Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-07-29
OFFICIAL PAPER BURLEIGH co.
THE GERMAN E

In view of our reported strained re.
lations with the Germans is the Phil
ippines, the recent land and water vic
tories at Santiago had an excellent
moral effect on the pugnncious Germans.
A recent criticism of American military
and naval movements from the Frank
furter Zeitung will be of especial inter-
est in this country and it will be seen
that this paper has grown to have a
wholesome respect for the prowess of
American arms. The article in ques-
ton is as follows:
"Thc course OF the Spanish-American
war up to date has brought many disil-
lusions to the despisers of militia armies,
and the German newspaper strategists,
especially, who jecred at the militia
generals going into the field in elegant
dress, have become somewhat more
cautious in their criticisms since the
fights of July l and 9 before Santiago.
When we consider under what unfavor-
able circumstances the American SOL
diers were obliged to fight, we must adj
nit that they have exhibited an endur-
ance and bravery that can not be sur
passed by any troops, no matter how
we'll trained. Dismounted cavalrymen
were employed to storm a strong posi-
ton; a preparation for the infantry
attacked by artillery fire was impossible,
as there was no artillery; the men suf-
fered from lack of food, because the
commissariat had to struggle with great
difficulties of transportation; prelim-
mary preparations for the care of the
wounded were very defective. All this
was known to the soldiers, who, never
theless, advanced with undiminished
courage. The positions the Americans
gained on both days Of the battle they
10 only retained, but later won still
more ground. In spite of disadvantages
and difficulties the Americans have set
IN army or foot in a few weeks which
was obliged to take the fed under un-
favorable circumstances, and neverthe-
less, has shown itself therein not merely
equal, but superior to it's well-trained
adversary.
almost as instructive us the combats
on land have been the sea fights. In
the first place, a former experience has
been confirmed, namely. that a bonn
bardment of modern earthwnrks, even
with guns OF large caliber, does little
damage. OF an effective use of mines
we have heard as little as of the use of
torpedoes. In the battle between the
fleets the Americans had no occasion to
approach the Spaniards near enough to
bring their torpedoes into play: while
the Spuniards were so hard pressed by
the American fire that they could not
even think of letting loose torpedoes.
Whenever Spanish torpedo boats have
attempted to approach American ships
they were either. when the attempt was
made at night, discovered by the search
lights and then overwhelmed with such a
bail of shot that they were obliged to
withdraw. OF else, as in the case of Ger
vera's dash, were at once shot to pieces.
Equally interesting are the obser-
v%ations made en- The fight between bat
tleships and cruisers. AS in the battle
of the Ialu, between the Chinese and
Japane Sc, superiority in craftsmanship
descided the fight off Santiago. The
Spanish vessels were in part superior in
speed to the Americans: the valor and
discipline Of the Spanish sailors are
much praised by the Americans; exper.
fenced officers commanded the ships,
but, nevertheless, they were defeated
without doing any damage worth
mentioning to the enemy. 1t is
we'll known that for years the Ameri-
cans have kept up iudustriously target
practice, and that they expected good
results from this themselves. Good
guns without good gunners are useless
in a fight. The Spaniards shot poorly
and the Americans shot we'll. Besides
this, the American material, missiles
as we'll as armor plate, seems to have
shown itself to be- much better than the
Spanish. American experts, indeed, be-
lieve that in this respect they are sup
erior even to the English"