The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
Resolutions Adopted.
block naxray,et,t n
SPANS FAMOUS ARMADA.
The Great Fleet of 1883 and What
Became of II.
Chicago Times-Herald.


The armada. Such has been not map
propriately called the fleet of torpedo boats
that Spain IS now sending TO these shores.
That other armada of Spain, preserved in
song, history and fiction. was a different
matter. We prefer to call such a power a.
fleet, and armada is only the Latin equiva-
lent, meaning an armed force whether of
sea or land. But armada let it be
This armada of 1898 is constituted of ff-
teen vessels That armada Of l5Ss was con-
stitUted OF 100 vessels BY the best author
tiles it is said to have had sixty-five gal
Icons and great ships, twenty-five 800 and
200 ton boats nineteen tenders thirteen fri
had a tonnage of 1885 tons 1t was armed
with 2435 guns, 10000 rounds of shot and
more than 5000 hundred weight of powder
OF sailors there were $3.50 and of soldiers
10000 The church was represented by 200
fathers and monks. This tremendous sea
force was sent by, Philip II to destroy Eng
land and it's queen, Elizabeth, and to re-
store the people of the country to their
mother church. For years it had been in
was such a power concentrated. With oil
that. SPANS little armada of to-day, now
pushing its proWs westward could have
blown it out of the sea in one hourl
Right bravely did Spain's power set sail
from Lisbon on May %, 1888. 1t set out with
colors flying and with provisions for six
months. 1t returned to Spain five months
later with fifty-four ships battered and
bruised, and Il handful of men that were so
emaclated as to be scarcely able to go
ashore. Englands victory is claimed by
some to be due to God. by others 70 be due
to the sea, by others TO be que To BRUSH
pluck. However that may be- the armada
seemed to be doomed from the first. Soon
after sailing it was dispersed by storm
that ripped it's masts from their sockets and
tore its sails like rotten rags Tt returned.
concentrated once more. and again sailed
forth in the following July. When Philip
began to get his armada together England
had thirty ships. BY toe time the armada
sailed this number had been materially i'm
creased chiefly by merchant ships converted
into cruisers This fleet was manned by
1900 good and Indifferent sailors, but the
commanders were the bravest, boIdest and
most skilled mariners in the world. Lord
Howard of Et1ngham was at the head of
the navy. and under him were such noted
sailors and fighters Sir Francis Drake,
Hawkins. F'robisher and some others who
as honorable and fearless buccaneers had
filed the royal Golfers with good Spanish
gold I'm all the wild history of the sea there
is no man SO picturesque as Sir Francis
Drake.
Howard waited until he was warned that
the armada was in sight and would soon
pass Plymouth. In July the Spaniards were
seen standing up the channel. The ships
were deployed in the shape Of d crescent
seven miles long and their number Was now
$50. They Were in command of the Duke of
Medina Sidonia. That night Howard sailed
Crt Of Plymouth sound, and when day came
the Spaniards saw the enemy IN full Jig
The duke ordered the ships to close in and
begin a general engagement. This was at
tempted. but it failed. Howard had mapped
out his plan in advance. The English ships