The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-10
WHY OUR NAVY WINS.
Captain Sigsbee Says 1t Is Accuracy
and Rapidity of Firing Combined.

New York Mall and Express.
Yes. it's all very wonderful and hard
stand-how our war ships can meet and
crush a powerful foe, was done at Ma
Mia aa5 and Santiago and escape With prac-
a reason, in fact there are several"
Captain Charles y. Sigsbee, bronzed and
hearty, dressed in his summer uniform of
white from foot to crown, made this re-
mark to-day in his cabin on the converted
cruiser st. Paul. And he followed it up
seamanship of our navy that will make
clear to landsmen a number of things that
now seem so hard to grasp.
In the first place, he continued, "our
navy was on a superb war footing when
the trouble broke out, though the country
ct large didn't know it, or the enemy either.
For months and years there has been no
let up in drills and practice work. Every
branch of seamanship had been ground eff
fectively into officers and men. Only those
directly in naval circles had any idea of the
work done on our squadron evolutons at
Bar harbor and the Southern drill grounds
or how increasingly the crews were kept in
training in every branch of instruction and
practice. Take feet that represents $780,,
100000 of money. TO sail it at nine knots
through rough weather and fogS and keep
the entire squadron continually in touch
and this was frequent occurrence-re-
manship. The discipline is never relaxed;
target practice has been continuous. When
we were lying with the Maine in Havana
harbor the Vizcaya and the Oquendo were
there, too. and had reception days. They
were splendid looking war ships and APP
parently Weli-off1cered and manned, but
there wasn't the rigorous discipline, the in
cessant drill work to which our crews are
accustomed. That's one point.
but matter of more consequence in the
present clash of forces" Captain Sigsbee
went on to say, sis the fact that our men
are trained not alone in accuracy of firing
but in rapidity too. 1t is this deadly COM
bination that the Spanards cannot stand:
they are stunned. paralyzed. by the awful
effects We dash at them and smother them
alive. They have no chance to breathe. The
appalling rapidity with which our guns are
at the enemy. are features of modern sea-
manship to which the Spaniard is a total
stranger. Our superior Workmanship would
be bad enough for him all by itself. but he
is simply checked and quenched when the
rapidity is added. The impact must be
something awful, when few of our broad
sides, with big and little guns. hurl noun
tain OF shot-tonS Of metal-on the foe in
such quick succession that he reels under
the blows Accuracy and rapidity combined
are the vital. the conQuering elements in
modern ironclad warfare, and a nation that
is not thoroughly mp to date in them both
had better keep strictly out OF the business.
But and here the captain looked SOL
EMMY thoughtful, lit certainly must con-
vince all who have closely studied and
watched the immunity of our vessels in all
sorts of danger that Providence has been
with us on more than actual battle days.
Take the miraculous escape OF the Marble
head and the Texas in their daringly recl-
less work with mines and torpedoes on
Guantanamo McCalla is a fearless dare
devil, but It brought my heart into my
mouth to see the way he tuggled with GER
tain death on the Marblehead. expected
every moment, as ne and the Texas played