Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-04-07
THE SPANISH ARMADA.
A Few Facts About the Famous Fleet
that Came to Grief 400 Years Ago.

The setback the Spanish torpedo flo
tilla has received by being forced to put
back into Cape de Verde Islands suggests
that the modern armada in the little, -
as it has been called, may meet finally the
fate of the old Armada, that came to grief
in English waters The armada of 1898
consists of SIX torpedo boats and a convoy.
The armada of 1888, SO says writer in the
Chicago Times Herald" consisted Of 130
vessels. By the best authorities it is said
to have had sixty-fve galleons and great
ships, twenty-five 300 and 400-ton boats,
nineteen tenders, thirteen frigates, four
galleasses and four galleys. 1t had ton
age of 5,S6S tons. 1t was armed with
2495 guns, $4,000 rounds Of shot and
more than 5000 hundred weight of powder.
OF sailors there were $3.50, and of soldiers,
20 900. The Church was represented by
200 fathers and monks. This tremendous
sea force was sent by Philip II to destroy
England and its Queen, Elizabeth, and to
restore the people of the country to their
mother Church. For years it had been in
preparation, and never before in history
was such a power concentrated. With all
that, Spain's little armada Of today, now
pushing its prows westward, could have
blown it out of the sea in one hour.
SAILED IN MAY, 1888.
Right bravely did Spain's power start
from Lisbon on May 29, 1883. Itset out with
colors flying and provisions for six months.
1t returned to Spain five months later
with tifty-four ships, battered and bruised,
and handful of men that were so emaci-
ated as to be scarcely able to 60 ashore.
Englapd's victory is claimed by some to
be due to God, by others to be due to the
sea, by others to be due to British pluck.
However that may be, the armada seemed
to be doomed from the first. Soon
after sailing it was dispersed by a storm
that ripped its masts from their sockets
and tore its sails like rotten rags. 1t re-
turned, concentrated once more, and again
sailed forth in the following July.
When Philip began to get his armada
together England had thirty ships. By
the time the armada sailed this number
had been materially increased, chiefly by
merchant ships converted into cruisers.
This fleet was manned by 1000 good and
efficient sailors, but the commanders were
the bravest, boldest and most skilled mari
,ners in the world. c Lord Howard, of Efing-
ham, was the head of the navy, and under
him was such noted sailors and fighters as
Sir Francis Drake, Hawkins, Frobieher
and some others who, as honorable and
fearless buccaneers, had filled the royal
Golfers with good Spanish gold. In all the
wild history of the sea there is no man so
picturesque as Sir Francis Drake.
IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
Howard waited until he was warned
that the armada was in sight and would
soon pass Plymouth. In July the Span
iards were seen standing up the channel.
The ships were deployed in the shape of
a crescent seven miles long and their num-
Der was now $50. They were in command
of the Duke of Medina Sidonia. That
night Howard sailed ont of Plymouth
Sound, and when day came the spaniards
saw the enemy in full rig. The Duke Or
dered the ships to close in and begin a
general engagement. This was attempted,
but it failed. Howard had mapped out
his plan in advance. The English ships
were maneuvered with such consummate
skill that never could the Spanish guns tell
on them. On the other hand, the Brltons
fed the galleons with shot. The Spanish
gunners and mariners were GLOW. The
British gunners and mariners were active.
Not once did Spanish shot strike, while
the Spanish ships quivered and smashed
under the English fire and their decks
were red with blood,
Heartsick at this failure, the armada
turned and sailed up the channel, with
Drake and Howard at their heels. For
six days, driven by English shot, the ar
mada retreated. Not once did the action
take on the dignity of battle. The Span
iards did not strike a single blow. Two
weeks later the Duke drew in at Calais,
but Howard routed him into the open by
sending ships set on fire into his precincts.
Howard ordered Drake to pursue, and the
fearless buccanear would have eaten up
the Spanish had his munition held out.
As it was, he had peppered 5000 of them
dead. The armada was beaten. Medina
Sidonia decided to retun 10 Spais4 around
Scotland and Ireland. AS they rounded
another storm struck them. They saw in
this the hand of their God and were over
come with great fear. But prayer availed
not. Their ships became lacerated by the
wind and wave. Many of them were
driven onto the west coast of Ireland and
they were ground to pieces and swallowed
up by the sea. Their soldiers and sailors
and priests who escaped the wet ideath Of
the ocean fell into the hands of men who
cut their throats promptly and pleasantly,
without benefit Of shrift. The others
Sank into the yeast of waves which maj
Alike the Armada's pride or spoils ol
Trafalgar.
The armada returned to Spain tobe exc
Grated by its own people.
sPAiN's MOVE TO GAIN TIME.
SHE Will Now Yield to President McKiR