The evening times., 1898-07-22
OPINIONS Of FOREIGNERs
Lieut. Akiyama, Of the japanese
Navy, Praises Americans.
THE ACCURACY OF OUR AIM
The Destruction of Adnafral Ger
yera's Fleet Illustrated the Abil-
fly of the American Gunners to
shoot Fast and Hit ,Oftcn-The
Ships Were SbrOudcd In Smoke.

New York. July 22.-Foreign military and
naval officers who We're with the army be-
fore Santiago and who came from Sioorey
on the transport Seneca, went to ,he Ho-
tel Martin last night when they came to
the city after being released from lIoff-
man Island. They were Colonel Germo-
loft Russian army: Enver Pacha, Turk
ish army; Lieut.. S. Akiyama, japanese
navy; Count Won Rebeur Paschwitz, Ger
man army: Commander V. E. Anderson,
Swedish navy; Captain Abildgaard, Nor
wegian navy, and their aides.
Lieut. S. Akiyama. the Japanese naval
attache at Washington. was more commu-
nicative than his associates. He is an
exceedingly intelligent man and well vers-
ed in naval warfare. He witnessed the
memorable battle of the Yalu and was
sent by his government to this country
to watch the naval engagements off Cuba
Referring to the annihilation of Ger
vera's fleet. Lieut.. Akiyama was unstint-
ed in his praise of the American fleet,
the commanders and the gunners.
1t was a wonderful engagement and
has no parallel in history" said he Il
saw the entire fight from the deck of
the Seguranca, and, while it furnished no
idea of what the Americans can do in the
way of formation and tactics. yet 1t Illus
trated their ability to hit and destroy.
When the Spaniards came from the
harbor | was asleep, but not were the
American lookouts. So soon as the alarm
was given the American vessels prepared
for action and the Spaniards ran down
the coast. They We're quickly closed in
epon by the Americans and blown TO
pieces 1t was magnificent sight The
wonder is that the American gunners
could see any object to shoot at, because
the smoke was so dense, but they did.
The reason for the Spanish defeat was
that they were overmatched, both in the
number and efficiency of the American
vessels and the superiority of the gun
ners and the handling and speed of the
American ships
He said the American seamen were the
equal of any in the world. He was par
ticularly impressed with the execution
done by the Oregon. and the pluck of the
men on the Gloucester.
The lieutenant preferred not to speak
about the Seneca voyage beyond express
ing his regret that there was not better
food. more ice ana better water. He left
today for Washington.
Speaking Of the poor accommodates
for the sick and wounded on the Seneca,
Capt. Abildgaard aaid:
The conditions were very bad. The
wounded soldiers did not receive proper
care. The medical commissary depart
ment must have made a grievous mis-
take"
Continuing. he remarked of his expert
ence at the front: The Americans never
went back. always forward"
Were the Spanish shots effective?'
was asked.
They fired much, but they did no:
hit much"
The foreign military attaches and many
of the American army officers who were
able-oodied men were quartered in the
f1rst cabin. en- Enver Pacha had the
best room in the ship and unlike the
other foreign officers, c5stinateiy re-
fused 10 give il up for the accommodate
ton Of the wounded Americans.