The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-15
p1sAsrER OF rae ARMADA
Captain Gahsn olssuSSss me cansss Of
spaln's IliaiOrie Naval FIhsso.

CAPTAIN Gahaii Dlssu1sss ths capsss Of
spaln'a Hiniorio Naval Eihsea.
Captain Alfred T. Maha1. In the
Century Magazine: The Armada en-
tered the English channeI on july 80,
and on the 9Th OF August anchored on
Calais, having traversed the channel
suecessfullv in a week. Three several
actions had occurred. None was deei-
slve; but ali tended generally In favor
OF the English, vho utilized their nd
yantages OF speed and artillery to ham
mer the foe with their long guns, While
Keeping out OF range Of his nnskets
and lighter cannon. The Spanish losses
In battle. by a Spanish authority, were
six hundred killed aud eight hundred
wounded. The English loss, from frsi
10 last, dld not reach one hundred. Such,
n discrepancy tells its own tale; but II
is to be remembered, moreover, That
mon slain means sides pierced and
frames shattered Shot that iiy wide,
or that cut spare. sails and rigging, Kill
comparatively few. With hplis thus
damaged. the Spanlards had to confront
the edulnoeiial gales Of the Atlantic
At Calais friendly town. Parma
might possibly join; but there was no
hArbOr for big ships. and 1t vas unreas-
enable to expect that he, with the wnole
cargo OF the Netherlands on his hands,
would be waiting there. Ignorant when
the fleet would appear. or whether
would come at ali. Medina Ssdnnia sent
him word OF his arrival; but Il conld
not be hoped that the English would al-
low the feet to occupy that unprotected
position undlsturbed. The wind being TO
The westward, they anchored Mt a safe
distance 20 windwavd, and on the night
OF August sent against the sPaliRrds
eight hre-shlps. The ordinary means
OF dlyerting these failing, the Spanish
admiral got under way.
In this operation the fleet dSitted
nearer the shore. and the wind next
day coming out strong from the north"
west and setting the ships bodily on the
coast, he, under the advice Of the pilots,
stood into the North sea. Had Flush-
ing been in their possessions II might
with good pilots, have afforded a re-
fugo; hut It was held By the Dutch. fhe
enemy's ships, more weatherly. drew up
and engaged again: while the eohtinu-
ance of the wind, and the clumslness OF
the Sp1nfards, threatened destruction
OIL the SUDalN OIL Tue HlSIAlASlt $780,
The sudden shifting Of the wind to the
south saved them when already In only
six or seven Gathoms OF water, Eere.
again. was no bad luck: nor could II be
considered misfortune that the south
erig breeze. which carried them to the
Pentland, Firth. changed TO the north.
east as they passed the orkHeys and
entered the Atlantic. being thus fair for
fhaf5. J7a8feuyaFd C1urgp
The disasters OF the Armada were
due 10 the following causes: The fall
ure to prescribe the eifectual Gripping
OF the English navy as condition pre-
cedent to any attempt at Invasion. The
neglect to secure beforehand suitable
point for making the Junction With ths
army Combinations thus inlrusted to
chance have no right To expect success.
The several actions with the English
failed berauss the ships. which could
exert their power only close TO the en-
envy, were neither 20 fast nor so handy
as the latter Only those who have the
advantage OF range can afford Inferior
Iity OF speed The disasters in the At
lantic were due either to original IN
seaworthiness. or to damage received
In action. OF to bad Judgment in
taking uaweatheFlr ships TOO close to
the shores OF Ireland, where strong
westerly gales prevailed, and the coast
was inhospitable.