The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-22
NEW WAR TALE
INTERESTING STORY OF SECRET
work OF NAVY DEPARTMENT.
How Valuable Information Was Sc
cured Concerning spaniards and
Movements of Their Vessels.
HITHERTO UNKNOWN HERO
EXPLOITS OF ENSIGN H. H. WARD In
SPAIN AND PORTO RICO.
Disguised Himself and Went Straight
Into the Heart of the Enemy's
Country at Opening of War.
ENSIGN BUCK ALSO A SPY
H-
MANY NEW POINTS REGARDING THE
NAVY's OPERATIONS.
Battle OF Manila Bay Described by the
Spanish AdmiraI-Dewey's Esti-
mate of the Philippines.
Disguised Himself and Went Straight
Into the Heart of the Enemy's
Country at Opening of War.
ENSIGN BUCK ALSO A SPY
MANY NEW POINTS REGARDING THE
NAVY's OPERATIONS.
Battle OF Manila Bay Described by the
Spanish AdmiraI-Dewey's Esti-
mate OF the Philippines.


WASHINGTON, Dec a.-The official re-
ports OF all commanding officers of the navy
during the war have been compiled and pub
lished by the Navy Department While
treating Of events that have already fig
ured in official reports that have reached the
public, the documents still contain many
minor reports that throw side lights on in
teresting phases of the war. Almost in the
beginning, in the brief record of the proceed
ings of the naval board. an unknown hero
is brought to light in the person of Ensign
Fl. II. Ward who at the opening of the war
was on duty in the Navigation Bureau,
alternating with Lieutenant WhittIesey in
the heavy duties of assistant to the chief of
the bureau. He volunteered for secret
service duty, and his exploits, about which
nothing has been said in the past may we'll
be placed on record beside those of Leuten-
ant Rowan in Cuba and Lieutenant Whitney
in Porto Rico. Within a week after the
declaration of war Ensign Ward disguised
himself and went straight into the heart of
the eneInys country, making his headquar-
ters at Cadiz. the principal Spanish naval
station, and informing the Navy Department
here of the actual strength of the Spanish
naval vessels and their movements Then
he went to the West Indies and reported
everything that was going on there of i'm
portance to the American navy. Next, he
went again into the enemy's country in dis
guise, this time to Porto Rico, where he
was arrested as a suspicious character and
spy. BY adroitness he managed to secure
his release and. escaping from San Juan,
cabled the Navy Department a full account
of the state OF the defenses there and the
preparations making for the reception of the
Spanish squadron under Cervera. All this
time even the officials of the Navy Depart
ment were under the impression that Mr..
Ward was engaged in installing a system
Of coast signals on the New England coast.
While Ensign Ward was in Porto Rico
Ensign Buck, another attache of the Navi-
CATION Bureau, was on the shores of the
Mediterranean in disguise. watching every
movement of the squadron of Admiral Ca
mara. which started for the Philippines,
but turned back
OF the strategy board itself it is said that
1t was part of its duty to keep informed of
all the movements, resources and plans of
the Spanish naval forces through secret
agents, and 1t is now known that the navy
was thus informed of all important move
ments. At times. however. information was
conflicting and decisions had to be made
as to which report was true.
ORDERS TO DEWEY.
Under the head of precautionary orders
appear In the volume cs instructions to all
Of the United States ships abroad to stock
their bunkers with the best coal obtainable
and to keep them full. Admiral Dewey was
told long before the declaration of war, on
Feb. 25, in the event of war with Spain
your duty will be to see that the Spanish
squadron does not leave the Asatic coast,
ar,1 xF,nr T1I.sfs,
pines. Keep Olympia until further ORDERS"
The latter order is explained by the fact
that the flagship had been ordered back to
the United States for an overhauling Ad-
miral Howell, then in the Mediterranean
with his squadron, was told to wait in neu-
tral waters for orders. and the ships in the
South Atlantic were instructed to move
northvard so as not to excite suspicion.
The reports of the famous naval battle of
Cavite includes one from United States Con-
sui Williams, rather unusual thing in a
report of a strictly naval character, but
fully justified by its picturesque and un-
technical description of Dewey's great vic
tory. Following it is a report to his gov-
ernment on the same engagement by the
commander-in-chief of the Inflated Spanish
feet, Montejo. The admiral depicts the bad
condition of the Spanish fleet and defenses.
He says that the cruiser Castillo was in
capable of maneuvering on account of her
bad condition. while the defenses at the en-
trance of Subig bay were very backward.
With much disgust he found that the guns
which should have been mounted were de-
layed a month and a half, and he was no
less disgusted to find that reliance was had
for the defense of the port upon a few tor
pedoes. not properly placed
Finding Suhfo f,av dafanSaIaSS fha Cnan-
Ssh squadron repaired to the bay of Manila
to meet battle under less favorable con-
ditions. The admiral avoided the city, not
wishing to draw fire upon it, and prepared
his feed for action. painting his vessels a
dark gray and having the fires spread and
springs on the cables. He said the force of
Dewey's vessels, leaving out transports,
amounted TO 2l 410 tons, 40. .29O horsepower,
16S guns (many rapid fire), 1,750 men. and
an average velocity of II miles. Against
this the power of his only five effective
ships was 10,l1l tons, 1900 horsepower, rs
guns very short OF rapid fire.. 1875 crew,
and maximum speed 12 miles
EFFECT OF DEwEY'S FIRE.
The admiral describes in vivid language
the terrible effect of the American on
slaught on the Spanish vessels. He says:
1.-THE Americans fired most rapidly. There
came upon us NUMEROUS proJeculeS, as the
three cruisers at the end of the line de-
voted themselves entirely to fight the Chris
tina. my flagship. short time after the
action commenced one shell exploded in the
foreeastle and put out of action all those
who served the four rapid-hre cannons
Meantime another shell exploded in
the Orlop, setting fire to the crews bags.
At 7:30 one shell destroyed COM
pietely the steering gear. Another