The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-07
AS VIEWED BY ENGLISHMEN.
The Situation at Santiago and Ma
nila-Gen. Shafter Criticised.

hAla-Gen. Shafter Criticised.
NEW YORK, July GA dispatch to the
Tribune from London says: Military and
naval experts are enabled to express their
opinions respecting the Santiago operations
with clear knowledge of the facts. They
are critical, but this does not imply I'M
friendliness to America, but merely an in
tense interest in the art of war. One of the
highest officers of the British army consid-
ers that General Skaters advance on San
tlago was imprudent when his force was
numerically inferior to the requirements of
the capture of the town by storm. He de-
clares that Shafter on landing ought to
have taken up a strong defensive position,
fortified it and waited for reinforcements
and siege guns before attempting to carry
by storm the Spanish positions. He believes
that Shafter was in a critical position after
Fridays battle, and was only delivered by
Cervera's folly in pushing out of the har-
Dor and allowing Sampson to win victory
on the easiest terms. This high officer
considers that the American campaign was
not we'll planned and that the serious loss
of life was unnecessary. Other officers,
while crediting the American army with
splendid dash, valor and fortitude. are dis
posed to criticise what they consider grave
lndScretionS in the War Department at
Washington in publishing Skaters urgent
call for reinforcements and in pronouncing
conflict in which the American troops
gained and held advanced positions "a
drawn battle" gof.
Naval experts have nothing. to say in
criticism of Simpsons fleet and marvel at
the facility with which Cervera's powerful
vessels were driven ashore and destroyed.
The opinion expressed by journals like the
Santiago harbor several weeks ago, and
that there has been q lack of cooperation
between the naval and military authorities.
is not shared by any expert who is familiar
with the approaches to the inner bay. The
handling of the American fleet is considered
by skilled officers of the British navy as
beyond the range of criticism. They do not
admit that the battle has much practical
utility in its bearing on naval warfare. For
example, there is much establishment that
the torpedo boat destroyers should have
proved ineffective, even against a steam
pleasure yacht, but the deduction is made
that this proves nothing, since the Span
sells.
Members of Parliament interested in naval
matters assert that the comparative value
of armored cruisers and battle ships is as
much a. mystery as ever, since Cervera' s
have sunk some of the most formidable of
their opponents. William Allan, one of the
most practical naval experts in Parliament.
contends that the Spanish navy is of no
account in any engagement. since it has
neither engineers, nor mechanics competent
for scientific warfare. He does not believe
that Camara's fleet will ever reach the
Philippines, and hopes that Sampson will
promptly enter Santiago harbor
In diplomatic circles there is a general
feeling that the Madrid government will
not make peace so long as there is ground
for hoping that Germany may intervene in
the Philippines in some way, The presence
of a German fleet at Manila out of all
proportion to any requirements for the safe
ty of commercial interests is considered by
some of the best Informed men here a con-
venient pretext for the continuance of the
war by the Madrid government in the des-
perate hope that some complication may
arise. One of the most mysterious factors
In the situation is Aguinaldo. whose in
trigues against his leading associates are
reported in press dispatches. He is regard
ed as a Spanish insurgent of considerable
capacity and courage, but as corrupt and
unprincipled. Among diplomatists he is de-
scribed as an insurgent who was bought up
not long ago by the Spanish government,
but who was easily induced to act in con-
junction with Dewey in the expectation of
receiving a handsome reward. He is re-
garded as an untrustworthy and uncertain
leader. unfit to be placed in control of the
islands. and as one who would readily make
coalition with Germany for embarrassing
the American forces on the islands