Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-04

Authorities Credit the American
Commander With Being an Able
officer. Having Carried His Coal
and Workshops With Him-Ris
Strategy, Too, Was Business
From Start to Finish-Admira
ton for Splendid Seamanship and
Valor.
London, May 3-England has been
I staggered by Commodore Dewey's
overwhelming victory. The superior
ty Of the United States squadron was
recognized, but it was believed that it
would have been more than counter
balanced by the assistance afforded
The Spanish fleet by the submarine
mines and the powerful shore batteries.
The splendid seamanship of Commo-
lore Dewey in forcing an entrance to
Manila harbOr in the face OF these de-
lenses eXcites intense admiration,
while among naval experts the dis
ron disposed of the Spaniards is held
to prove that Commodore Dewey en-
ployed the resources at his command
with the highest possible amount of
effectiveness.
Lord Charles Beresford said: 1T was
a brilliant stroke Everything, as |
said to you before, depends on the man
in modern warfare. Dewey is an able
officer He brought his coal and work
shops with him He thought out and
planned the whole affair with consum-
mate skill and foresight
DO you gather that the shore bat
ferries were useless?"
mo; l should not say that. Dew
.y's strategy was thoroughly good. 1t
VAS business from start to finish. Of
course when he got inside the har-
Dor he could easily pound the Spanish
ships, and he did it splendidly.. 1t
was a case of short, sharp and decis-
i've work, if you like, but from the in
formation already at hand, l could not
contend, that everything depends ON
the individual man. 1t was Deweys
victory"
"As to the political results-do you
think Germany will like it?"
mo. Germany won't, nor will the
laps, either. But the United States
should be satisfied, anyway"
SIR JOHN COLOMB,
high naval authority and artillerist,
said: From the accounts available,
gather that the Spanish fleet is destroy
ID completely and in every respect. |
iare say that when we receive informa-
ion from non-Spanish sources its COM
pleteness will be even more striking.
What appears to be and those with
whom | have discussed the news the
most disgraceful feature of the action
S the failure of the Spanish batteries
% give effective assistance to their fleet.
Of course the fleet itself was entirely
outclassed. But that does not account
Tor Dewey being permitted to enter the
harbor, which is provided with proper
modern defences.
II have no doubt the Americans
have made a landing in some conven-
lent position, and as no damages to
Dewey's ships have been specified, he
can easily make good what injury may
have been done. The fact that he was
able to form up the squadron for the
blockade of Manila Immediately after
defeating the Spanish fleet proves that
his ships could have sustained no ma
terial injury. The result of this en-
gagement sustains the view l expressed
a short time since, that the Spaniards
are no match whatever for the Ameri-
cans, either in strategy or the skilled
use of modern weapons of war
GIBSON BOWI4ES, NJ p.
also an authority on naval matters,
said: 1T is perfectly clear in my opin-
ion, that the Spanish fleet has been
knocked into a cooked hat. They are
only letting us know the facts by de-
eraes. and some things in their dis
patches are not easy to comprehend
They say that the Americans landed
their wounded, but Dewey would never
do that unless he had taken base of
operations on shore. and doubtless we
shall hear later that he has done so.
But unless he gets assistance from the
Insurgents he may find it difficult to
maintain himself. He has, under the
circumstances, been unable to bring
soldiers to make the power of the feet
effective. But nevertheless, he achiev-
ed brilliant piece Of work, and which,
the more we hear Of it, the more adj
mirable it is likely to appear.
Political consequences are likely TO
ensue from the United States capture
of the Philippines, which has excited
immense interest here. Germany has
long had a covetous eye upon these
rich islands. while British interests
have been a bar TO any deal between
Spain and Germany in relation to them