The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-04
BRITISH pUMFOUNoED.
Expected Dewey TO Win. but DID No.
Believe ITO Would Annihiiats.

Expected Dewey To Win, hut bid Not
Believe ITO Would Annihiiats.
New York, May g. England has been
staggered by Commodore Dewcy's over.
whelming victory, says a dispatch 10 The
World from London. The superiority
Of the United States squadron was rec
ognized, but IL was fully believed that IL
would have been counterbalanced by
the assistance afforded the Spanish feet
by the submarine mines and the power.
ful shore batteries.
The splendid seamanship and yalor Of
Commodore Dewey In forcing an en-
trance TO Manila harbor In the face Of
these defenscs excite intense admiration.
while among naval experts the dispatch
with which the American squadron dis
posed Of the Spaniards is held 20 prove
that Commodore Dewey employed the
resources at his command with the high.
est possible amount Of effectiveness
Lord Charles Beresford said
ut was brilliant stroke Every.
thing, rs said to you before, depends
upon the man In modern naval warfare.
dewey is an able officer lie brought
his coal and workshops with him. lie
thought out and planned the whole AZ.
fair with consummate skill and fore.
sight"
Sir John Colcomb, high naval au.
thority and artillerist, said:
From the accounts available gather
that the Spanish fleet Is destroyed com.
pletely and in every respect. ] dare say
that when we receive information from
non-spanish sources It's completeness
will be even more striking What APP
pears TO me and those with whom have
discussed the news the most disgIaceful
feature OF the action Is the failure Of the
Spanish batteries 10 give effective assist
ance 10 their feet OF course, the feet
itself was entirely outclassed. But that
does not account for Dewey being per
mitted to euter the harbor, which Is pro
vided with proper modern defenses
: 1.-THE fact that he was able TO form uT
! the squadron for the blockade Of Manill
. Immediately after defeating the Spanish
/. feet proves that his ships could hav'
sustained no material injury.
/. THE result Of this engagement sus
tAins the view / expressed short tim
since, that the Spaniards are no mattel
whatever for the Americans either n
strategy or the skilled use Of modorl
weapons Of war"
Gibson Bowles, NJ. p. also an author
: ity on naval matters said:
ut is perfectly clear in my opiuio
that the Spanish feet has been knocke
C into a cooked hat They are only LET
n ting NJ know the facts by degrees an
some things in their dispatches ara No
II easy to comprehend.
n Political consequences are likely I
/. snme from ,ho UoIns State. eapturc {
O the Philippines, which has excited in
menso interest here. Germany hs
=. long had a coyetous eye upon these rio
islands, while British interests haN
been a bar 10 any deal between Spai
and Germany in relation 10 them. j
pan also is known 10 eagerly desil
- these possessions.
"Dewey's victory has suddenly place
, the United States in an important p
sition In connection with the far cas-
=" ern question. European interests
Cuba are remote, almost academic, bl
the Philippines is an entirely diherei
matter II is believed that the Unite
M States can use the possession Of Il
Philippines a. powerful lever 10 for,
Spain to abandon Cuba through d
pressure Of European powers, who 4,
~ not want Spanish colonial disrupt,
a. in the far east to take place until d
n Chinese problem Is settled "
'" Sir Charles Dixie said;
in "The United States possession Of d
"A Philippines raise numerous importa
and delicate points for the oonsidenti'
r. OF the powers should not BE- surpris
10 II eventually the United States secur
IA the valuable good will OF japan by han
ing over the Philippines 10 them"
Sir John Colcomb, on this point, sal
IL II san event Of enormous intorr
o' tional Importance. should not be ~
prised II the German emperor "
spurrod 10 some startling action by :
nj prospect of his dream of possession
Ne the Philippines being shattered by !
IL American triumph. He has big squl
nm ron In the China seas, with his brotl
-e. In command, and we may hear Of so
ds significant move on the part Of Il
NO squadron within a day or two, do
IA believe he can at still In the face Of 81
us a blow 10 his most cherished hopes.
no "The idea, II not the hops, prevail,
here that the Spanish feet would pr,
a tough opponent for the United sta
has now been entirely dispoll and
confidence In the Spanish fighting poy
~ Is gone. %