The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-02

The Subject Of an Article by a Spanish
Lieutenant Issued by the Bureau iof
Naval Intelligence

Washington, November 29.-The bu-
reau of naval intelligence today issued
another of its war series, this time the
Battles and C%apituiation OF Santiago
de Cuba, by Lieutenant Jose Muller Y
Tejeiro the second in command of the
naval forces of the province of San
tiago de Cuba.
Captain Glover, the chief of the in
telligence bureau, explains in an in
troductory note that the writer was
an eye witness OF most of the events
that he describes and from his posi-
ton had access to official information.
The style is peculiarly interesting,
free from bias and has an air of au-
thentically, which will give the book a
place in history though it is not al of
fetal publication. The publication be-
gans with a chapter entitled the Two
Fleets telling of the arrival OF Ger
vera's squadron on the 18th Of May
and of the disappointment Of the peo-
pie who expected no less than eight
battleships instead Of five. The lieu
tenant mentioned the fact that pro-
visions were very short, also that the
military element of the province were
nine or ten months in arrears in the
payment Of the c~Onsignments n had
been living on credit for some time.
Everything was lacking, food, money,
credit, and purchasing resources were
exhausted. What happened at Santi-
ago was true of other places in the is
land. Merchants, instead Of cOntribut-
ing to the welfare of the army, hid
whatever they had n raised prices.
He speaks of the difficulties of coal
ing and shows hat the fleet was very
badly supplied.
Speaking Of the battles Of Ell Caney
and San Juan, Lieutenant TejeirO says
the Americans, it must be acknowledge
ed, fought with truly admirable cour-
age and spirit. The casualties of the
Spanish side are stated to be sixty Off
GERS and 533 men. He claimed that
only $40 men defended Ell Caney for
ten hours and that $50 defended San
Juan for -four hours.
The lieutenant gives considerable
space for the naval battle, most of
which is taken from persons who
were saved from the Spanish ships.
The GOODNESS and courage of Admiral
Cervera is noted. The fire of the
Spanish ships was said to have been
slow, while that of American ships was
very brisk.
In discussing the disaster he says
that the loss of the fleet had been
foretold by it's commanders, but
the public opinion in the island of
Cuba required the presence of the
feet in Cuban waters. The ships
had not been cleaned, were short of
coal and not in good condition
to fight. The fleet received definite
orders from the captain general of
Cuba to leave Santiago, in spite of
Admiral Cervera's demonstrations.
The total losses in all the attacks
on Santiago are given as follows:
Officers killed 16; men killed 1O7; Off
GERS wounded 50, men wounded SOC;
prisoners n missing 7 officers and
116 men.
Hhe closes the account Of the naval
battle Of Santiago, saying: Il have
never been able to understand the
reason why there was sent to the is
land Of Cuba a feet that was in no
manner able to cop with that Of the
United States and which, therefore,
could in no wise prevent the ships of
the latter from blockading our ports
and controlling the seas, but since it
was sent, without its arrival being
able to prevent the loss of the island,
which was lost, as experience has
shown, from the very momen when
war was accepted, owing to the condi-
tons prevailing there, then it should
have been prevented from being de-
stroyed as it was, without resulting
in any advantage whatever"