The herald., 1898-05-27
TT Is A TROJAN HORSE

CAPTAIN Concha of the Spanish cruiser
Don Juan de Austria of the ill-fated
Manila fleet volunteers a few facts re-
Rarding the cause of the disaster. He
says the engines Of one cruiser were
broken; that another ship was leaking
and needed pumping engine; that his
own vessel had but two guns that could
be used; another vessel had but one, and
that two others had only their decks
protected. 1.-THE Spanish commanders"
he declares, "were quite aware that fight
ing was hopeless. but were forced to it
by the state of public opinion at Manila" ;"
When Cervera's fleet shall have been
destroyed or captured, we have little
doubt that a similar disgraceful con-
dition of affairs aboard will be disclosed,
willingness to give battle will be salts
factory explained. 1t will be found that
Cervera's fleet, like Montijo's fleet,
10 formidable only on paper; that it is
appliances are obsolete and worthless,
utterly untitled for effective service
against our modern and completely
equipped craft. 1t will be found that
1t possessed but one commendable
quality, that Of speed-the ability to run
away, to keep out of sight, to dodge.
When the war is over we shall marvel
that it lasted so long; wonder that our
Information regarding the inherent weak
ness Of the Spanish arms was so meager;
many weary weeks.
And we shall make a still greater
blunder, and aggravate the blunders we
have already made, If we fail to strike
this fleet now and strike 1t hard-if we
pursue the policy already outlined, Of
keeping it bottled up in the harbor of
Santiago until hunger shall force a sur
render. 1t is inconceivable that the YES
sells of this fleet will ever be turned over
TO us. 1t is incredible that Cervera will
not burn them, rather than hand them
over unharmed. Their estimated value
is fifteen million dollars and this Is urged
as a reason why we should not attempt
their speedy destruction, asa reason why
= war that Is costing an even million
dollars a day should be prolonged, that
we may capture these rotten hulks and
add them to our navy. The wisdom of
spending thirty millions of dollars in cap
turing fifteen millions of dollars worth
pf discredited property. even were its
capture assured. as, result, is not ap-
parent.
The Trojan horse Of the Spaniards has
affrighted US long enough. The decadent
power Of Spain should ere this have been
completely stricken down. 1t should
have been decisively smitten before the
horse was constructed. Now that we
know that it is a wooden horse, and that
I conquering army is not concealed with
In 1t, we should topple it over, and
turn our attention to the main business
In hand. Spanish weakness and impo-
sency is being disclosed at too great a
cost. We should have known it before
we took up arms. European experts told
Us at the outset that the Spaniards pos
gessed only paper navy. Dewey demon
ptrated the fact in Asiatic waters. Samp-
son, Schley and Watson should be per-
mitted to uncover it in the West Indies.
The task is likely to prove so easy, the
obstacles in the way SO slight that we
shall reproach ourselves with some
thing akin td cowardice for delaying the
ronsummation SO long.
Aside from Dewey's achievement we
have vindicated neither our courage nor
pur prowess, and Dewey's achievement,
Is all authorities now agree was not
10 much in the doing as in the inspiration
pf the initiative, in the courage that
prompted the attempt. The battle of