The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-07-23
WORK OF OUR FLEET.

At the present moment all navy de-
psrtments are studying the extra.
ordinary features of the battle between
the fleets at Santiago, says the Globe
Democrat. On one side four heavily
armored cruisers were smashed :, up
with loss of hundreds, and on the
other not q ship WAS harmed, while
she casualty list wasFone killed two
wounded. This is war with terrible
slaughter for one corebatant and prsc-
ticsl Immunity for the other. If this
condition we're permanent there would
be no more war. But the Spanish
were not aware that their navy was
impotent. When y their nset At
Manila was destroyed they clsimed
that it was unarmored and outclsssed.
But at Santiago they had four Of the
finest armored cruisers extant. Their
belt Of steel WAS twice as thick IS that
Of the Brooklyn, ship that punished
them terribly, without injury to her
self, though the Spanish FIRE was con-
centrated upon her. Even the little
Gloucester, which Was in the thick Of
the fight, escaped the slightest damage.
The speed Of the Oregon and the
Brooklyn prevented the escape OF the
Colon, and SO the victory was rendered
complete. =.
In looking over the results Of this
battle, the Spanish must be amazed to
fnd that they used their splendid in
struments with 30 little effect in battle
LISTING over tive hours. Such intense
humiliation is new to the SpaHfsf
navy, even though it's modern record
is one OF continuous defeat At San.
tiago, Cervera, 3 life-long sailor, was
erushingly beaten without getting In .
counter blow. The Inference II nstural
that Watson would smash up Camera
In the same manner, and itsis quite
reasonable to suppose that the Spanish
Admiral would net venture to fight In
the light Of what is now known Of the
remarkable efficiency Of the: American
navy. After two such disasters a.
those at Manila and Santiago the
proper course 10 to study causes and
keep out Of rarge.st The prestige Of
victory IL with the Americans. They
know what they. can do with their
ponderous ships and big guns, as we'll
as with the lighter Weapons Of warfare.
Spain has nothing left with which to
face US on the ocean, and the sckuowl.
edfment of the fact is wise.
Naval dspsrtmenss abroad are ask
ing how the Americans accomplished
this wonderful exploit. An answer to
the question is Of supreme importance
to them. Spain has shown that q |
nation may own, fine, modern, srmored
ships sad yet Be utterly helpless on
the ocean. The Spanish. sailors were
not lacking In courage. The Spanish
guns were almost equsl$Sin caliber te
the American. Where then IEas The
di6erences~ Every naval
,will>4ry to- clear up the
n admitted that the
American crews arc; superior 10 intel
ligence and energy. Their trninihe [
has been far more thorough. They
handle the mechsnism Of an srmored
war-ship to better advantage. Their
tactics ere more direct and aggressive.
Fighting is their trade, and they never
shirk it. Onssof the captains Of an
American eruissr has hung upon his
lhip Q motto that the best way to es-
sspe the enemy's Ire is to give him
swo shots for ono. The projectiles
hurled upon :cervsra were q binding
storm. Every shot was sined by
KILLED hands. Tbs result WAS Ger
sainty. To reach the American level
,thsr naviss must produce crews OF
,qual character, shn< and vigor, and
'hips equally good.F |