Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-27

| chief, United States naval force North
Atlantic station.
''The Secretary of the Navy.
| Navy department, Washington. D. C.
COMMODORE ScHLEY'S REPORT
| The following is Commodore Schley's re-
| port:
North Atlantic Fleet, Second Squadron.
United States Flagship Brooklyn.
Guantanamo Bay. July 6, 1898.
"Sir:-First-I have the honor to make
squadron under your command which came
under my observation during the engage
ment with the Spanish feet on July 8, 1895:
"Second-At S:35 a. m. Admiral Cervera,
with the Infanta Maria Teresa, Vizcaya,
oquendo. Cristobal Colon and two torpedo
boat destroyers. came out of the harbor of
| Santiago de Cuba in column at distance
and attempted to escape to the westward.
| Signal was made from the Iowa that the
| enemy was coming out, but his movement
| had been discovered from this ship at the
same moment. This vessel was the far
| thest west, except the Vixen, in the block
| aiding line. Signal was made to the western
division, as prescribed in your general Or
ders, and there was immediate and rapid
| movement inward by your squadron and a
general engagement at ranges beginning at
| 100 yards and varying to 5000 until the
Vizcaya was destroyed, about 1850 a. m.
| The concentration Of the fire of the squad
ron upon the ships coming out was most fu-
| rious and terrific and great damage was
done them.
The First Ships Destroyed.
\ ~ fUa
minutes after the engagement began, two
vessels. thought to be the Teresa and
| Oquendo, and since verified as such, took
fire from the effective shell fire of the
squadron and were forced to run on the
beach some six or seven miles west of the
| harbor entrance, where they burned ana
| blew up later. The torpedo boat destroyers
were destroyed easily in the action, but the
| smoke was SO dense in their direction that
j cannot say to which vessel or vessels the
credit belongs. This doubtless was better
seen from your flagship.
'Fourth-The Vizcaya and Colon, per-
ceiving the disaster of their consorts. con-
| tinued at full speed to the westward to
escape, and were followed and engaged in
| a running fight with the Brooklyn, Texas,
Iowa and Oregon until 1850, when the Viz
caya took fire from our shells. She put
her helm to port and. with heavy list to
i Z,
Aserraderos, about twenty-one miles west
of Santiago, on fire fore and aft, and where
she blew up during the night. Observing
that she had struck her colors, and that
| several vessels were nearing her to capture
and save her crew, signal was made to
cease firing.
Pursuit of the Colon.
THE Oregon having proved vastly faster
than the other battleShips she and the
Brooklyn. together with the Texas and an
other vessel which proved to be your flag
ship, continued westward in pursuit of the
Colon, which had run close inshore, evil
IDENTIFY seeking some good spot to beach II
she should fail to elude her pursuers.
'Fifth-This pursuit continued with in
creasing speed in the Brooklyn, Oregon
and other ships, and soon the Brooklyn
and Oregon were within long range of the
Colon. when the Oregon opened fire with
her thirteen-inch guns, landing shell
| close to the Colon. A moment afterward
| the Brooklyn opened fire with her eight
inch guns, landing a shell just ahead OF
her. Several other shells were fired at the
Colon, now in range of the Brooklyn's
and Oregon's guns. Her commander. see.
ing all chances of escape cut off and de-
struction awaiting his ship, fired a lee CUR
and struck her flag. at Ills p. m. and rar
\ q
OF Santiago harbor. Your flagship was
coming up rapidly at the time. as were
also the Texas and Vixen.
Turned Over to Sampson.
"A little later. after your arrival, the
Brooklyn and the Oregon, was turned
over to you as one of the trophies of thi.
great victory of the squadron under you
| command.
'Sixth-During my official visit little
later. Commander Eaton. of the Resolute
| appeared and reported to you the presence
| of Spanish battleship near the Altares
Your orders TO me were to take the Brook
lyn and go eastward to meet her, and thi
was done by the Brooklyn. with the re
suit that the vessel reported as an enem!
| was discovered to be the Austrian cruiser
!. Infanta Maria Teresa, seeking the com
n,snder-in-chief.
Seventh would mention for your con
sideration that the Brooklyn occupied tn
; most westward blockading position witt
, the Vixen, and, being more directly in tn
route taken by the Spanish squadron, wa
, exposed for some minutes, possibly ten
to the gun fire of three of the Spanis
. ships and the west battery at a rang
of 1,soo yards from the ships and abou
t 1900 yards from the batteries. but the yes
: rapidly. soon diverted this fire and di
i magnificent work at close range.
2 His Captains Highly Commended.
Il have never before witnessed sue
! deadly and fatally accurate shooting a
was done by the ships ,of your ,comman
a | as they closed in on the Spanish squadron
q and 1 deem 1t a high privilege to commen
| to YOU for such action as you may deer
proper the gallantry and dashing cou,
age, the prompt decision and skillful har
a | ding of their respective vessels, of Car
: tain Philip Captain Evans, Captain Ciar
and especially of my chief of stan. Car
tain Cook, who was directly under my pei
| sonal observation and whose coolnes
r promptness ard courage were Of the higf
. est order The dense smoke of the CON
Z bat shut out from my view the Indian
a and the Gloucester. but as these vesse
r were closer to your flagship no doubt the
q part in the conflict was under your in
= mediate observation.
r "Eighth-Lieutenant Sharp, commandin
r the Vixen, acted with conspicuous coul
h age; although unable to engage the hea'
j. ier ships Of the enemy with his light gun
o nevertheless was close in to the battle lir
e under heavy fire. and many Of the enemy
II shot passed beyond his vessel.
His star OMcers Commended.
= "Ninth-I beg to invite special attentio