Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-06
sCHLEY WON THE VICTORY

SCHLEY WON THE VICTORY.
As stated in the Gazette Of that dat
Representative Berry, of Kentucky, in
troduced in the House yesterday {
Joint resolution extending the thank
of Congress to Commodore Schley ant
the officers and men under his com
mand for their heroic and distinguish
ed conduct in destroying the Spanisl
fleet in Cuban waters" The resou
ton was referred to the committee OF
naval affairs, who will! wait until AID
miral SIMPSONS official report is re
ceived before taking action. Repre-
sentative Berry says he proposes tina
the officer to whom the glory is du
shall be recognized Schley is the req
hero of the incident. He and tn
brave band of officers and men unde
his direction are the ones who achieve,
the victory, and all honor should b
given them"
Admiral Sampson, as stated yester
day, was temporarily absent som
miles east of Santiago when the Spar
ish ships dashed out of the harbor. -
started to return, but arrived when lie
battle was practically over. Como
dore Schley, on the Brooklyn, dire.ed
the fight.
A dispatch from Santiago says:
The latest dispatches from Glsral
Shafter show that the Spanish army
now confronting him numbers about
1900 troops, with tbs advanta,s OF be-
ing behind entertainments an( having
the support of Notifications. He can
muster probably not over. thirteen
thousand we'll men to face lis force.
The Cubans, who had been 0unted up
on as useful allies, have shofn lndlspo-
siton to take vigorous acticl, and have
disappointed the authorizes, who no
longer regard them as zoe depended
upon since Garcia's fail;re to hold in
check Pareja's advance O. Santiago.
General Miles is pusbag forward the
preparations and expec5 now to have
with the army at Santigo not less than
10000 men by the miGile OF next week /;
also, q large numkr OF horses and
equipment of all kris asked by Gen.
Snafter. His departure for the front
may again be po:poned and at any
rate he will not leaie on the Yale as
was expected, but.s to remain in Wash
ington until all he troops necessary
for General Shafer have been forward
ed. Then with ais staff he will board
some fleet steaaer and proceed to the
front.
No changes expected in the situa
ton at Santiago until reinforcements
arrive and t5e army is so fully prepar
ed that thero can be no question Of its
victorious onward move when the next
assault is Undertaken.
After chase of sixty miles to the
westward the Brooklyn, closely follow
ed by to Oregon, overhauled the Girls.
iobaI C0lon after she had run ashore
and b,d hauled down her flag. Capt.
Cook. of the Brooklyn, went on board
Of har, and the commander of the Span
ism srmored cruiser came forward to
snrsnder, and was taken on board the
Nlg York, which came up an hour
gfsr the Brooklyn and Oregon had
lompleted the capture of the Cristobal
lolon. The latter was not seriously
managed, though she was struck sew
ral times by shots from the Brooklyn
md Oregon. During the chase clev-
II maneuver Of Commodore Schley, in
leading due west to Cape Caney, while
he Cristoba! Colon had taken more
direction, with much great
r distance to cover, rendered the Span.
ards escape impossible. There seems
o be no doubt that the Cristobal Colon
nd perhaps the other three Spanish
rmoured cruisers would have escaped
ad it not been for the prompt
ction of Commodore Schley. The
his flagship, alone was
4 position to attack the Spanish
esseIs as they left the harbor, and
commodore Schley steamed directly to-
'ard them and engaged ell four cruis-
RS, infiicting great damage upon them.
he Oregon was the first to join the
and afterward the Iowa, In
lana, Texas and Vixen closed around |
ne Spaniards, all pouring in a deadly |
re, but from the beginning to the end |
the fight the Brooklyn, Oregon and
Gloucester took the most important
art in the destruction of the enemy.
Had Admiral Cervera sailed east
ard after leaving the mouth Of Sanli-
90 harbor he might have escaped. Tbs
.ew y ork in that event would have
cen the only powerful ship to oppose
is progress. He caIlo TO wrong con-
usion as to the positions of the Amer
or ships and sailed westward.
The captain of the Almirante Oqueu-
0 is said to have committed suicide
ter the loss of his vessel. This gave
Sc TO the report that Admiral Cervera
I'D killed himself.