Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-03

What appears to me and those with
whom have discussed the news the
most disgraceful feature of the action
is the failure of the Spanish batteries
to give effective assistance to their
fleet. OF course the fleet itself was
entirely outclassed. But that does not
account for Dewey being permitted to
enter the harbor, which is provided
with modern defenses.
Il have no doubt the Americans have
made a landing in some convenient po-
sition, and as no damage to Dewey's
ships has 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 material in
jury.
THE result Of this engagement sus-
tains the view / expressed to the World
some time since. that the Spaniards are
no match whatever for the Americans.
either in strategy, or in the skilled use
of modern weapons of war
Gibson Bowles, NJ. p. also an author
ity on naval matters, said:
1T Is very clear in my opinion that
the Spanish fleet has been knocked in
to cooked hat. They are only letting
us know the facts by degrees and some
things in their dispatches are not easy
to comprehend.
"They say that the Americans land
ed their wounded, but Dewey would
never do that unless he had taken n
base of operations on shore, and doubt
less we shall hear later that he has
done so. But unless he gets assistance
from the insurgents he may find II
difficult to maintain himself He has
under the circumstances been unable
to bring soldiers to make the power OF
off tt artk al.
he achieved a brilliant piece OF work,
and which, the more We hear of it. the
more admirable II is likely to appear"
Political consequences are likely to
ensue from the United States capture
OF the Philippines which has caused
immense interest here. Germany has
long had covetous eye upon these
rich lands, while British interests have
been n bar to any deal between Spain
and Germany in relation to them. Ja-
pan also Is known to eagerly desh c
these possessions
Dewey's victory has suddenly placed
the United States in an important po-
sltion in connection with the far east
ern question. European interests in
Cuba are remote, almost academic but
the Philippines is an entirely different
matter. 1t is believed that the United
States can use the possession OF the
Philippines as a powerful lever to force
pressure of European powers, who
don't want a Spanish colonial disrup-
ton In the far East to take place until
the Chinese problem is settled
Sir Charles Dixie said: 1.-THE Unit
ed States possession OF the Philippines
raises numerous important and deli
cate points for the consideration of the
powers. I should not be surprised II
eventually the United States secured
the valuable good will OF Japan by
handing over the Philippines to them"
The idea, II not the hope, prevalent
here that the Spanish fleet would prove
a tough opponent for the United States
has now been entirely dlspelled and all
confidence in the Spanish fighting
power is gone.
The suggestion was thrown out that
the Cape Verde squadron had a rem
devious with the coaling transports at
some out Of the way island in the West
Indies, where II viii replenish the
bunkers before appearing opposite Ha-
vana. But the belief of Spanish fore
sight is so entirely dissipated that II is
doubted II the Spanish have taken
even that essential precaution to equip
them for decisive engagement.