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Show S?rem Text ia r.'-Vil Vcrf-re. The greateit natal battle in the history of the world is pending in Southern seas. . The first real battle with modern steel-clad vessels will come when the Japanese and Russian squadrons meet, somewhere in the vicinity of Singapore. The United States navy won two notable victories vic-tories in the war with Spain, but hardly finder conditions con-ditions that would really test the full efficacy of the modern warship. The battle of Manila bay was a contest af strategy, when an enemy of inferior strength was caught napping. It is true that the annihilation of the Spanish squadron was a masterly mas-terly piece of maneuvering. We would not detract one iota from the glory of Dewey in that memorable fight. Bat that battle was indeed unequal and onesided. one-sided. A nearer approach to a real test of up-to-date steel-clads was the battle of Santiago. Even then it was a race for life on the part of Cervera'e Spaniards, rather than an up-and-up battle on the high seas. In the coming battle the probabilities are that the Japanese and Russian squadrons will meet in the open. It will be a test of endurance, gunnery and the efficacy of the steel-clad ship under all conditions. con-ditions. The advantage may be slightly on the side of the Japanese, though when everything is considered consid-ered this can hardly be true. The Japanese squadron squad-ron has, for nearly a year, been on active blockade |