The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-13
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 70. 1895.
DIR. TRANSFORMS ACCOUNT OF
THE NAVAL BATTLE.

The graphic account IN Sundays Times
of the naval battle az Santiago, by
Surgeon j. W. Bransford L. S. ~, IS the
most ineligible ana informing account
OF that light which We have seen. DR..
Transford makes plain what The Times
oontended for from the beginning that
the battle was no one mans battle tnat
IS to make any one man the nations hero
but a battle fought by the American
Navy. in which each captain Of a ship
was his own general, each one going for
the enemy a. his own judgment prompted
him TO be the best way Of dealing him
telling blow. II was not sampsons bat
tile. 1t was not Schioy's battle. but it was
the battle OF the American sea-
men and officers, and It rejects undying
glory upon the American Navy, and not
upon any one man. This we contended
for from the beginning and while we be-
love Admiral Sampson had done his work
thoroughly and well every moment be-
fore the battle while we know Admiral
Schlcy fought the Brooklyn with a dash
and a splendor that has rarely been
equaled and never surpassed yet the
glory OF tho victory belongs 10 neither
especially. but to the officers and seamen
OF that feet, and It is the discipline. the
courage OF the American Navy that is
10 be iauded. and not any especial hero.
But It h. ia his account oil the hsht be-
tween the Gloucester and the two spanish
torpedo-boat destroyers. Pi1ton and
gruror. that Dr. Blansford is mos.
graphic and interesting. and ir SIS perfect
~ evident from his account of that fight
that our victory YVES not due 70 superior
ships or superior guns, bat TO the supe-
rior men that were behind the guns.
The Gloucester was fairly 10 match for
her two adversaries when combined.
They ought to have ,iddled her and sent
her 10 the bottom as soon as they got
within range of her. She had no armor
or protection OF any kind. She was Moth
ing but a steel shell. half an inch thick.
that the Spanish suns could have per-
forated as il II had been paper Yet she
up an uninterrupted stream Of fire upon
her two adversarles that destroyed them
like magic. Had conditions been re-
Vorsed had the Americans been on the
Spanish boats and tho spaniards on the
Gloucester, it is as certain as anything
improved can be that the Gloucester
would have been sent TO the bottom I'm
short order 1t is plain, therefore, that
Il was not the American ship or the
American guns that gave us the superior
ity. but the Americans that manned the
chip and that shot the guns. Nothing
that has transpired IN tho war gives the
Americans better right 10 glory and
exalt IN the man that his free Institutions
have produced than This nght between The
Gloucester and the Spanish torDedo-boots.
], was q glorious fight thet win stand
forever as q monument 90 heroic courage
directed by calm Intelligence.
The world VIA make mistake. though.
81 It assumes from the result OF This hght
that the torpodo-boa, Is O failure That
boat IS not 70 be judged 10y the way
hpanisrds used %. The educated spaniard
Is a most accomplished gentleman. with
polished Nails a1d lncly-cuiiiyated
voice. lie has some OF the elements Of the
hero IN him. too. Put him in trench
or behind a WALL and he VIII stand there
and ore until be Is shot down But put
him into the hurry burly OF naval battle
end he Is 50 helpless as a child when st.
sacked by tho Nikngs that goi after him
az Santiago. lie IS out of his element
then. and he becomes a baby battling
with giant = NIL no. do. therefore. 70
assume that torpedo-boats are a faiare.
because they proved failures IN Spanish
hands IN the hands o. Americans they
would probably have SUM- at least one Of
The BIG baitlesaips, and, to send one Ore
gon 20 The bottom would amply repay for
the loss Of twenty tofpedo-boats.
ORR TRADE WITH ENGLAND.