Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-24
ECHOES or oun WAR.

Admiral Dewey has not met the CALLING
/ fro" OF piqued maids and matrons and
poutIng men OF Washington with that un-
! ninching courage displayed In facing the
guns Of Montojos fleet eighteen months ago.
| Perhaps the admiral did not have his sea
! legs with him. The action at Manila was OF
| brief duration That at Washington was
more prolonged and equally harmless TO the
admiral. The outburst OF public temper
furnishes food for reflection as we'll as
amusement. We have occasionally heard
expressions of pain and sorrow over the
ebulltions of unseemly temper other
peoples gave vent to - the French,
for instance and condoled with ma.
tions afflicted with emotional hysterics
At the same time the country congratulated
Itself on possessing an abundance of self
restraint and patience and calmness under
provocation that was heroic by contrast.
The Dewey incident and others before 1t
indicate that we can initiate Paris on equally
slight provocation The amusing part of the
outburet is the assurance wired from Wash
ington that the nations hero Of yesterday is
today an outcast, with none to do him honor.
Fudge! Washington is not the whole thing
not by several square miles. General
Sherman sold his gift house in Washington,
hpNNu WIN lHt ,HOHty 10 new 1OTh anu WAS
not injured thereby In public esteem.
A letter from Major Thomas Swobe to his
wife 10 published in the Mcnasha (Wls.)
Breeze The letter is dated Kobe. Japan.
October 0. Major Swobe Is quartermnster
on the transport Port Albert which sailed
from Tacoma with a cargo of mules and
horses for General Otis, and expected to
reach Manila October 20. The mules were
objects of much interest to the Japanese.
Major Swobe says the governor and chief
justice inspected the animals, as they had
never seen the breed before. They asked
many questions, and being satisfied with
the answers thcy adjourned to a feast of tea
and cigars. The major reports no other
incidents Of public interest. SO it is fair to
conclude that the mules did not attempt to
make an impression on the natives. but
conducted themselves with the dccorum of
true Missourians.
Adjutant General Corbin is now equipped
for war. Some admirer in the Philippines
has sent him bolo, one OF the many
captured from the sprinting natives. This
particular bolo is so finely wrought as to lead
to the suspicion that it may have been in
tended more as a symbol Of authority and
al oiHuihShtai WtdDOn tudu LOT use In tlp
field. 1t consists Of a short, broad lance
shaped blade about eighteen inches in
length by nearly three inches in breadth
at its broadest dimensions. The blade
tapers from the middle toward the hilt as
well as toward the point making the weapon
strongly resemble the ancient short sword.
However, it is not double edged, but tapers
from a thick back to extremely keen
edge on the other side of the blade The
handle, or haft, has a heavy silver ferrule,
heavily chased, and is made of an ex-
tremely beautiful piece of native mahogany, !
or some kindred wood, cunningly carved
to fit the grip of the hand, and terminal
ing with an exquisite specimen of ornate
carving in conventional design. The scab- |
bard of the bolo is made of native wood, |
with rough outlined designs carved thereon. |
The whole weapon is at once mors beautiful
in outline and more formidable than the |
famous Cuban machete.
Admiral Dewey vigorously resents contra
diction by minor officers of the facts con-
tanned in his official reports respecting the !
battle Of Manila bay. In a recent letter to
the chief of the bureau of navigation the
admiral says: "There has come to my
notice a copy Of the United States Naval
Institute which contains an article by
Lieutenant c. G. Calkins. purporting to be
an historical account of the operations in
Manila bay during my command of the naval
forces there. 1t has not been by custom to
notice the numerous incorrect accounts of
those operations, nor do desire to engage
in a controversy with the writer OF the
paper mentioned in matters of opinion. But
as the article has appeared in a publication
which is understood to have the official
sanction of the department, and as it con-
tains statements as facts conflicting with my
official reports, I consider 1t necessary that
the department will request the Naval In
stitute to publish in its next issue my off,
cial report of the battle OF Manila bay,
which is absolutely correct in all essentials" !"
Lieutenant Calkins in his article said, in
part: "As for the submarine defenses Of
Manila, they must remain an unfathomable
mystery to the end of time; but no
loating torpedo was ever discovered in
Manila bay. Perhaps the erasing
angel should also blot out the report Of sub
marine mines exploded ahead Of the Olympia
before the ship opened fire."
All this is in direct contradiction Of Ad
niral Dewey. The following extracts from
he admiral's official report Of the battle
give what he had to say about mines and ;
orpedoes and torpedo boats:
THE squadron opened fire at 5:41 a. m.
While advancing to the attack two mines
we're exploded ahead of the flagship, too far .
o be effective"