The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-06-07
HIGHEST PRAISE.
London Papers Comment on the Daring
Deed of Lieut.. Hobson and Men.
Naval Game in West Indies Seems Play
ed Out--SantiagO Invites Capture by
Military Action Cervera's Fleet Will
Be ScuttIed or Captured.

LONDON, June 6.-All the papers re-
fer in terms of the highest praise to
Naval Constructor HObson'S daring eX-
plot at Santiago de Cuba, but some
doubts are thrown upon the statement
that the Merrimac so completely blocks
the channel as the American reports
assert
The Times in an article reviewing
the operations of the week says:
1T is most probable that Adm. Ger
vera has deliberate intention to stay
at Santiago, therefore, to open the
channel would be of very little use to
him. 1t seems clear that his squadron
was not prepared for war or fit for sea
when it left the Cape Verde islands,
and there is good reason to doubt
whether the Cristobal Colon even ship
ped her big guns at all.
'HObsOn's exploit is one of which
the American navy may we'll be proud.
The idea that the wreck can be re-
moved by the use of little dynamite
is opposed to all experience. Madrid
describes the affair as brilliant Span
ish victory, but from dreams of such
victories there is an unpleasant awak-
ening.
Adm. Cervera's period of evasion is
now ended and, beyond creating an
unreasOning panic in America, he has
accomplished nothing. The naval
game in the West Indies seems played
out, and little can be said of it except
that events have conformed strictly to
law and that no new and expected de-
velopments can be traced. Santiago
now invites capture by military ac-
ton, and Adm. Cervera's ships, unless
scuttled, can not avoid capture"
The Times, commenting editOrially
on the exploit, says:
The perilous operation was execut-
cd with splendid gallantry by a little
band of volunteers who almost
miraculously escaped. The destruc-
ton and fall of Santiago are now only
a question of time, with the disap-
pearance of all the hopes founded up
on the Spanish fleets.
''Spain's sympathizers recognize that
her case is hopeless, and America will
not distress herself much about such
warnings as that of the St Peters
burg Novosti Saturday. until the COM
blnatiOn assumes a more tangible
form than there is any prospect of at
present.
Peace is at Spain's disposal when
ever she seeks it frankly and sincerely.
but her game is clearly lost and it is
quite out of the question to define as
honorable peace one restoring the
statu quo"
The Daily Chronicle remarks: Add
ed to the other dangers was the danger
of sharks. The incident gives fresh
Iuster to the renown of the American
navy.
The Daily News says:
''All English sailors will join with
the Americans in admiration of this
exploit under the point blank fire of
the Spanish batteries. Whether the
Merrimac was intended to be sunk or
70. clear fair way through the mines
can not affect the praise due
men who heroically volunteered
to face almost certain death in
the service of their country. If the
United States can count on self-sacri-
flee of that kind in great emergencies,
the Santiago forts will be powerless to
prevent Adm. Sampson reaching the
Spanish squadron, should that meas
ure seem good to him."
The article proceeds to argue that
it IS premature however to suppose
that the channel is absolutely closed
d that it would be impossible to de-
stroy the hulk. 1t says:
English torpedo officers could de-
wise many methods of floating out |
dynamite charges, unless the hulk lies
far outside MORO Castle, in which |
case it can not be blocking the channel |
completely. If the Merrimac's masts |
and tunnels are still visible, she sunk |
somewhere near the five fathom mark |
and has left the deep channel clear"