New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-27
ADMIRAL SIMPSONS REPORT
SINKING OF CERVERA'S FLEET.
THE COMMANDER AND HIS OFFICERS
TELL THEIR STORIES OF THE
NAVAL BATTLE OFF
SANTIAGO.

destroyed, mas Deen Ilaue pupllc' Au-
miral Sampson gives a full report of the battle
and shows how Ccrvera's desperate attempt to
escape was frustrated by the quick and precise
ranruvring Of the American feet and the over
whelmine ard accurate fire of the American sea-
men lie supplements his own report with the
more detailed accounts Of Commodore Schley
who con nanded the feet in his absence, and Of
CAPTAIN Evans of the Iowa and Captain Clark
Of the Oregon. also with a number Of the orders
and memoranda issued by himself previous to
July 8. showing his plans for forestalling any at
tempt Of the Spaniards 10 escape.
TEXT OF THE REPORTS.
The reports in full as follows:
T. s Flagship, New-York FIRST rate).
OF Santiago de Cuba. Cuba, July 10 1895
Sir: have the honor to make the following re-
mort upon the battle with and the destruction Of
the Spanish squadron commanded by Admiral
Cervers of Santiago de Cuba on Sunday July 8.
lsa>
second-The enemy's vessels came out OF the har-
Dor between 9:S5 and 10 a m. the head of the
column appearing around Cay Smith 931. and
emerging from the channel five six minutes later.
Third-The positions OF the vessels of my COM
nani of Santiago a. that moment were as follows:
The flagship New-York was four miles east of her
blockadnG station and about seven miles from
the harbor entrance She had started from Siboney.
where intended to land. accompanied by several Of
my staff ana so 20 the front and consult with Gen.
eral Shafter A discussion OF the situation and
more definite understanding between US OF the
operations proposed had been rendered necessary
by the Unexpectedly strong resistance OF the Spanish
garrison OF Santiago. l had sent my chief of staff
OF shore the day before 10 arrange an interview
with General Shafter. who had been suffering from
heat prostration l made arrangements 10 go 10 his
headquarters. ana my flagship was in the position
mentioned above when the Spanish squadron ap-
peared in the channel
HOW THE SHIPS WE'RE STATIONED.
The remaining vessels we're in their usual
tlockading positions. distributed in a semi-circlc
about the harbor entrance, counting from the east
ward 70 the westward. in the following order: The
Indiana. about a mile and a half from shore; the
Oregon the NETWORKS place between these two.
the Iowa. the Texas and the Brooklyn, the latter
two miles from the shore west OF Santiago The
distance OF the vessels from the harbor entrance
was from two and onehaf 10 four miles. the latter
being the limit OF the day bockading distance The
length Of the formed by the ships was about
eight miles The Massachusetts had left at a. m.
for Guantanamo for coal. Her station was between
the Iowa and the Texas The auxilares Glouces-
ter and Vixen lay close TO the land and nearer the
harbor than the largo vessels, the Gouces-
ter 10 the eastward and the Vixen TO the westward
The torpedoboat Ericsson was In company with the
flagship and remained with her during her chase
until ordered TO discontinue. when she rendered
very efficient service in rescung prisoners from the
burning Vizcaya. l inclose diagram showing
approximately the positions OF the vessels as de-
scribed above.
Fourth-The Spanish vessels rapidly out Of
the harbor at a speed estimated at from eight to
ten knots. and in the following order Irfanta
Maria Teresa (Aagship) Vizcaya, Cristobal Colon
and the Alrnrante Oquendo. The distance between
these ships about eight hundred yards. which
visible in the upper reach of the channel until the
last one out of the harbor interval of only
about twelve minutes elapsed. Following the
Oquendo, al a distance OF about twelve hundred
yards, the torpcdo-boat destroyer Pluton. and
after her the Furor. The armored cruisers. as
rapidly as they could bring their guns TO bear.
opened a vigorous fire upon the blockadng vessels
and emerged from the channel shrouded in the
smoke from their guns.
THE SIGNAL GIVEN
Fifth-The men of our ships in front OF the port
were at Sunday quarters for inspection. The
signal was made simultaneously from several ves-
sells Enemy ships escaping and general quarters
were sounded. The men cheered they sprang 10
their guns. and fire was opened probably within
eight minutes by the vessels whose guns commanded
the entrance Inc New-York turned about and
steamed for the escaping feet. flying the signal,
CLOSE in toward harbor entrances and attack yes
sells" and gradually increased speed, until toward
The end OF the chase she was making sixteen and
one-han knots. and rapidly closing on the
Cristobal Colon. She not at any time within
the range o; the heavy Spanish ships. and her
only part in the firms TO receive the undivided
fire from the forts in passing the harbor entrance
and 10 fire a few shots at one Of the destroyers'
thought at the moment TO be attempting TO escape
from the Gloucester.
sixth-The Spanish vessels. upon clearing the
har5or turned to the westward In column increas-
ing their speed 10 the full power Of their engines
The heavy blockadng vessels which had closed In
toward the Moro at the instant OF the enemy's
appearance and at their best speed. delivered a
rapid fire well sustained and destructive, which
speedily overwhelmed and sienced the Spanish fire
The initial speed Of the Spaniards carried them
rapidly past the blockadng vessels and the battle
developed into chase, in which the Brooklyn and
the Texas had at the start the advantage of posi-
ton The Brooklyn maintained this lead The
Oregon steauing at amazing speed from the com
rencement OF the action took frst place The
Iowa and the Indiana, having done good work, and
nos having the speed OF the other ships were direct
ed by me in succession at about the time the Vzcaya
was beached 10 drop OF the chase and resume
blockadlng stations These vessels rescued many
prisoners The Vixen. finding that the rush of the
Spanish ships would put her between fires, rar
outside o: our own column and remained there dur
ing the batte and chase.
ADMIRATION FOR THE GLOUCESTER.
sevcnth-The sklful handling and gallant fghtinl
OF the Gloucester excited the admiration OF every
one who witnessed II and merits the commentator
OF the Navy Department. She is fast and entirely
unprotected auxiliary vessel--the yacht Corsair-
and has good battery OF light rapid-fre guns She
was lying about miles from the harbor entrance
10 the southwark and eastward. and immeda telN
steamed in, opening fire upon the large ships. An
ueipatins the appearance Of the Pluton and th'
furor. the Gloucester slowed. thereby gaining
moro rapidly a high pressure Of steam, and wher
tAe destroyers came out she steamed for them a
iHA speed. and able to close At short range
where her fire accurate deadly and Of grea
volume. During this fight the Gloucester under
The IRE q the Socapa battery
within twenty minutes from the time they
emerged from Santiago Harbor the careers OF tn,