Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-05-12


1t is not surprising that the whole
world is electrified at the extraordinary
victory attained by Commodore Dewey
with the American squadron in Manila
bay. The victory itself is magnificent,
in DESTROYING the Spanish fleet OF four
teen vessels: but it is still more extraor-
binary when one considers the vast re-.
suits that were accomplished with SO
little loss. The truth is, there has been
nothing like it in navalwarfare. Every
one of Nelson victories cost men ana
ships to the British nation, and Nelson
himself was killed at Trafalgar. But
Dewey did not lose single man, and
onlv six seamen were slightly wounded
50 slightly, that three days after they
were on duty again. This Is without
parallel in the naval history OF the
world; and his ships were so little dam
aged in his five hours fight with the
Spaniards that they were all ready tor
action Immediately after the close OF
the DAVIS conflict. Unjust not be sup
posed that Dewey S victory was due 10
chance. It was the result of thought
fnl planning and indOmitable courage.
Even after he got into the bay with MS
vessels. three torpedoes were exploded
by the Spaniars near to his advancing
.ouadron: but that did not deter him
from the great work he had IN nina,
which was to destroy the Spanish meet,
and to secure command OF the Phlllp-
mines. This he accomplished, and at a
loss so trihing to the nation that 1t IS
absolutely astounding. In Judging OF
the results of great naval or military
movements. the true test is the accom-
nlishrent of vast results with lttle loss'
rhat criterion rendered Gen. Grart so
,,,.ori6oent in the estimation OF the
American people after the capture OF
Fort Donelson With l4.0Oo prisoners
His victory showed the nature OF the
man and Indicated his future emlnence
amono the great commanders OF the
world Even so, Deweys splendld STRAIT
GOV in Manila bay has placed MN III
the very forefront among naval com
manders.
The GOODNESS and precision with which
Dewey conducted his operations are
illustrated by the fact that the Commo-
dore having fought the sSpanish squa-
drod from early dawn to o:5o IN 'he
morning. concluded that ne woulo
Withdraw from the enemy's tire, ana
nanoeuver his fleet around the bay
until his 1000 tars had enjoyed hearty
and strenuth-giving breakfast. At IL
o'clock he proceeded to finish up the
Snanish fleet, which was accomplished
so effectually that there is nothing OF it
left. Subsequently his steady and
rapid fire silenced all the Spanish forts
~ me y. and she'll blowing up the
$50 j r,.,.. i, - eo12plete mas
- 80. IS any successful
i...o ,a..4.e 9,.,, leiield. On Monday ne
.onl1 have bombarded Manila and COM
pelled the surrender of the city. but his
humanity taught him it would be a
wasteful and wanton destruction of life
and property, and he therefore re-
Trained. The city is under the COM
mand of his guns, and when the trans
ports from San Francisco arrive with
5000 American soldiers they will quitely
take possession of the city without dam
AGE to life or property
Tho Concord and Petrol were unar-
mored vessels, and though compara-
lively small and Insignificant they were
used so effectively by the Commodore
that they id some OF the best work in
the harbor It is stated that these two
l;ttle vessels silenced the fire from Fort