The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-07
AFTER AGUINALDO
HE rs SAID TO BE TREACHERoUS
TO FRIEND OR FOE


NEW YORK, July GA dispatch to the
Tribune from London says:
Military and naval experts are enabled
to express their opinions respecting the
Santiago operations with clear knowledge
of facts. They. are critical. but this does
not imply unfriendliness to America. but
merely an intense interest in the art of
war. One of the highest officers IN the i-rit-
ish army considers that General Shafter' :
advance on Santiago was imprudent when
his force was numerically inferior to the
requirements of the capture of the town
by storm. He declares that Smarter On
landing ought to have taken up a strong
defensive position, fortified 1t and waited
for reinforcements and siege guns before
attempting to carry by storm the Spanish
position. He believes that Shafter was in
q critical position after Fridays battle, and
was only relieved by Cervera's folly in
pushing out of the harbor and allowing
Sampson to win victory on the easiest
terms.
This high officer considers that the Amer
lean campaign was not well planned and
that the serious loss of life was unneces-
sary. Other officers, while crediting the
American army with splendid dash, valor
and fortitude, are disposed to criticise what
they consider grave indiscretions in the
War Department in Washington in pub
fishing Skaters urgent call for reinforce
ments and in pronouncing a conflict in
which the American troops gained and held
advanced positions as drawn battle"
Naval experts have nothing to say in
criticism of SIMPSONS fleet and marvel at
the facility with which Cervera's powerful
vessels were driven ashore and destroyed.
The opinion expressed by journals like the
Globe that Sampson ought to have en-
tered Santiago harbor several weeks ago,
and that there has been lack of co-opera-
ton between the naval and military au-
thorities is not shared by any expert who
Is familiar with the approaches to the in
ner bay. The handling of the American
fleet is considered by skilled officers of the
British navy as beyond the range OF crit
icism. They do not admit that the battle
has much practical utility in its bearing
. upon naval warfare. For example, there
is much establishment that the torpedo boat
destroyers should have proved ineffective
even against a steam pleasure yacht, bu'
the deduction IL made that this proves
nothing since the Spaniards displayed no
skill in usir their vessels.
Memb IS of Parliament interested in ma
val matters assert that the comparative
velue Of armored cruisers and battleships
Is as much a mystery as ever since Ger
vera's fleet, with English crews on board,
might have sunk some of the most form
liable of their opponents.
Mr. William Allen, one of the most prac
teal naval experts in Parliament, contends
that the Spanish navy is of no account III
any engagement, since 1t has neither engi-
neers nor mechanics competent for scien- |
tific warfare. He does not believe that Ca
mara's feet entering the Suez canal today.
will ever reach the Philippines, and hopes
that Sampson will promptly enter Santiago
harbor.
In diplomatic circles there is a genera
feeling that the Madrid government will
rot make peace so long as there is ground |
for hoping that Germany will interfere il.
the Philippines in some way. The pres |
ence of a German fleet at Manila out of a |
proportion to any requirements of the safe |
ty of commercial interests is considered by |
some of the best informed men here con |
venient pretext for the continuance of the |
war by the Madrid government, in the des- |
perate hope that some complication ma!
arise. |
One Of the most mysterious factors in |
the situation is Aguinaldo, whose intrigues |
against his leading associates are reported |
in press dispatches. He is regarded as
Spanish insurgent of considerable capacity |
and courage, but as corrupt and unprinci- |
pied. But among diplomatists he is de-
scribed as an insurgent who was bought
up not long ago by the Spanish govern
ment, but was easily induced to act in
conjunction with Dewey in the expectation
of receiving a handsome reward. He is re-
garded as an untrustworthy and uncertain
leader, unfit to be placed in control of tn
islands. and as one who would readily
make a coalition with Germany for en-
barrassing the American forces in the is
lands.
Ambassador Hays judicious and elo-
quent speech at the American dinner is |