The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-27

ported as an enemy was discovered to be the Austrian cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa, seeking the commander-in- chief.
 z. l would mention for your consider alton that the Brooklyn occupied the most westward blockading position with the Vixen and being more direct ly in the route taken by the Spanish squadron was exposed for some min utes, possibly ten, to the gun fire of three of the Spanish ships and the west battery at 0 range of 1,500 yards from the ships and about 5000 yards from the batteries, but the vessels of the entire squadron, closing In rapidly soon diverted this fire and did magni- ficent work at close range. I have nev- CT before witnessed such deadly and fatally accurate shooting as was done by the ships of your command, as they closed in on the Spanish squadron, and l deem it a high privilege to commend to you for such action as you may deem proper, the gallantry and dashing courage the prompt decision and skill ful handling of their respective vessels of Captain Phillips, Captain Evans, Captain Clark and especially of my chief of staff, Captain Cook, who was directly under my personal observa- tion and whose coolness, promptness and courage were of the highest order. The dense smoke of the combat shut out from my view the Indiana and the Gloucester, but as these vessels were closer to your flagship, no doubt their ,1h., mediate observation.
 S. Lieutenant Sharp, commanding the Vixen, acted with conspicuous cour- age, although unable to engage the heavier ships of the enemy With his light guns, nevertheless he was close into the battle line under heavy fire and many of the enemys shots passed be- yond his vessel.
 g. I beg to invite especial attention to the conduct of my flag lieutenant, James H. Sears and Ensign Edward McCauley, aide, who were constantly at my side during the engagement and who exposed themselves fearlessly in discharging their duties and also to the splendid behavior of my secretary, Lieutenant B. w. Wells, who com manded and directed the fighting of the fourth division with splendid ef- feet
 10. would commend the highly mer- itorious conduct and courage in the en- gagement of Lieutenant Commander N. B. Mason, the executive officer whose presence everywhere over the ship during it's continuance did much to secure the good result of this ships part in the victory.
 H. The navigator, Lieutenant A. C.. Hodgson, and the division officers, Lieu tenant T. D. Griffin, Lieutenant w. P Bush, Lieutenant Edward Simpson, Lieutenant J. c. Boyle, Ensign Charles Webster, and the junior divisional off, cers, were most steady and conspicu- ous in every detail of duty, contribut- ing to the accurate firing of this ship in their part of the great victory of your force.
 12. The officers of the medical, pay and engineer and marine corps re- sponded to every demand of the occa- sion and were fearless in exposing themselves. The warrant officers, boat swain, William M. Hill, Carpenter c. H. Warford and Gunner F. T. Apple gate, were everywhere exposed, in watching for damage, reports of which were promptly conveyed to me. 13. have never in my life served with braver, better or worthier crew than that of the Brooklyn. During the l combat lasting from 9:30 to 1:15 p. m., most of the tim under fire, they never | Jagged for moment and were appar- entity undisturbed by the storm of pro- jectiles passing ahead, astern and over the ship.
 | IA. The result of the engagement was the destruction of the Spanish squad ron and the capture of the admiral and some 1900 to 1500 prisoners, with the loss of several hundred Killed, estimat- ed by Admiral Cervera at 500 men, | 15. The casualties on board this shiE were: c. H. Ellis, chief yoeman, kill ed, J. Burns, fireman first class, se- verely wounded. The marks and scars 1 show that the ship was struck about 1 twenty-three times and she bears in al | fourteen scars as the result of hel participation in the great victory o1 l July g. 1898. The speed cone halliards were shot away and nearly all the sig. nal house and halilards. The ensign al the main was sb shattered that in haul. ing it down at the close of the action il I fell in pieces.
 16 l congratulate you most sincerel,
 upon this great victory to the squadrol
 under your command, and I am gla
 that I had an opportunity to contribut
 in the least to a victory that seems bi l enough for all of us.
 1T. have the honor to transmit here
 with the report of the commanding off
 cer and a drawing in profile of the shir
 showing the location of hits and scars
 also a memorandum of the ammunitio
 expended and the amount to f1l1 her al loWance.
 IS. Since reaching this place and hold
 ing conversations with several of tn
 captains viz, Captain Eulate of tn
 Vizcaya and the second in command C
 the Colon, Commander Contrerar,
 have learned that the Spanish admir-
 als scheme was to concentrate all fir
 for while on the Brooklyn and tn
 Vizcaya to ram her in hopes if the
 could destroy her the chance of escaI
 would be increased, as 1t was suppose
 she was the swiftest ship of yoU
 squadron. This explains the heavy fir
 mentioned in the Vizcayas action i the earlier moments of the engage
 ment. The execution of this purpos
 was DromptlV defeated hy the fact ths