The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-08-04
(New York Sun, 22nd.)

(New York Sun, 22nd.)
All Of the foreign military and
naval attaches who came from Cuba
on the Seneca and who were re-
leased from quarantine yesterday
were found at Hotel Martin last
evening. None of them were dis
posed to talk of his experiences until
dinner had been ordered. Then
when the first '.squarc meal they
had had for many weeks was in
pleasant prospect, Lieut.. Akijama,
Of the Japanese navy, an attache Of
the Japanese legation at Washington
and a participator in the battle OF
the 9alu, subjected himself to an
with the utmost courtesy
and good nature.
AS | am naval ollicer.' he said.
.'the lighting on land was not of par
tlcular interest to me. | went to OBJ
serve affairs of the navy. 1t was
my privilege to observe the bonn
hardmcnt of A9uadores. | was there
impressed that your sailors had good
discipline, and that they shoot with
much precision. The shooting was
very fine.
Later | saw the battle with Adj
miral Cervera's fleet. 1t was at a
distance Of eight miles, but. even
then. very interesting. was asleep
in my cabin on the Seguranca. My
cabin boy came and said: BE ava
kened, The battle Of the warships
You must see it." | was very sleepy.
The cannonadc, it was true, was
loud and fast. 1T is but bombard-
ment once more. But will see. 1t
was duty. But the boy said very
loud: No. No. The Spanish came
from the harbor.' Then, perhaps
YOU believe it, ! was up most quickly Y
to the bridge of the Seguranca. The
New York, the flagship OF Admiral
Sampson. was near us half mile.
The flagship went to the fight. The
followed after.
The American ships we saw very
well. But the Spanish, we could
not see until we were near. When
we were near they were burning up,
DESTROYED 1t was too late"
..Wcrc you able, them" Lieut.. Aki-
jana was asked, Ito form any opinion
of the hattle9"
..Ah, yes" he replied. ..First, the
arrangement of the American fleet
by Admiral Sampson. 1t was com
plete. 1t was without fault
You think. then, that Admiral
Sampson deserves the credit for the
battle?'
Sincerely. | do. The officers of
other Governments all agree with me
that the greatest credit is for the
admiral. He made the plans. He
gave the orders He said where
each ship should wait for the Span
ish. The Spanish came. The result
was the completcst victory that ever
was known. He was not there. He
was unfortunate. but the fight
showed. by its complete victory,
that his plans were all right. If the
flagship had been in the fight she
would have fought as we'll as any OF
the other ships. The seamanship,
the crews of the American ships. the
dircctness of their aim. it is all alike.
II could not be better.
'.Admiral Sampson was fortunate
to have brave, quick officers to obey
the commands he had given to them.
They We're quiet, waiting. The
Spanish came and made Il surprise.
The admiral was away. 1t was a
good test. The American fleet went
quickly to meet them. 1t was as if
they knew long before that the
SpanardS were coming. Commo
dore Schley fights well. He led the
fleet with great dash. so fierce, st
accurately, that the people who
looked thought The American ships
are on fire The firing, | say, was
so great that the Spaniards were
(hcre the lieutenant made Il down
motion of his hands with his palms
outward that was more expressive
than words could have bcen) stopped
from helping themselves. Tho
Spaniards would be brave in fight,
very likely. but there was no chance
your fleet was too good. If any one
has said before such a victory was
possible. he would have been laughed
at.
The smoke around your fleet wa:
very great. Shooting strai ght seemed
to be impossible. But the shooting
was very straight. All the foreign
officers said one to another often OF
Se~uranca: 1T was wonderful: i
could not be better.
The Oregon. your battleShip. al
admire her. Not many ships are
like that She is fine ship. a very
strong ship"
Asked to compare the naval battle
of Santiago with the battle of the
Yalu Lieut.. Akijama said:
1t was hard to compare. because
the character Of the tight was diff
fcrent At the Yalu there was mucI
manoeuyering. Allthrough the fight
the position of the ships changed
At Santiago it was shoot. advancing
on the Spanish. When the SpaniSi
found themselves over powered an'
desired to escape, it was followed
and DESTROYED 1t was simple. bu
ii was we'll done If it had not beer
well done it would have been simple
but most confused; the American
victory would not have been will