The San Francisco call., 1898-07-11

"our intention was to run to Havana, raise the blockade there and enter the harbor.
 What will be the result of the bat tle?' the Spanish commander was asked.
 ''Ah, do not know" was the mourn full reply.
 II hear now that the Americans in tend sending their fleet to my country. That is my anxiety. My poor Spain will be helpless against your attack. l have seen what your ships can do, and know our exposed cities will be de- stroyed"
 You were, then, much impressed with the fire of the American ships?'
 We were all astonished by it's amaz- ing rapidity and deadliness," was the frank reply. Tt will be an awful fight and Spain will suffer most. But if any one was bold enough to suggest that to my countrymen he would be cut to pieces. If America carries the war into Spain and defeats us there the disgrace would be too great to bear. You know the fall of great nation is like the fall of a great family-'great shall be the fall thereof And 1 am afraid that is how it will be with Spain. Oh, God, open the eyes of my countrymen at home that they may understand why we were defeated here.'
 1 found this to be the general opin- ion among all the captured officers. They were all free to admit that the American navy man behind his gun is the most wonderful man they had ever dreamed of. The officers expressed wide-eyed astonishment when told that it is the custom in the American navy to exercise crews at battery practice with full-serVice charges at frequent and regular intervals
 But that must cost you tremendous money" exclaimed one, an officer of the Colon.
 Yes" said his companion of the Vizcaya, but see the result"
 Do you think Santiago can hold out much longer?" the second captain of the Maria Teresa was asked
 No" he replied: they are very short of provisions there. Rice is the chief article of diet, little else in the way of food being left. Beef is very scarce and very poor"
 The officer was curious to know as to whether the Americans had suffered much loss when their land forces made an attack on Santiago. He was told the number reported lost and seemed surprised that it was no greater.
 Why, we lost that many ourselves" he said, and yet our men were fight ing behind entrenchments and your men were attacking us"
 Was there any council of war called before it was determined to attempt to force a passage out?"
 No, not a council-there was an in- formal conference. All agreed that the attempt was well nigh hopeless, and all of us were convinced that we would get just what we got"
 All of the Spanish officers seemed deeply distressed over the disaster which has befallen Spain. They were no less astonished at their treatment as prisoners.
 The Spanish press" said one, who begged me not to quote his name, lis alone to blame for the awful way in which we and the country at large have been deceived. We were led to believe that Americans would talk and buster but not fight, and that America had no good ships-that the few bad ones she had were manned by foreign CTS who would desert in time of war; Oh, how we have been deceived. And | then we were told that we would be horribly tortured and killed if cap- | tured. Now I can hardly believe my senses. We are treated as friends and 1 brothers by those we have been taught | to dread"