The record-union., 1898-08-21
Discusses the Naval Battle Outside
Santiago Harbor.
Asserts That He Might Have Escaped With
the Colon,
But Reserves His Explanation I'm
til the Cortes Meets-Says There
is an Unwritten Chapter Yet to
be Known Before History is
Written.

NEW YORK, Aug. 20.-The Press"
says:
Captain Emilio Diaz Moreau of the
Spanish ship Cristobal Colon, in an in
terview, discussed the events of the last
few weeks with bitterness. There
was even playful suggestiveness in
his tones when he replied to the in
quiry whether he would say good-by
TO the American fleet as he passed
down the bay on the Normandie.
Yes" he went on. why shouldn't t
/ have friends on board your ships?
We did not fight as personal foes. Cap
tain Cook of the BroOklyn-you don't
know him? All, fine man. Half an
hour after the battle I had given him
my photograph and he had given me
his. On mine / wrote: We have just
fought two hours and a half. Each did
his duty We are not personal foes.
Now that it is all over, we are COM
rades and friends That is the way I
feel toward the Americans. l believe
they have different opinion of the
Spaniards from what they had before
the war"
Captain, do you think Hobson will
raise the Colon?"
No, he viii not. She is tipped on her
side and her finch guns have smashed
her. Any vessel saved there will cost
twice her value"
THE Colon was a beautiful vessel?"
ventured the reporter
Beautiful, and every inch a fighting
ship. l would have got away; none Of
them could have stopped me. but
The Captain paused and said: Got
away, 1 said, you understand. l mean
it. Schley knows it; Sampson knows it.
and so does Cook. l told them it was
not the Brooklyn, nor the Oregon that
kept me from escaping. They say L
went only sixty-four miles. l tell you it
was seventy-two. Divide that by the
time and you will see my average was
17.2 knots an hour and at times Is. The
Oregon could only go 1G, and 1 was
steadily dropping the Brooklyn behind.
Oh, no, neither of the two kept me from
escaping, but 1 cannot tell you now why
1 was not able to save my splendid
ship" and the Captains voice trembled.
You won't have long to wait though;
you won't have long to wait" he re-
peated when l tell why it will be on
the floor of the Cortes. / am a member
of the Spanish Parliament. I represent
the Montrit District in Granada Prov
ince 1 have been permitted by the
President to go home now, that l may
be present at the opening of the Cortes,
which will take place in few days.
Then l will explain, and many things
now dark will seem clear. / know many
Americans don't seem quite clear from
their own accounts as to why did not
escape when | was in the lead and gain
ing They viii know soon.
II am not saying this to detract at all
from the achievements of the Amer
lean fleet. The men did all they could,
but there is an unwritten chapter yet
to be known before history is written
No one will say the Colon was ma
terially damaged by the American flre,
he went on. she was hit only six times
BY your own reports 1 made twenty-six
holes in the Brooklyn and there were
forty-two traces of hits on her side.
Does not that speak we'll for Spanish
gunnery? They say our gunners could
not shoot Well. the Brooklyn's sides
tell a different story"
why did not you sink her them?
"Our guns We're too small. The three
vessels with heavy guns-the Vizcaya,
Maria Teresa and the Oquendo-were on
fire. / was left alone with only rapid
fire guns of a comparatively small call
Der. If l had had 13-inch guns, or IL or
1o-well. there might have been diff
ferent story. Those holes in the BROOK
lyn would have meant more