Willmar tribune., 1898-11-30

force Sampson, how the Oregon started on
her famous race around South America,
how stores and ammunition were forward
ed to the squadrons, and finally they wind
up with the famous lacOnic order to Dewey
of April %: War has commenced between
the United States and Spain, proceed at
once to the Philippine islands, commence
operations at once, particularly against
Spanish fleet. You must capture vessels
or destroy. Use utmost endeaVOrS.' These
orders show that four months before Ger
vera's fleet reached this side our whole
north Atlantic fleet was ready for any
emergency within striking distance of one
of the two points from which attack
might come.
Victory Won by Good Gunnery.
1.-THE completeness Of our naval victories
during the war and the almost absolute
immunity from injury which our ships
and crews enjoyed naturally led to a gen.
eral conclusion that our gunnery had much
to do with the matter AS a matter of
fact, all reports bear out this conclusion.
In fact it appears that the experience of
each combat was that our craftsmanship
was so far superior that, at a range at
which the Spanish guns and gunners were
ineffective, our guns and gunners were so
effective that before the range Or
could be reduced. the Spanish ships were
either seriously crippled or their crews
demoralized.''
Importance of Sea Power.
Capt Crowninshield declares that the ex-
perience CT the war has been another dem
onstration of the Importance to the ma
ton of sea power. He says that from
the first the only apprehension felt in this
country was on account of the Spanish
navy. II was Cervera's ships that were
feared-we did not fear the Spanish army
would not have feared it If it had been
three times as powerful, unless it had been
supported by navy powerful enough to
have formed an efficient convoy and
brought ii to this coast. On the contrary,
the Spanish navy, even without the Span
ish army, would have been a menace,
though it had consisted Of only one first
class cruiser. Until that cruiser had been
Dlockaded, captured or destroyed any un-
protected point on our coast and all of our
sea commerce would have been at it's
mercy, and no army. however efficient,
could have protected us from it, 1t re-
quired navy for this work. and an ef-
fective navy"
One Glartng Defect.
Touching upon the combined operations
of the army and navy, the reported diff
ferences which arose between the COM
manders during thu campaign were satis-
factorily solved by victory. One glar-
ing defect of the system of joint opera
tions was found, however, in the matter
of transporting and conveying troops, and
it Is recommended that to secure smooth
be by law charged with the transport
service.
Increased Force Recommended.
The navigation bureau recommends that
congress authorize the increase OF the
naval force to 10000 men for general serv-
ice and $500 apprentices. and an argument
is made to show absolute necessity Of some
such increase, unless the reserves on the
receiving ships are to be reduced below the
danger points; and that was very closely
approached during the last war.
Volunteer Officers and Naval Militia.
OF the volunteer officers it is said that
they rendered valuable service during the
war, but that they can never be the equal
in professional attainments of their BROTH
ers of the regular establishment for lack
of the exhaustive training impaired to the
latter.
A tribute Is paid to the good work of
the naval militia, in manning the coast
defense stations, and the vessels Of the
auxiliary naval force and furnishing ma
terial for crews for the auxiliary vessels