The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-01
Is Yankee Navy
 Worthless? "Manila
 Bay" Is the Answer

Since the relations between the l United States and Germany have be- come strained, with war, as a possible issue, many critics have been express , ing their opinions of Uncle Sam s navy, and their views have not always been fIattering Some have gone so far as to express the belief that the United States navy would be almost as worth less as the army in any contest with a first rate power. It is to be remem- bered, however, that this disparag1ng attitude toward the fleet is nothing new. At the outbreak of the war be- tween the United States and Spain the naval critics of many lands, and es- pecialIy those of Germany, predicted that on the sea the United, States was doomed to severe reVerses- Germany S syHnpathies were largely with Spain, and this may have colored the opin- ions of the Teuton experts, but even in. America there were many who be- lieved that the Spanish fleets would prove formidable opponents. Visions of cities devastated by the big guns of Spanish ships inspired fear in the hearts of many. The answer to these dire forebodings came eighteen years ago today, May 1, 1898, when the American squadron under Commodo ore Dewey and, the Spanish fleet under Admiral Patricio Montojoy Pasaron c1ashed in Manila Bay. The opposing forces were nearly equal, but the Spaniards had the advantage of know ing every inch of the waters in which the engagement was fought, and the assistance of powerful land batteries. Hindsight being much better than foresight, it has become the fashion to attribute Dewey's overwhelming vic tory to a vast superiority in ships, arm ament and men. The Spanish vessels have been described as useless hulks, and the American triumph has been minimized in many other ways Yet it is to be remembered that before the battle the experts had predict ed an exactly opposite result. It was the great superiority of American sea- manship and marksmanship that won the battle of Manila Bay, and not any considerable disparity in the quality of ships and guns and the bravery of the men engagedA
 At Manila Bay the Americans had four \cruisers, two gunboats and one cutter; 57 classified big guns, "A rapid firing guns and machine guns, and l, = sos men. The Spaniards had seven cruisers, five .gunboats and two tor pedo boats; 52 classified big guns; 83 rapid firing and machine guns, and l. 984 men. Tie Americans had a few more big guns, but the Spaniards had several more ships, more men, a com p1ete knowledge of the exact distance of the American ships to aid their gun ners, the support of the land forts, and were at their base of supplies, while Dewey was 5000 miles away from all aid.
 Although the Spanish squadron was completely demolished, it was not un- til the commanders and men of the various vessels had demonstrated that, whatever they might lack in efficiency, they were the bravest of the brave./
 The veterans of, the Society of the Battle of Manila Bay, who will ce1e- brate the anniversary of the conflict today, have reason to- be proud of their participation in that duel of ships, for it was the most extraordi- nary victory in naval history. Not one American was killed, and only six men were slightly wounded. One nah died of heart disease during the battle. The three American ships that suffered in Jur1es could be repaired in a few hours.
 If the United States navy is worth Iess, as some experts have alleged, 1t has experienced a remarkable re- Versal of form in the brief space of eighteen years,