The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-07-28
ADMIRAL SIMPSONS REPORT
A Graphic Description Of the
Greatest Naval Battle
Of Modern Times

Washington. July H.--The cabinet
discussed the report Of Admiral Samp-
son and Commodore Schley on the de-
struction of Cervera's fleet AMI decided
that it should be made public this
morning.
The combined report as stated here
tofore, includes those of Captain Evans,
Captain Taylor and Captain Clark,
making about 1000 words and telling
an intensely interesting story of the
great naval battle. Parts Of the re-
port, especially that of Commodore
Schley. are thrilling in their descrip-
tion, and the remarkable part of all Of
them is that they show no friction
U. s. Flagship New York, First Rate.
or Santiago de Cuba. July 10.
The Secretary of the Navy:
Sir: I have the honor to make the
following report upon the battle wiki
and the destruction of the Spanish
squadron commanded by Admiral, Ger
vera off Santiago de Cuba, on Sunday.
July g. 1898:
2. The enemy's vessels came out of
the harbor between 9.35 and 10 a IN.
the head Of the column and appear
ihB hiouhu SdN at Vol anu
emerging from the channel five or six
minutes later.
3. The positions Of the vessels Of my
command off Santiago at that moment
were as follows: The flagship New
York was four miles east of her block
aiding station, and about seven miles
from the harbor entrance. She had
started from Siboney, where intended
to land. accompanied by several Of my
staff, and go to the front and consult
with General Shafter. A discussion of
the situation and a more definite un-
derstanding between us of hte opera
tions proposed had been rendered nee
essary by the unexpectedly strong re-
sistance of the Spanish garrison of San
tiago. I had sent my chief of staff on
shore the day before to arrange an in
terview with General Shafter, who had
been suffering from heat prostration.
made arrangements to go to his head
quarters and my flagship was in the
position mentioned above when the
Spanish squadron appeared in the
channel. The remaining vessels were
in or near their usual blocka ding posi-
tions, distributed in semi-cirole about
the harbor entrance, counting from the
eastward to the westward in the fol-
lowin gorder: The Indiana about a
mile and half from shore; the Oregon
the New York's place between the two;
the Iowa, Texas and Brooklyn, the lat
ter two miles from the shore west OF
Santiago. The distance of the VESSELS
from the harbor entrance was from
two and one-half to four miles, the lat
ter being the limit of day blockading
distance. The length of the arc form
ed by the ships was about eight miles.
The Massachusetts had left at 4 q. nj.
for Guantanamo for COAL Her station
was between tht Iowa and Texas. The
auxiliaries Gloucester and Viven Law
close to the land and nearer the harbor
| entrance than the large vessels, the
Gloucester to the eastward and the
Vixen to the westward. The torpedo
| boat Ericsson was in company with the
flagship and remained with her during
the chase until ordered to discontinue,
when she rendered very efficient SER
vice in rescuing prisoners from the
| burning Vizcaya. inclose a diagram
showing approximately the positions
Of the vessels as described above.