Evening star., 1898-12-08
AT TACK ON MANZANILLO
l. IN the Last Operations in the West
Indies
Disappointment on Receiving Notice
August ~ of the signing of
the Peace Protocol.

interesting report made by Captain c. F.
Goodrich Of the operations of the cruiser
Newark, from which it appears that that
vessel fired the last shot of the war.
far as the operations in the West Indies are
concerned. This report is dated off Man
zanillO Cuba. August H. 1898, and gives an
account Of the operations of that vessel and
her consorts up to that time The Newark
left Guantanamo August Q. and in company
with the cruiser Resolute. carrying the bat
talon of marines. under Colonel Hunting
ton. proceeded to the westward of San
tiagO de Cuba, where they fell in with the
Hist and Suwanee. off Cape Cruz. 1t was
then learned that the condition of affairs
at Mama Milo was such to warrant the
belief that an attack in force would re-
suit in the speedy capitulatOn of the gar
ris0n and city.
Captain Goodrich says that the fleet then
consisting of the following vessels, Newark,
ReSOlute. Suwdaee, Hist, Osceola and AL
varado. left Cape Cruz on the morning of
August II for Cuatro Reales channel the
Hist with her pilot going ahead in order
10 minimize the chances of accident in
navigating waters only imperfeCtly charted.
The other vessels followed close aboard
all keeping the lead going constantly. BY
a pFeCOnCeTted system of signals the pres
enCe of shUal water or other danger could
In this Way he Instantly communicated
from the lsading ships in ample time to
stop the progress of the heavy draught
ships ResoiUte and Newark. No difficulty
was experienced in getting through CuatrO
Reales channel, and at dark of that day
the fleet anchored inside Of the Great Bar
rier reef, In ten fathoms of water about
forty miles distant from ManzanillO.
Bombardment of ManzaniiIo.
The report then continues as follows:
.'On the morning of the 18th instant my
little iotiIla got under way at 4:3o and pro-
ceeded to the vicinity of Manzanillo. The
Resoiute, Suwanee. Hist and Osceola an
chored well inside of the northern entrance
hoiSted a flag of truce on the Newark and
projected TO an anchorage about three miles
distant from the town. whence ] sent the
Alvarado. also bearing a flag of truce, to
present to the military Commandant de-
mand for surrender. This demand was
placed in his hands by Lieutenant Blue.
The reply was to the effect that the Span
lsh military code forbade a surrender ex-
Cept as the sequence of a siege or other
military operation
The town being fortified is exempt from
the privileges and immunities attached TO
defenSeleSs places. Nevertheless as YOU
Will perceive from my demand, sufficient
time was given TO permit non-combarants
10 leave the city At 2 o'clock / signaIed
TO the outlying vessels to take the sta
tons OIL the town which had been assign
ed, and at 80 hauled down the flag of
truce on the Newark and proceeded to-
ward Nanzanillu until the shoalness of
the water forbade her further approach.
At so FIRE was opened from this shin on
the batteries. and was maintained with
to!eTable steadiness until 4:15 o'clock with
an accuracy surprising in view of the short
time during which she mad been commits
stoned, the other vessels following shortly
after
Flag of Truce Ignored.
AZ i:15 pm. having seen supposed white
flags hoisted on the Spanish gunboat Cuba
Espanoia and the commandart's quarters,
1 made signal Cease firing and sen; the
Alvarado in under flag Of truce At the
same time the Suwanee. Hist and Osceola
all Jnder the immediate orders of Iteuten-
ant Commander DeIahanty, were approach
ing the town from The southwark through
the middle channel. When these vessels
We're within .CHu To / $40 yards of the bat
trries The Spanish authorities opened fire
an them at 80. paying no attention 70 he
flag Of truce OF The Alvarado. which tas /
have sine been iufUrrneD they failed 10
perceive. The ANaTado hauled down her
flag Of truce and Joined the other gunbOats
i'm returning the fire At !: "a opened fire
again from the Newark. The Cuban forces
at This time appeared 10 the nOrthward of
the town and began discharging volleys
which were apparently returned by Spanish
artillery. The Newark threw a number of
6-inch shells in this direction. in order TO
assist the Cublns. The Suwanee. OSceOla
Hist and AlVaradO soon returned to the
neiShborbtod Of The flagship. and We all
9urhor-d at about 80 pm. for the night.
From that time until daylight this morning
t,-iEch shells werc fired from the Newark
at the batteries at irregular intervals, one
shot being fred during each half hour.
Notified of the PROTOCOL.
Daylight revealed a large number OF
white faes flying over the block houses
AMI batteries Of ManzaniIo and the ap-
proach of a boat from The shore bearing
flag Of truce. The captain Of the port came
a E1riy-ar.-1 to mn oh
The Secretary Of the Nay reading as fol-
lows: Protocol Of peare signed by the
President. armistice proclaimed My dis
appointment wJs as may be ina gined
very great. for had every reason 10 be
HeVe that t. garrison was entirely ready
to surrender. / had hoped that the fleet
uuter your command might have won one
more laurel and gained one more important
victory before the conclusion of peace.
~ few rrrje"tileS fell close to this ship
hut the eusrny's attention was naturally
directed chiefly against the gunboats. l am
happy 10 report no casualties or injuries
beyond three shots from Nauser rifles
through the SUwanee'S ensign. What was
possibly ne last slut Of the war was a 6-
inch pr1icctilc rrad from the Newark at
5:4u am today 1t gives me great pleasure
10 speak in he highest terms of the Off
GERS " this ship. and "f ne remarkable
gun practice she displayed.
''Gt is Impossible for me 20 exaecerate the
Loyalty. zeal and bravery Of the command
i1G officers. which have been too often
proved during me war to render eulogy or
my part necessary. Subjected. they
7v-rs e. clCse fire from guns of various cal
ibers from Old-fashIlnei smooth-bores to
Erupp li-puuuders and v0lleys of Mauser
bullets they stuck ~ their post and upheld
the honor of tine flag. l earnestly commend
t1 YOUR favorable consideration Lieutenant
Commander pgldhanty, Lieuts. Young, Pur-
ecI and Blue. commanding the Suwanee,
Inst OSCeI!a and Alvarado. respectively.
Disappointed Marines
- part Of sHe contemplated plan of op
ofa-.ons was the landing Of some or all Of
the marines Of col Huutinstons command.
This officers ragre, at the loss of an op-
por,uniiy to win additional distinction for
his corps and himself was only equaied by
his careful study Of the necessities of the
ease and his Jealous entrance into the
spirit OF the enterprise.
Commander Eaton was. as is his wont.
most ready and efficient, ami with his snip
was extremely helpful toward others. II
was only The nature Of his ship and her
personnel which. under my positive orders
Kept him from more prominent place in
the action"