The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-07-09
DESCRIPTION OF FLEET,

The destruction of Admiral Cervera's
fleet III Santiago harbor wipes out the
most effective lighting force Spain has.
1t comprised the Nizcaya, Marie Theresa.
Almirante Qquendo and Christobal Co
ion, four of the eight armored cruisers
on the Spanish naval list. and the only
ones except the Carlos V. so far as can
be ascertained, which were in condition
Tor service. They were when in condi-
ton fine and effective fighting force.
The NIzcaya, Oquendo and Marie Their
esa were almost exactly alike in buildd
and armor. They possessed three prime
requisites for fighting from their home
base, seaworthiness. good roomy quarters
Tor crews and large coal supply. Each
one could carry 1900 tons of coal, which
gave them a radius of action of 10000
miles at a speed of ten knots an hour.
W hat made them more dangerous to an
enemy was the houogencousness of the
fleet. each vessel being credited with a
speed of twenty knots an hour. How
tough problem they were was shown
when the entire North Atlantic squadron
was searching for them and trying TO
bring them To action ior WeenS With
his superior speed Admiral Ccrvera was
able To lead the American vessels pretty
chase, only ending when he had run into
Santiago. where he vase etfectually bot
tied up hy Admiral Sampson.
OF the four vessels the NiScaya, OQuen-
DO and Marie Theresa were built at BIZ
boa, Spain, and launched in $3.50 and
1871. Their dimensions were: Length.
$40 feet. beam. 80 feet: draft. 21l,, feet.
with II displacement of 1000 tons 1900
tons less than the cruiser New York rha
water line for about tWO-thirdS of the
length of the vessel was protected hy m
l.s4I
poSlte arror. The gun turrets had lUll
inches of armor and at the ends Of the
belts there WAS transverse huikhCad ~
prevent a rakiu@ fire. The Colon differed
Considerably from the other three vessels
both III size and armcr protection being
smaller and with lighter armor. hut for
all that she was the most powerful vessel
OF the four. She was built in puHPnte
Italy. and was sold 10 Spain. Tie Colon
ca rlcd Il belt line Of i inches of Harvey
iZcd steel and an armur of Is inches which
reached to the upper deck giving prota"-
ton to the hroad~idc guns which the
other three cruisers lacke;! and also addi-
tional protection 10 the ammunition
hOiStS
The three other cruisers had no protcc-
ton from the water line belt up. which
left their sides al the mercy of the rapid
FIR" guns Of an enemy, even of the small
CT CalibeT. The Ni>caYa. Theresa and
bquendo carried two II inch guns in tur-
rctS fore and aft and 4 broadSide of ten
b-.'-Inch rapid fire guns in broadside bat
tory. The Colon had two 10-inch guns in
turrctS and ten 6-inch rapid-frc guns in
hroadSidG battery. This gave her. in
spite of the smaller size of the larger
guns. a heavier battery that with her
greater hardness made the Colon Il for
mldahe craft which i'll the right hands
would have proven dangerous enemy.
by the wiping out IF the fleet Western
waters may be SAID To have no further
fear Of trouble from the Spanish navy
for Of the vessels left Admiral Camara
has the only electives still on the active
list in the hattlcShip Pclayo and the ar
morcd cruiser Emrcrado Carlos Y. There
are still the Cardinal CiSncroS. the Cata-
luna and Princess de ASturiuS but none
of the three from all that can be learned
can be made ready in time to be Of scrv-
ice in th" present struggle unless it is pro
traCted to unusual lengths. The admin
i>tratiOn can now 20 on with any plans
it may have had for the conquest of
Porto Rico without any fear of troubl"
from the Spanish navy.