The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-04
ENGLISH OPINION.
How Dewey's Victory IL Viewed by Naval
Authorities and Others.

Authorities and Others.
New York. May "a dispatch 70 the
World from London says: England
has been staggered by Commodore
Dewey's overwhelming victory. The
superiority of the United States squad
ron was recognized. but IL was fully be-
lieved that II would have been more
~ counter-balanced by the assist
ance afforded the Spanish fleet by the
submarine mines and the powerful
shore batteries. The splendid
ship N valor of Commodore Dewey in
forcing an entrance to Manila harbo
i'm the face of these d~efenses, excite in
tense admiration. while among naval
experts the dispatch with which the
American squadron disposed, of the
~Spaniards In held to prove that Com
modore Dewey employed the resources
at his command with the highest pos
sible AMOUNT Of effectiveness.
Lord Charles Beresford said: ut
was a brilliant stroke. Everything. as
] said to you before. depends upon the
man in modern naval warfare. Dewey
IL an able officer. He brought his coal
and workshops with him. He thought
out and planned the Whole affair with
consummate skill and foresight"
DO you gather that the shore bat
teries were useless"
mo: ! should not say that. Dewey's
strategy was thoroughly good. 1t was
business from start to finish. OF curse
when he got inside the harbor he could
easily pound the Spanish ships, and he
did II splendidly. II was a case of short
sharp and decisive work, IL you like. but
from the inform ation already to hand
could not say II teaches US much. ex-
cept. n I contend. that everything de-
ponds upon the individual man. 1t was
Dewey's victory"
AS to the political results. 10 you
think Germany will like it?"
NO. Germany won't; nor will the
japanese either. but the United States
should be satisfied any way"
Sir Julian Colcomb. a high naval au.
thority and artflierist. said: From tn,
accounts available. i gather that tbs
Spanish feet Is destroyed completely
and In every respect. / dare says ths
when we receive information from non
Spanish sources its completeness vii
be ven more striking. What appearJ
to me and those with whom | lave dis
cussed the news the most d~isgracefu
feature Of the action Is the failure o
the Spanish battery to give effective as
Gistance to their fleet. OF course. tn
fleet itself wa entirely outclassed. Blu
that does not account for Dewey beinl
permitted to enter the harbor. which 1
provided with modern defenses. / hav
no doubt the Americans have made
landing In some convenient position, an.
as no damages to Dewey's ships hav
been specified. he can easily make goo
what injury may have been done. TIL
fact that he was able 10 form up tn
squadron for the blockade Of Manila i'm
mediately after defeating the SPANS
feet proves that his ships could hav
sustained no material injury. The re
sui of this engagement sustains tn
view expressed to the World some tim
since that the Spaniards are no mate
whatever for the Americans. either J
etrategy or In the skilled use OF moder
weapons Of war"
Gibson Bowles. n. p. also an author
sfy on naval matters. said: 1t II pei
fectly clear. in my opinion. that tn
Spanish feet has been knocked into
cooked hat They are only letting u
know the facts by degrees, and som