Evening journal., 1898-07-27
SIMPSONS REPGRT.
Official Account Of the Great
Naval Battle.
HIGH PRAISE FOR THE OREGON.
The Admiral Mentions Especially Captain
Clarls's Battleship and the Gloucester.
How the Blockade Was Main
tained-Details of the right.

tained-Deians of the right.
WASHINGTON. July 27. 80 Admiral
SIMPSONS account Of the destruction OF
Cervera's fleet was given out by the
navy department last night. The full
text of the report Is as follows:
United States Flagship New York.
First Rate. off Santiago de Cuba, July
i5 1881 have the honor to make the
following report upon the battle with
and the destruction Of the Spanish
squadron commanded by Admiral Ger
vera Off Santiago de Cuba on Sunday,
July 3, 1898:
The enemy's vessels came out OF the
harbor between 9.S5 and 10 a. m. the
head OF the column appearing around
Cayo Smith at 9:3l and emerging from
the channel five or six minutes later
The positions OF the vessels OF my
command Off Santiago at that moment
were as follows: The flagship New York
was four miles east OF her blockadlng
station and about seven miles from the
harbor entrance. She had started from
siboney. where l intended to land, ac-
rompanied by several OF my staff. and
go to the front and consult with Cen
eral Shafter. A discussion OF the situa-
Ron and a, more definite understanding
between us of the operations proposed
had been rendered necessary by the un-
expectedly strong resistance OF the
Spanish garrison OF Santiago. / had
sent my chief of staff on shore the day
before to arrange an interview with
General Shafter. who had been suffer
Ing from heat prOstration. 1 made ar
rangements 20 go to his headquarters,
and my flagship was In the position
mentioned above when the Spanish
squadron appeared In the channel The
remaining vessels were in or near their
usual blockadlng positions, distributed
In semicircle about the harbOr en-
trance. counting from the eastward to
the westward. In the following order:
The Indiana. about 1h miles from shore;
the Oregon, the Iowa, Texas and Brook
lyn, the latter two miles from the shore
west Of Santiago. The distance Of the
vessels from the harbor entrance was
from 24 TO miles, the latter being the
limit OF day blockading distance. The
length OF the arc formed by the ships
was about eight miles. The Massa-
ahusetts had left at a. m. for Guanta-
namo for coal. Hor station was between
the Iowa and Texas. The auxlliares
Gloucester and Vixen lay close 10 tho
than the larger vessels the Gloucester
to the eastward and the Vixen to the
westward The torpedo boat Ericsson
was In company with the flagship and
remained with her during her chase un-
al ordered % discontinue, when she
rendered very efficient service In rescu-
mg prisoners from the burning Nizcaya.
inclose a diagram showing apprOXi-
mately the positions of the vessels as
described above.
The Spanish vessels came rapidly out
OF the harbor at speed estimated at
FROM s. to 10 knots and In the following
order: Infanta Maria Teresa (nag-
ship. Vigcaya Cristobal Colon ana the
Almirante Oquendo. The distance be-
tween these ships was about 800 yards
which means that from the time the
first one became visible In the upper
reach Of the channel until the last one
was out of the harbor an interval OF
only about II minutes elapsed. Follow
Ing the Oquendo, az distance OF about
l,20O yards, came the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Pluton and after her the Furor.
The armored cruisers. as rapidly az
they could bring their guns 10 bear,
opened a vigorous fire upon the block
aiding vessels and emerged from the
channel shrouded in the smoke from
their guns.
The men OF our ships in front Of the
port were at Sunday quarters for in
spection." Tho signal was mRde ST.
mmtaneously from several vessels.
"Enemy's ships escaping" and general
luarters was sounded. The men cheer
ed as they sprang to their guns, and
fire was opened probably within eight
minutes by the vessels whose guns
commanded the entrance. The New
York turned about and steamed for the
escaping fleet, flying the signal, "Close
In toward harbor entrance and attack
vessels" and gradually increasing
speed, until toward the end OF the chase
she was making 16lh knots and was
rapidly closing on the Cristobal Colon.
She was not at any time within range
of the heavy Spanish ships, and her on
ly part in the firing was 10 receive the
undivided fire from the forts In pass
Ing the harbor entrance and to fire a
few shots at one OF the destroyers,
thought at the moment TO be attempt
ng to escape from the Gloucester.
The Spanish vessels upon clearing the
aarbor turned TO the westward I'm coll
umn, increasing their speed to the full
Dlockading vessels. which had closed In
toward the Moro az the instant Of the
rnemy's appearance and at their best
speed. delivered a rapid fire. well sus-
tained and destructive. which speedily
overwhelmed and silenced the Spanish
are. The initial speed of the Spaniard'
carried them rapidly past the blockad'
ing vessels, and the battle developed
INTO n chase I'm which the Brooklyn and
Texas had at the start the advantag,
NJ position. The Brooklyn maintained
this lead. The Oregon. steaming al
amazing speed from the commence
ment Of the action took first place Tn,
Iowa and the Indiana. having don,
good work and not having the speed OF
the other ships. were directed by me n
succession at about the time the Viz
caya was beached To drop out of tn
chase and resume blockadng stations
These vessels rescued many prisoners
The vixen. finding that the rush Of tn
Spanish ships would put her betweel
two fires. ran outside Of our own col
umn and remained there during tn
battle and chase.
The slIillful handling and gallan
nghting Of the Gloucester excited tn
admiration OF every one who witnessed
Z and merits the commendation Of tn
navy department She is a fast and on