The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-08

Near Of . Long List Oh Fiueo'
ana Crippiins 81 Many vesseis--
surerlor Gannery the Rsason.
WASHINGTON. May IA day Of ex-
eltement suca as today has not been seen
IN washington since the days when re-
ports came In OF great victories during
the civil war. Official and unofficial
Warrington was III a fermen;. and few
ef the employees "a any OF the Depart
nsnts could maintain their eeinposure suf-
acientiy to go on with their routine work
They were In an explosive state. and at
che great state. war and navy depart
ment buildings the least sign OF dis
catches or the gathering OF crowd OK
reporters was sufficient to cause them to
drop THAR work and swarm in the cor
T4dors. oiamoring for news. The excite
ment was continuous. and senators and
representatives mixed into the crowds that
snthered around tho navy headquarters
and gaxed wis,faiiy at the mahogany
doors OF the navigation bureau. behind
which tha cipher experts under lock and
key were slowly deeipherinE the words
chat conveyed Dewey's glorious message
% the American people. 80
Senator Hanna aroused the crowd at
enc time by leading with a ''hip-hurrah"
for Dewey. and later a roar of stentorian
cheers from Theodore Roossveit's room
gathered everybody In that vicinity to
witness the departure OF the Eastern con-
tineent OF the mounted rif'einen. Roose-
velt had said good-by to the boys before
they started for San Antonio. and the
cheers were the means by which they took
thsir leave Roosevelt himself VIII follow
Monday or Tuesday.
A close study of Admiral Dewey's two
cableErame during the day only increased
the wonder felt cary in the day by the
naval experts at the extraordinary results
achieved by the admiral almost without
Injury. The reports that came before tho
cutting OF the cable were of a character
to Indicate that Dewey was going TO make
quick and thorough work 81 the seizure
Of Manila. bur IL was feared that In so
nerrs an engagement against a Spanish
fleet, combined with the shore defenses.
the American fleet must surely have sus-
tained great dea. of damage. loss Of NE
ana other injuries. This was regarded a.
Inevitable In = combat between two ma
v.es. for even the Chinese. in the great
battle of yaiu. managed 10 infliet con-
siderable amount OF damage upon their
japanese antagonist. We, IN this battle
or Manila. lasting two hours 1T least. ac-
cordinE TO reports received. and resulting
In the destruction OF the entire Spanish
foet and the slleneing OF their forts. not
an American .sfe was host and not an
American ship was injured. A few men.
It IL true. were slightly wounded. hut that
Is frequently the case when The vessels
indulge in target practice. There are ali
sorts of theories among the officials 10
account for this. bat in tho absence Of
facts /, II hard TO form reasonable
hypothesis.
superior Eunnery. large prac.ice. cool-
ness preparedness" those are the factors
that won tho day Ia such an astounding
fashion. In the opinion Of one Of the bright
est Of our young naval officers. An older
head ana a man Of higher grade. STRAIT
ex!ss, thought that Dewey rad taken the
Spanards unawares In every respect. liza
had run the batteries az aight. undiscov-
cred. and at dayhssas was pouring broad
side after hFosdside into the Spanish aeet.
which was taken unawares With noAoay
at quarters with moss OF the erew aslee,
ana generally IN a state OF utter uapre-
paredness 10 receive an attack. Anosa~r
even failed 10 keep banked fires. 50 thse
they had no steam ca and could nes move.
lying hespi sSlv while Dswey'S ships err
clea around ,hem. firs, from enc SIDE ana
then another.
Probably the true explanation s!I no; -
forthcoming uata man aay,ces are al
hand bat the span.sh naval prestige hAs
received a e.aw srom ,as bs;,is AZ Mania
from waica it es.ao1 Tecayc- n very many
years
Admiral Dewey cHa ghe eaa}e aims Z
ard thsash he oress ~ syp.su4tt,a fog
80 doias. 8. seae, 8 asa hss ssaf ssss
Wa nas 90 H. asseet ss&-,a assss ,str
eraer. seasrs, gseu a4sa. us wfa
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