The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-03
SPAlN'S MOST FAMOUS ARMADA
From the Chicago Times-Herald.

From the Chicago Times Herald.
The armada. Such has been not inap- |
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 power a
fleet, and armada is only the Latin equiv
alent. meaning an armed force, whether
of sea or land. But armada let it be.
This armada of 1898 is constituted Of If |
teen vessels That armada of 1888 was
constituted of 1870 vessels. By the best su-
thorities it is said to have had sixty five
galleons and great ships, twenty-five 800
and 7o0-ton boats, nineteen tenders, thir-
teen frigates, four galleasses and four sal
leys 1t had a tonnage of 1888 tons. 1t
was armed with 2,435 guns, 1250OO rounds
of shot and more than 5000 hundredweignt
of powder OF sailors there were $3.50 and
of soldiers 10000. The church was repre-
sented by 200 fathers and monks. This
tremendous sea force was sent by Philip
II to destroy England and its Queen, Eliz-
abeth, and to restore the people of the
country to their mother church. For years
il had been in preparation, and never be-
fore in history was such a power concen-
trated With all that, Spain's little ar
NADIA of to-day, now pushing its prows
westward, could have blown it out of the
sea in one hour
Right bravely did Spain's power set sail
from Lisbon on May 20, 1858. 1t set out
with colors flying and with provisions
for six months. 1t returned to Spaln five
months later with fifty-four ships, bat
tered and bruised and a handful of men
that were so emaciated as to be scarcely
able to go ashore. Ehglands 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 plPck. 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. Ii returned, concentrated
once more and again sailed forth in the
following July. When Phillip 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 con-
verted into cruisers This fleet was man.
ned by 1900 f,ood and indifferent sailors,
but the comm Ianders were the bravest,
bodest and most skilled mariners in the
world. Lord Howard of Effingham was
the head of the navy, and under him
were such noted sailors and fighters as
Sir Francit Drake Hawkins, Frobisher
and some Others, who, as honorable and
fearless buccaneers, had filed the royal
Golfers with good Spanish gold. In all
the wiBl history of the sea there is no
man 50 picturesque as Sir Francis Drake
Howard waited until he was warned
that ne armada was In sight and would
soon pass Plymouth. In July the Spauiards
were seen standing up the channel. The
shifts were deployed. in the shape of o
ere scent seven miles dong and their num-
bel was now $50. They were in command
Of the Duke of Medina Sldonla. That night
Toward sailed out OF Plymouth Sound and
when day came the Span.ards saw the enc
my in full fig The duke ordered the ships
I to close in and begin general engagement
| This was attempted but 1t failed Howard
had mapped out his plan in advance. The
English ships were unanswered with such
consummate skill that never could the
Spanish guns tell on them. On the other
| hand, the Britons fed the galleons with
shot The Spanish gunners and mariners
were slow. The British gunners and ma
rlnes were active. Not once did a Spanish
shot strike while the Spanish ships quiv-
cred 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 armada
retreated. Not once did the action take on
the dignity of a battle The Spaniards 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 or
dered Drake TO pursue. and the fearless
buccaneer would have eaten up the Span
ish Rad his munition held out. As Il was be
had peppered 5000 of them dead. The ar