The San Francisco call., 1898-12-22
AMERICAN SPIES
 SENT TO SPAIN
Some Secret History Revealing Heroes Hitherto Name
 less.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21-The official reports of all commanding officers of the navy during the war have been compiled and published by the Navy Department. While treating of events that have already figured in official re- ports that have reached the public the documents still contain many minor re- ports that throw side lights on interest ing phases of the war. Almost in the beginning, in the brief record of the proceedings of the naval war building an unknown hero is brought to light in the person of Ensign H. H. Ward, who at the beginning of the war was on duty in the Navigation Bureau, al ternating with Lieutenant Whittlesey in the heavy duties of assistant to the chief of the bureau. He volunteered for secret service duty and his exploits, about which nothing has been said in the past, may well be placed on record beside those of Lieutenant Rowan in Cuba and Lieutenant Whitney in Porto Rico. Within a week after the declar- ation of war Ensign Ward distin- guished himself and went straight into the heart of the enemy's country, mak- ing his headquarters at CadiZ, the prin- ClDdl OpdHlSIl ndNdl SldllOu, ana lIl- forming the Navy Department here of the actual strength of the Spanish naval vessels and their movements Then he went to the West Indies and reported everything that was going on there of importance to the American navy. Next be went again into the enemies country in disguise, this time to Porto Rico, where he was arrested as spy. By adroitness he managed to secure his release and, escaping from San Juan. cabled to the Navy De partment a full account of the state of the defenses there and the prepara- ton making for the reception of the Spanish squadron under Cervera. All this time even officials of the Navy Department were under the impression that Mir. Ward was engaged in install ing a system of coast signals on the New England coast
 While Ward was in Porto Rico. En- sign Buck, another attache of the Navigation Bureau, was on the shores of the Mediterranean in disguise. watching every movement of the squadron of Camara, which started for the Philippines, but turned back Of the Strategy Board itself it is said that it was part of it's duty to keep informed of all of the movements, resources and plans of the Spanish naval forces through secret agents, and it is now known that the navy was thus inform ed of all important movements. At times, however, information was con- fiicting and decisions had to be made as to which report was true Under the head of precautionary orders ap- pear in the volume of instructions to all the United States ships abroad to stock their bunkerS with the best coal obtainabe and to keep them full.
 Admiral Dewey was told long before the declaration of war, on February 20:
  duty will be to see that the Spanish squadron does not leave the Asiatic coast, and then begin offensive opera tions in the Philippines. Keep Olym- pia until further orders"
 The latter order is explained by the fact that the flagship had been ordered back to the United States for overhaul ing. Admiral Howell. in the Mediter- ranean with his squadron. was told to wait in neutral waters for orders. and the ships in the South Atlantic were in structed to move northward so as not to excite suspicion.
 The reports of the famous naval bat tie of Cavite includes one from United States Consul Williams, a rather un- usual thing in report of a strictly naval character, but fully Justified by its picturesque and untechnical de- scription of Dewey's great victory.
 Following it Is a report to his Gov ernment on the same engagement by the commander-i in-chief of the ill-fated Spanish fleet, MOntejO.
 The admiral depicts the bad conditions of the Spanish fleet and defenses. He says that the cruiser Castila was in capable of maneuvering on account of her bad condition, while the defenses at the entrance of Subig Bay were very back ward With much disgust he found that the guns which should have been mounted were delayed a month and a half, and he was no less disgusted to find that rel- ance was had for the defense of the port upon a few torpedoes not properly placed Finding Subig Bay defenseless, the Span ish squadron repaired to the bay of Manila to meet battle under less un- favorable conditions The admiral avoid ed the city. not wishing to draw fire upon it, and prepared his fleet for action, paint ing his vessels a dark gray and having