The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-27

the Brooklyn and the Oregon. was turned
over TO you as one of the trophies OF this
great victory of the squadron under your
command.
"SiNth-During my official visit a little
later Commander Eaton Of the Resolute
dppe AIRED and reported 60 you the presence
OF a Spanish battleship near Altares. Your
orders to me were 10 take the Oregon and
so eastward TO meet her, and this was
done by the Brooklyn with the result that
the vessel reported as an enemy was dis
covered TO be the Austrian cruiser fnfanta
Maria Teresa, seeking the commander-in-
chief.
seventh would mention for your con-
sidcration that the Brooklyn occupied the
most westward bockading position With
the Vixen, and being more directly in the
route taken by the Spanish squadron was
exposed for some minutes, possibly ten.
TO the gun force of three OF the spanish
ships ana the west battery az range Of
100 yards from the ships ana about 5000
yards from the batteries, but the vessels
of the entire squadron, closing IN rapidly
soon diverted this fire and did magnificent
work at close range.
81 have never 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 / deem IL "a high privilege 10 COM
mend them for such action as you may
deem proper the salautry and dashina
courage. the prompt decision and che
sklful handling of their respective YES
sells of Capt. Philip, Capt. Evans, Capt
Clark, and especially of my chief-of-staf
Capt Cook, who was directly under my
personal observation, ana whose cooiness,
promptness and courage were of the high
est order.
"'rhe 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 part
In the conflict was under your immediate
observation.
"Eighth-Leut, Sharp, commanding the
Vixen, acted with conspicuous courage,
although unable to engage the heavier
ships of the enemy with his light guns,
nevertheless was close In to the battle line
under heavy fire, and many of the enemy's
shot passed beyond his vessels.
Ninth beg to invite special attention
TO the conduct of my Flag Lieutenant
James II. Sears, and Ensign Edward Nc
Cauiey Jr. aide, who were constantly AT
nv side during the engagement ana who
exposed themselves fearlessly In discharg-
ing their duties; ana also 60 the splendid
behavior of my secretary, Lieut.. b. w.
Wells, Jr., who commanded and directed
the lighting of the Fourth division with
splendid effect
"Tepth--I would commend highly the
meritorious conduct ana courage in the
engagement of Lieutenant Commander
N 10. Mason, the executive officer whose
presence everywhere over the ship during
its continuance did much 20 secure the
good result of this ships part in the vic
tory.
"Eeventh-The navigator, Lieut.. A. c.
Hodgson, and the division officers, Lieut.
T. -. Griffin. Lieut. w. II. Rush, Lieut..
Edward Simpson, Lieut.. j. c.. Doyle En-
sign Charles Webster. and the junior di-
vsional officers were most steady and con-
spicuous in every detail of duty contribut-
ing to the accurate hring of this ship in
her part Of the great victory of your
forces.
"Twelfth-The officers of the medical
pay and engineer and marine corps re-
sponded TO every demand Of the occasion
and were fearless in exposing themselves.
The warrant officers, Boatswain William
l.. Hin Carpenter G. Fl. Warford and
| Gunner f. r. Applegate, were everywhere
| exposed in watching for damage. reports
of which were promptly conveyed to me
"rhirteenth.-I have never IN my life
laeerVed with a Drawer better or worthler
| crew than that of the Brooklyn During
| the combat, lasting from 1895 until 1:15 ..
m. much OF the time under fire, they never
| tagged for a moment, and We're apparently
undisturbed by the storm of projectiles
| passing ahead, astern and over the ship.
"Fourteenth.-The result of the engage
| ment was the destruction of the Spanish
| squadron and the capture of the admiral
and some 1900 TO 1900 prisoners, with the
| loss Of several hundred killed estimated
by Admiral Cervera at 600 men.
"Fifteenth.-The casualties on board this
ship were G. II. Ellis, chief yoeman.
killed; j. Burns, fireman, first-class, Sc
| verely wounded.
The marks and scars show that the
! ship was struck about twenty-five times
ana she bears in all forty-one scars as the
result of her participation in the great vic
tory of your force on July B. 1898 The
| speed-cone hallards were shot away, and
nearly all the signal haIliards. The ensign
at the main was so shattered that in haul
ing IL down at the close of the action it
| fell IN pieces.
SIXTEENTH congratulate you most
sincerely upon this great victory to tie
squadron under your command, and / am
glad that had an opportunity TO contrib
ute in the least to victory that seems
big enough for all of us.
"SeVenteentn.-$
"Eighteenth.-Since reaching this place
and holding conversation with seyeral of
the captains, viz: Capt. Eulate, Of the
Vizcaya and the second IN command OF
the Colon Commander Contreras I have
was to concentrate all fire for awhile on
the Brooklyn, and the Vzcaya to ram
her, IN hopes that if they could destroy
her the chance of escape would be in
creased, as IL was supposed she was the
swftest ship of your squadron. This eX-
plains the heavy fire mentioned and the
Vizcaya's action in the earlier moments Of
the engagement. The execution Of this
purpose was promptly defeated by the fact
that all the ships OF the squadron advanc-
ed into close range and opened an ire
sstibIy furious and terrific fire upon the
enemys squadron as 1t was coming out of
the harbor.
"Nineteenth.-I am glad to say that the
injury supposed to be below The water
line was due to a water valve being OPEN
ed from some unknown cause and flood
ing the compartment. The injury TO the
belt is found TO be only slight and the leak
small
'TwentIeth.-I beg to enclose a list Of
the officers and crew who participated in
the combat Of July 3, 1898.
Twenty -hrst.-I cannot close this re-
port without mentioning In high terms Of
80 tgo tho enIandfd conduct and G1ppOrf