paper on the same subject BY WhnaW
Frederick Tilton. Capt Mahan says
among other things:
The Armada entered the Engnsa
Channel on July 30. and on the 0tn
of August anchored of Calais, having
trayersed tho Channel successfully In
a week. Three several actions had oc-
Cured, None was decisive; but all
tended generally in favor OF the ksn.
Rlish, who utilized their advanta8es OF
speed and artillery to hammer the fos
with their long guns. while keeping ont
Of range Of his muskets and lighter
cannon. The Spanish losses In battle,
by a Spanish authority. were six hun
dred killed and eight hundred wound
ed. The English loss, from frst to
Last, did not reach one hundred. Such
q discrepancy tells its own tale; but II
10 to be remembered, moreover, that
men slain means sides pierced ami
frames shattered. Shot that ny wide,
or that cut spars. sails. and rigging.
kill comparatively few. With hulls
thus damaged, the Spaniards had to
confront the squinoctial gales of the
Atlantic.
At Calais, q friendly town, Parma
might possibly join; but there was no
harbor for big ships. and it was IN
reasonable to expect that he, with the
whole charge Of the Netherlands on
his hands. would be waiting there, is-
norant when the feet would appear. or
whether 1t would come at all Medina
Sidonia sent him word Of his arrival;
but It could not be hoped that the En-
glish would allow the feet to occupy
that unprotected position undisturbed.
The wind being to the westward, they
anchored at a safe distance to wind /
ward, and ON the night Of August
sent against the Spaniards eight fire
ships. The ordinary means of divert
ing these failing. the Spanish admiral
got under way. In this operation the
feet drifted nearer the shore. and the
wind next day coming out strong from
the northwest and setting the ships
bodily on the coast, he, under the ad-
vice OF the pilots, stood into the North
Sea. Had Flushing been in their pos
session, II might, with good pilots. have
afforded q refuge; but 1t was held by
tie Dutch. The enemy's ships. more
drew up and engaged again;
while the continuance Of the wind, and
the clumsiness Of the Spaniards, threat
ened destruction upon the shoals OF
the Flemish coast. The sudden shifting
Of the wind to the south saved them
when already In only six or seven faith
oms Of water. Here. again. was no
bad luck: nor could It be considered
that the southerly breeze.
which carried them to the Pentland
Firth, changed to the northeast as they
passed the Orkneys and entered the
being thus fair for their home
ward course.
The disasters Of the Armada were
due to the following causes: 1. The
failure to prescribe the efectual Grip
pling Of the English navy as a condi-
lion precedent to any attempt At inva-
sion. 2 The neglect to secure before
hand . suitable point for making the
Junction with the army. Combinations
.hus intrusted to chance have no right
10 expect success. 8. The several ac-
ions with the English failed because
he ships, which could exert their pow
n only close to the enemy. were neither
70 fast nor 30 handy as the latter. Only
hoao yho n a va tho odvo NJ q On ~ opya
an afford inferiority Of speed. 4. The
disasters In the Atlantic were due
either to original unseaworthiness, or
o damage received in action, or to bad
Judgment In taking unweatherly ships
90 close to the shores Of Ireland.
where strong westerly gales prevailed,
md the coast was inhospitable.