The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-05-19

- tSs lot won ) sosaRis vic.
ssa, Her psysA. prowsss
o ~ y dssiinsl. ard tp6AS fsw
Vile South AfAeFte SSpN4 ~
who were her former S(l6nie wed!q
confess that they were siFiad q her.
TAslast naval battle fought by Spain
In the new world showed conclusive
ly how her maritime power had de-
creased. She was detected by Peru.
with Chih's aid, and since then the
spanIasd ,has kept away from the Pa
ciAo calst Of South America.
Tie story OF that war and its disas-
trous results TO Spain Il told in the
Army and Navy Journal. In 1864 Spain
sent Q squadron Of seven vessels,
nounfing al guns, to punish the Pc
ruvians for maltreatment OF Spanish
subjects. The Peruvians had nothing
on the water with which to oppose
this force, but Chill came to her aid
with three vessels-the Esmera!da, car
rying 42 smoothbores; the Victoria,
small one-gun monitor. and the Loa.
q diminutive Merrimac, plated with
iron and mounting two 6S-pounders.
The Esmcrada met the Spanish gun
boat Cavandago (three guns) and cap
tured her in 90 minutes without the loss
OF a man. The Spaniards fred only
three shots. They had two men killed
and IA wounded. The loss OF the
Cavandago, followed by the capture
OF an armored launch, SO chagrined
the Spanish admiral, Pareja, that he
blew out his brains In his cabin.
Admiral Nunez, who succeeded Pa-
reja, then CALAMITY assailed the de-
fenseless Valparaiso. where not single
gun was mounted except few saluting
pieces. Not q shot was fired from the
town and the inhabitants promptly
evacuated it. The Spanish admiral, in
spite Of the protests Of the foreign
men-of-war in the harbor, threw from
1000 to 5000 shells into 1t from his
fleet of six vessels. The Spanish gun
merry was so wretched that little dam
age was done, except by fire, which
destroyed S10,000,000 worth of neutral
goods. 1t was most wanton piece OF
barburity, for If the Spaniards had
had a landing force they could have
taken the town without firing shot.
The gallant Nunez next assaulted
the city of Callao, which taught him the
difference between an open town and
one that was adequately defended. In
four or five hours the Spanish squad
ron was badly used up and was glad
to crawl back to Spain as best it could
in its crippled condition. The Villa de
Madrid, SO guns, got a shot in her steam
chest. and was towed out OF action;
the Berenguela, &c guns, had hole
20 feet square knocked into her near
the water line by an exploding shell
and crawlcd out of range to repair
damages.
The ammunition in two other Span
ish vessels gave out after two
hours fight, and they had to retire,
one of them having been twice on fire
in the neighborhood of the magazine.
This left two vessels, the Numanc!a,
ironclad, and the Almanac. Two hours
later these two vessels ceased their fire
and withdrew, the Chilians firing at
them until they were beyond range.
The Spanish loss is not exactly known,
but is supposed to have been about
200. Commodore Rodgers, U. S. n, es-
timated the loss to the Chilians at
so, though others give larger number.
No serious damage was done to either
ships or forts by the fire, beyond tina.
named. The Spaniards then withdrew
discounted from the Pacific, being
short Of stores and ammunition, and
with their vessels foul for want Of dock
ing. They had established base at
the Chincha islands, but they had no
facilities for repair. 90.
Spain has shared in the movement OF
naval progress and is far more for
midable in ships and guns than she was
in 1864, but not relatively. We have
no reason to suppose that her sailors
are better, though it may be that the
use Of range finders may improve her
gunnery. Still the personnel factor
will tell, and that is always In favor
Of the American. The Spaniard has
never distinguished himself on the sea,
where the personal equation is SO i'm
portant.-Army and Navy Journal.