The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-22

An Engllsh Critic on What WI
Ought to Learh New.


The war is practically at an end. The
American boats are soon toresume their
running to Southampton; the Spanisrds
evidently are only playing at not be-
ing In hurry about peace terms. 1t
has been one OF the shortest wars on
record. The President sent his ulti-
matum to- Spain on April 20. The
American Ambassadors to Spain receiv-
ed his passport on the following day.
This makes little over three months.
In that time the Americans have dis
troyed two fleets. and. in fact, totally
annihilated the sea power OF their en-
emy. They have captured two great
ports. They have defeated the Spanish
troops in the field, and have taken a
province and thousands of prisoners.
Above all, they have improvised the
army with which they did this part
of the work. Not bad for the interval
between rent day and rent day!
The manner OF this improvisation
Is a striking vindication in some ways
OF the American system. Most OF the
troops who swarmed up the slopes AT
Santiago, and captured intrenched pos
itions held by seasoned troops and
swept by artillery were mere untrain-
ed butchers. bakers and candlestick
When they went into camp at Tampa
they were the rawest OF the raw hands.
Many of their officers were probably
little better. Their commissarfat was
practical joke. Transport. medical
service, all had to be created.
The chief part of their equipment
was their spirit IS freesmen, their gen.
eral intelligence, their lifelong habit OF
turning their hands and their brains to
to anything, and to master 1t at un-
commonly short notice. In one word
they had nothing at their back but the
system; and their whole military or
ganization is based on the belief that
with this. they have the wherewifhal
for the ruggedest hour that time and
spite can bring against their country
in time of danger.
This seems the chief lesson OF the
war, the lesson that most nearly covers
the general question of principle. The
others are more or less technical, but
they also are of the greatest import
ance. We yet await full and salts
factory account of the good fortune OF
the American. the ill-fortune Of the
Spanish fleets. The latter was clear
ly ''outclassed" as the phrase goes
But why? Was II the seamanship, tho
guns, the ships? 1t il satisfactory tC
know that few foreign regulations Were
at stake in the fate Of the vessels
MOST OF tnem were Oh CpdnlSn Duiiu
the heavier ones especially, and they
came from Bilbao, Ferrol. or Cartha-
gena. The Cristobal Colon was Of It.
allan birth. and was originally the
Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Some of the smaller fry, however
first saw the light at Elswick or al
Blackwall 1t remains to be seen ir
what manner, specifically, they were
destroyed. Some American author
tiles say that their armor was prac'
tically intact when they ran ashore
and that what ruined them was ths
hail of small shells, which set fire tt
| the woodwork OF the unarmored parts
and generally made life impossible or
board If this is go. 1t seems to be 9
reason for less wood, or for more pro
| lection. The Americans unhesitating
| ly say less wood. The wood always
splintered: and now, with the quick
firers pouring in small shells as tn,
| Maxim pours in bullets. It fires all owe
with persistency that defies thu
pumps. At any rate, the naval experts
| OF the whole world have now had thei
| long desired experimental war. and 1
| will be their fault If they fail to la,
every single lesson OF 1t - heart.
London News.