The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-22
Greatest Triumph
in iii History
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
0HEN it became apparent, early
lUNII last spring, that war with
WNVI Spain was at hand, this country
NlI was woefully deficient in prepa-
rations for the inevitable emer-
gency. Yet the tactics of the president,
obviously pursued in order to gain time to
rush through all possible preparations for
supplying these deficiencies in troops and
the material of war, provoked violent
outcries against him in the very news
papers which are now bitterest in their
Nituperation of him because of the suffer
ing which has resulted from this neces-
sary haste. our regular army of about
2J 600 men only was scattered in small
bodies far and near, and only the sup
plies essential for so small a force had
been provided, or could have been pro-
Vided, under the narrow appropriations
for the purpose made by congress. This
was the condition in which we were at a
time when we were on the eve of war
with a fully equipped military state, with
a large and thoroughly seasoned army
already in the field and supplied with ev-
cry requisite for modern military service
That we should have surmounted the DIR.
ficulty, so that in four months We COM
pelled Spain to sue for peace after
rapid and continuous series of victories
by us on sea and land. was one of the
most DIlllldnl dtnlNtulenlS OF scltTdl-
ship and military administration which is
afforded by the history of war
--o--
Our initial victory, the SPLENDID tri-
umph of Dewey al Manila, was made pos
sible by the rapidity with which supplies
were sent across this continent to he
conveyed to our Asiatic squadron. 1t was
| a task recurring the ablest administration
| in the navy department, and was per-
| formed quietly, Systematically, without
undue publicity; and IL was done thor
oughly and successfully. Sensational
| newspapers We're crying out madly for an
| immediate assault on Havana. impreg-
nable against any such attack as we
| could then have attempted, and sure 10
| involve us i'm awful and probably futile
| losses. Instead, the first assault was
| made on the other side Of the world, and
| it's complete and bloodless success shat
| tered the power of Spain at one blow and
| changed the whole course OF American
history. The Philippines were our proper
| objective, but sensational newspaper
| strategists had overlooked 1t. DeWey's
| triumph gave renewed confidence TO our
| whole navy and filled 1t with the inspira-
| ton of victory. The Vaunted power OF
| the Spanish navy, previously ranked
| above our own In strength, was proved
| in single engagement to be a delusiOn.
| Foreign opinion and even timorous home
misgivings had looked for disaster for
| us at the beginning of the hostilittes, but,
| instead, victory attended our arms from
| the first stroke to the last, with never a
| va Ration, Neither on sea nor on land
did we suffer a single reverse single
delay in our victorious progress.
|
The strength of our regular army was
26i17 on April 80. During May. June and
July II was recruited up 10 5l.Sl7 or about
! 1000 less than the maximum strength
| allowed under the bill for the increase OF
the force passed by congress, From this
army chiefly were drawn the three cN-
pedltions sent by US TO cuba, Porto RicO