LESSONS OF THE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 9

LESSONS OF THE WAR.

The lessons of the actual fighting at Manila have thus been summarised by Admiral Dewey : — The first lesson of the battle teaches the importance of American gunnery and good guns. It confirms my early experiences under Admiral Farragut, that combats are decided more by skill in gunnery and the quality of the guns than by all else. Torpedoes and other appliances are good in their way, but are entirely of secondary importance. The Spaniards, with their combined fleets and forts, were equal to us in gun power. But they were unable to harm us because of bad gunnery. Constant practice made our gunnery destructive and Avon the victory. The second lesson of this battle is the complete demonstration of the value of highgrade men. Chea.p men are not wanted, are not needed, are a loss to the United States Navy. We should have none but the very best men behind the guns. It will not do to have able officers and poor men. The men in their class must be the equal of the officers in theirs. We must have the best men filling all the posts on shipboard. To make the attainments of the officers valuable we must have, as we have in this fleet, the best men to carry out their commands. The third lesson, not less important than the others, is the necessity for inspection. Everything to be used in a battle should have been inspected by naval officers. If this is done there will be no failure at a crisis in time of danger. Look at the difference between our ships and the Spanish ships. Everything that the Spanish had was supplied by contract. Their shells, their powder, all their materials, were practically worthless, while ours were perfect.