The San Francisco call., 1898-06-21
PERSONHL VALoR IN WAR.
\ IHEN gunpowder became extensively used in \Af war there grew up theory that 1t would put
 an end to chivalry by placing the compara-

| \AI war there grew up a theory that 1t would put
 end to chivalry by placing the compara- 1 lively weak and cautious man on an equal footing with the bravest and strongest The theory was re- futed by every that followed but lately the vast improvement made in the engines of battle has re- vived it. For many years 1t has been widely ac- cepted belief that long range guns have destroyed opportunities for the display of conspicuous gallan try on the field of battle It has been thought that since opposing forces have fight such distances from one another individual ever have a chance to show himself possessed of any extraord- nary personal heroism.
 The theory has certain foundation of fact upon which to rest In the days when battles were fought out with swords it possible for brave Hora- tius to hold bridge against army of ten thou sand. The feat could not be performed III these days. single sharpshooter of conspicuous courage could remove Horatius as obstacle with one shot Neither a commander to-day, in storming a city, distinguish himself like the lion hearted Richard of England by taking battle ax and going up to the gate and batterng 1t down. The hero who would attempt such feat would be hoist out of the fight by petard dropped from the hand of powder monkey.
 Such feats of heroic daring are gone forever, but nevertheless continues to demand valor and to afford the valiant a thousand opportunities to dis
 
 Our war with Spain affords striking illustration of the fact With all excellence Ii. the way of the mechanism of war, with all big ships, big guns and thunderous cannonading on both sides the globe the most conspicuous feature of the far has been not the mighty potency of arms, but the personal valor displayed by many of the men who wied them
 Lieutenant Bagey, seaming his little torpedo boat into Spanish harbor and boldly fighting ships and land batteries, in order to find channel by which other and larger American ships could enter the port performed deed of personal gaantry as conspicuous as that of Arnold Winldereid rushing upon an Austrian phaanx in the middle ages and gathering a dozen spears into his single breast to "make way for liberty"
 Equally eminent display of personal daring were the feats performed by Naval Constructor Hob son and Cadet Powell at Santiago Nor do these officers deserve all the credit The seven who followed Hobson will stand in fame along with him, and every story of his deed will record their with his.
 When the war broke out the Spaniards were be- ieved to be the equals of the Americans in personal courage and 1t was said they would be defeated be- cause in modern war valor does not count for so much as superiority of arms, scientific attainments and skill in the handling of the machinery of battle. Up to this time the record of the contest has shown the very opposite. We have triumphed over Spain not so much by force of superiority of armament by sheer vaor If the conflict should end now the deeds performed in it which would be longest membered would be the personal daring of few men who have made themselves conspicuous for gal lantry and heroism.