The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-30
THE LESSONS OF THE WAR.
An English Critic ON What We Ought
to Learn Now.
London News.

London News.
The. war is practically at an end. The
American boats are soon to resume their
running TO Southampton; the Spaniards evil
IDENTIFY are only playing at not being in a
hurry about peace terms. 1t has been one
of the shortest wars on record The Presi-
dent sent his ultimatum to Spain on April
20. The American ambassador to Spain re-
celved his passports on the following day.
This makes little over three months. In
that time the Americans have destroyed
two fleets, and, in fact, totally annihilated
the sea power of their enemy. They have
captured two great ports. They have oe-
feated the Spanish troops in the field, and
have taken province and thousands of
prisoners. Above all, they have improvised
the work. Not bad for the interval be-
tween rent day and rent day!
The manner of this Improvisation is a
striking vindication in some ways of the
American system. Most of the troops who
swarmed up the slopes at Santiago, and
captured intrenched positions held by sea-
Soned troops and swept by artillery were
mere unframed butchers, bakers. and can
dleStick makers at the beginning of the
they were the rawest of the raw hands.
Many of their officers were probably little
better. Their commissariat was a practi-
cal joke. Transport, medical service, all had
to be created.
The chief part of their equipment was
their spirit as free men, their general intel
ligence, their lifelong habit of turning their
hands and their brains to anything. and to
master it at uncommonly short notice In
one word they had nothing at their back
but the system and their whole military or
ganizaton is based on the belief that. with
this, they have the wherewithal for the
ruggedest hour that time and spite can
bring against their country in time of dan
ger.
This seems the chief lesson of the war,
the lesson that most nearly covers the gen.
eral question of principle. The others are
more or less technical, but they, also are
of the greatest Importance. We yet await
full and satisfactory account of the good
fortune of the American the ill-fortune of
the Spanish fleets. The latter were clearly
"outclaSsed' as the phrase goes. But why?
Was it the seamanship. the guns. the ships?
1t is satisfactory to know that few foreign
regulations were at stake in the fate of the
vessels Most of them were of Spanish
build the heavier ones especially. and they
came from Bilboa, Ferrol or Carthagena.
The Crstobal Colon was of Italian birth,
and was originally the Giuseppe Garitaldi
Some of the smaller fry, however. first
saw the light at Elswick or at Blackwell
1t remains to be seen in what manner, spe-
cificallv they were destroyed Some Ameri-
can authorities say that their armor was
that what ruined them was the hail OF small
shells, which set fire to the woodwork of the
unarmored parts, and generally made life
impossible on board II this is so, ii seems
to be a reason for less wood, or for more
protection The Americans unhesitatingly
say less wood. The wood always splintered /:
and now. with the quick-frers pouring In
ii fires all over with persistency that defies
the pumps. At any rate, the naval experts
of the whole world have now had their long
desired experimental war and Ii will be
their fault if they fail to lay every single
lesson of it to heart