The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-05-06
THE BATTLE IN MANILA BAY.

dict of all Europe that the Americans
sharp, dashing and destructive assault on
the Spanish Philippine squadron, viewed
from every vantage of critical observa-
ton, was the most brilliant feat of the
worlds naval history.
AS we have said, no issues of difference
as to this could possibly Withstand the
weight of the worlds unbiased judg-
ment; to which the United States, mod
estly as we may, must bow.
But this is not to say that the whole
glory of American ships and guns has
been illustrated in the magnifcence of
solitary combat on the sea, though the
late heroic action has been the very first
/, to establish the efficiency of our present
naval structure and armament. The his
tory of the American navy teens with
the record of valorous achievements, and
it has happened that during every gener-
alton of the nations life the renown of
her navy has embellished the unbroken
narrative of successful wars, while the
names Of Paul Jones. Hull, Lawrence,
Decatur, Perry, Ingram, Rollins, Tat
nall, Porter, Farragut and other Ameri-
can sea fighters are embalmed in the adj
miration of all men who appreciate high
and heroic naval action
AS early as IT'S John Paul Jones scat
tered CONSERVATION along the Scottish
coast by sailing an American naval expe-
dition into the Firth of Forth and men
acing with capture the city of Leith. On
his return he, in command of the Bon
homme Richard, came upon in the open
sea the British war sloop Scraps, which
he attacked and compelled, after a, fight
of several hours, to strike her colors.
Perhaps Farragut's passage of the forts
in Mobile bay, himself lashed to the rig
ging of his flagship. the Hartford, Aug
ust 5, 1864. more nearly approaches in
the element Of fearless disregard Of hid
den perils the recent daredevil proceed
ing than any other like event recorded.
Mobile bay, like Manila bay, was planted
with mines or torpedoes. Farragut, like
Dewey, gave to these lurking terrors not
the least heed. Farragut lost his leading
monitor, the Tecumseh, by'contact with
a torpedo, and he captured the ironclad
ram Tennessee, the only floating enemy
that opposed his monitors. Dewey, even
in the pitch darkness. escaped the Span
iard's mines altogether, though he roved
the waters of the bay in a circle and
unanswered his ships many times under
fire.
European military and naval experts
make claims for Commodore Dewey that
are not less true than ingenious. They
assert:
That no other naval commander ever
ventured into hostile and land-locked
harbor protected by powerful batteries,
submarine mines and squadron of war
ships.
That no other had ever dared to enter
mined hostile harbor at night.
That no other had ever had the temer-
ity to attack an enemy's ships while they
were drawn up under the guns of his
shore batteries; for the deadliness of aim
of land artillery is reckoned as three to
one when compared with that of guns
discharged from the decks of vessels.
They further claim for Commodore
Dewey, as unparalleled for originality of
method:
That he received the concentrated fire
of both batteries and ships throughout
the terrific combat, but actually made
no reply to the forts, directing his rain of
shot solely upon the enemy's squadron.
That, upon demolishing this, Dewey,
with unexampled GOODNESS, withdrew to
a position out of range, carefully remov-
ed ashore his wounded gunners, briefly
rested his hard worked crew, and then,
apparently with even greater fury, re-
turned to the attack, to annihilate the
two forts that, thus far with impunity,
had been pouring their broadsides of shot
and shell upon his embattled cruisers.
If anything could add yet more lustre
to this extraordinary elimination of stra-
tegic and tactical mastery, it is the fact
that the American commodore and his
crews manned utterly untried an expert
mental vessels but one-fourth in number
to those of the Spaniards; that they used
unfamiliar guns and ammunition, and
that the one result foregone for them was
horrible and wholesale death should any
vital part of the steel-clad ships be pierre
ed by an enemy's shell.
No wonder our proud American hearts
beat high at the naming Of Manila bayl
Nowonder an admiring world. banishing
ali national partialities, applauds the
unprecedented naval triumph achieved
BY Yankee commander and his Yankee
gunners!