The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-09
JUSTIFICATION BY RESULTS.

JUSTIFICATION BY RESULTS.
Though ever disposed to modesty,
The News recalls with what IL believes
20 be pardonabic pride the estimates II
placed upon spanish sailormanship, as
now demonstrated by facts at a time
when many of its contemporaries pos
INC AZ authorities, seemed to delight in
spreading among the people doubts of
the efficiency of our navy. accompanied
by very high rating for the skill and
strategy Of the enemy.
The News has from the first sought
TO ridicule the Spanish bcgey. though
II has not erred on the side OF an
underestimate OF the bravery OF the
spanish sailor. 1t has claimed that,
with flrst-class ships and first-class
guns. the Spanish navy would still
stand no show against feet manned
by Americans. 1t has held that the
story OF Manila would probably have
been the same IL the commanders and
crews had swapped ships--the Ameri-
cans would have won. Except by in
rerence, OF course, there is no way of
proving such an estimate of compara-
tive cfficiencies. But the battle of last
sunday. on Santiago. tends to support
that view and thoroughly justifies other
estimates applicable directly to that
engagement.
Observed this newspaper on May H..
Hast: "The Spanish navy is a very
much overrated institution on this
side or the water. Aside from the
question OF ships, Spain is VIGOROUSLY
weak in all the elements required to
manage and fight modern warship.
Her sailors doubtless have the lighting
spirit that seems to be developed by sea
air, regardless of race" but 'it Is
likely that she would make a mighty
poor show at fighting her modern
ships" and "her navy is a mockery
and a bogey."
And again on May IA: The News ven
tured the opinion that as lin the ole
days Spain was notoriously lacking IL
scamen and gunners worthy OF th'
name.she has surely not developed then
in recent times. while in the mechanica
requirements OF modern naval fore
she is wocfully lacking. There need b
no ground to fear the result of a meet
inx between our fleet and anything
spain can send against US. or that on
ships can ma afloat. The result a
Manila will only be duplicated
zone thing is not to be doubted.
again observed The News with conf
dcnce on May %. THAT is. If the Span
ish feet runs up against anything lik
IN equal force OF Yankee ships IL WI
be wiped on the face OF the waters
There isn't any reason at all 10 douh
that"
These estimates. made in no spirit c
f1ippancy or traceable to ignorance c
actual conditions. were amply justifie
In Sundays battle. one OF the mos
remarkable sea fights in all histor.
The ships Of spain were not. then
selves. seriously outcIassed. Althoue
Cervcra's four big cruisers had OF
whole fleet 20 fear. they had only a
equal number of ships To fight in a
actual battle = the Brooklyn. Texs
Oregon and Iowa. two superior shil
and two inferior ships In point
armament and srmor. and all inferi
IN point Of speed TO the Spanish qua
tct. making the actual lighting streng
about a. nearly equal as would ordI
ariIy happen with the prcverbial ste
chase advantage In favor of the encn'
YET IN an hours time cervera "
oxcruhclmcJ. his feet destroyed. VIII
ech,ry's rhip< came out Of the ensss
u~nt With mcfc 1scratches. The a
ovncy - American msrksmsnsh