Evening star., 1898-07-20
ADMIRAL CERyERA,
Personal Sketch of the Commander r
of the Destroyed Squadron.

The Excelentisimo Senior Don PaxuaI
Cervera y Topete, admiral in command OF
the Spanish flying squadron, is rightly con-
sidered by all Spaniards to be one of their
best sailors He comes on his mothers
side from stock where for generations the
name of Topete had been feared on land
and ocean by many a foe. Cervera is also
a good old name and the present bearer
OF it Is every inch a gentleman and carries
his head very high. He is still very pleas
ant to 1cok at, with his broad forehead
keen brown eyes and carefully trimmed
white beard and heavy mustache covering
a large determined mouth. He is not a
very tall man, but has broad shoulders and
walks very erect The admiral is not a
young man, being over fifty-eight. His
birthplace was Cadiz. the tiny silver cup,
as the Andalusians call their white housed,
clean, sunny, blue-waved town. From
early childhood he showed his inclination
for a naval career and never rested until
his parents gave in and sent him to the
naval college when he was not yet thir-
teen years. He passed, every examination
with ease, obtaining his commission as
MILDLY when most boys are still fond of
the playground. Step by step he ascended
the ladder. rising in rapid succession until
he reached the highest posts possible in
the Spanish navy. He has always rendered
great services to his country in times of
trouble and dark hours. He was one of the
finest officers with Prm in the terrible
of Africa. Again he was of invaluable
service in the Philippine Islands, and in
the last Cuban insurrection.
Admiral Cervera was in London for three
years as chief Spanish naval commissioner
He was delighted to occupy that post in
such a great naval country and in his
letters home he expressed again and again
his pleasant Impressions. He visited every
great arsenal and sudied hard to be able
to understand every modern invention not
only for warfare but also for the large
mercantile vessels and transatlantic steam
ers. He made a great many valuable pur-
chases for the Spanish navy. He was well
ccmed in the best of London society," being
much liked. Later he occupied the
same post in Paris. but for a much shorter
time. his valuable services were much
needed in his own country. AS minister of
marine he showed great energy in putting
down many old abuses and in reforming
the administration. and during his office
the dingy, ugly offices of the ministerio de
marina were quite a pleasure to frequent
with regular hours, disciplined sailor order
lies and polite officials The ministry of
marine Is the government office that is
nearest to the royal palace in Madrid, not
far from the British embassy. and 1t is
a dingy place in all times especially when
in such close contrast to the splendid Al
caZar on the other side of the square. Un-
fortunately, a change of politics came so
soon that Admiral Cervera left the min
istry before he could put into practice his
many plans for the advancement of the
navy.
Many acts of bravery and determination
are related of Cervera, especially one that
no Spaniard can easily forget Castelar,
the great republican orator and statesman,
was at that moment president of the re-
public The radical party was not satisfied
with the moderate way Don Emilio con-
Quoted affairs and there was much discon-
tent and an undercurrent of dissatisfaction
and conspiracy going on. Things once
more looked gloomy. No one knew what
might happen. Everybody distrusted his
neighbors. 1t was in 1878. Don PaxuaI
Cervera occupied an important post in the
Carraca arsenal (Cadiz). He noticed that
there an undercurrent of mystery GO
ing on among sailors and troops in that
place. Determined to discover what 1t was
he waited and carefully watched every
movement, every word every strange act
and soon it was evident to him that the
rank and file had joined the radical con-
spirators and were quite prepared to join
in the rebellion even against their very
officers. So cieverly did young Captain
Cervera move that he was long mas
ter of the day Going from ship to ship,
even from man to man. he argued, con
demned and used all the means in his
power until the whole arsenal and feet
gave in to him and under his word of COM
mand fought against their tempters and
won the day. Vice Admiral Cervera hoisted
his flag on the first-cass cruiser Chris
topher Columbus built at Genoa, vessel
of 1000 tons. carrying thirty-eight guns
and five torpedo tubes, her engines q, no
horsepower.
His first appointment as 'guarda marina,
in June, 1859, was on the war steamer Ve-
lasco, then sublieutenant, 1860; lieutenant
1862; first lieutenant, 1858; frigate captain
1873; captain. 1855; post captain. 1891; rear
admiral, 1896 He is a man reputed for
ceol energy and resolution. very popular
with men. but rather hard. stir with OH
GERS