The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-22
CAPTAIN PAGET'S VIEWS
BRITISH NAVAL ATTACHE DISCUSSES
THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN.
He Thinks the Transportation OF
Troops should BE Under Control
of the Navy-Cervera's Sortie.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 21.-Capt. Alfred
Paget. British naval attache. assigned to
observe operations during the recent cam
paign in the West Indies, is engaged here
in assembling the large mass of material
gathered in Cuba. and in supplementng this
with the official data now being supplied
by the Navy Department. He will spend
most of the fall in getting together the ma
terial for his report to the British Admiralty.
which will be an exhaustive treatment OF
the naval branch of the campaign, with
considerable attention to the military
branch. owing to the joint operations of the
two branches during several stages of the
war, and particularly in the siege of SAM
tiago.
Speaking informally to-day of some of his
observations, Captain Paget said it had been
shown quite clearly that the naval branch
of the service should have complete control
of all army transportation by sea. He
points that this is the practice the world
over. In the British service all transports
are under the control of the Admiralty.
When troops are to be shipped the war off,
Gals make known to the Admiralty the num-
Der of men in the expedition, the division
into infantry, cavalry and artillery, and the
various requirements of the several divi-
naval branch to provide the transports.
carrying the troops, keeping the several
divisions distinct and with their proper
equipment, and provide all supplies required
for the trip. A naval official, usually a lieu
tenant commander on the retired list, is
placed in command of each transport, 1t be-
ing impossible to secure proper service from
merchant captains. The naval branch also
conducts all loading and unloading Of
troops and supplies, this being branch in
which naval officials are well versed. 1t is
not until the troops are on land that the
army authorities assume direction of affairs.
This practice, in general operation with
all large countries, particularly those hav-
with advantage by this country, in Captain
Paget'S opinion, much of the confusion
in the transportation and in landing OF the
army and supplies was due to the inexperi-
ence of the merchant captains of transports,
and to the direction of all sea transportation
by the army rather than by the navy.
Captain Paget's report will devote much
attention to the destruction of Admiral Ger
veras fleet. as this was the main naval in
cident of the war. He is securing from the
Navy Department complete reports of the
gunnery of the American ships, with view
of showing the Importance of the man be-
hind the gun" Captain Pagets personal
view Is that Admiral Cervera's sOrtie was
most foolhardy venture, which cannot be
ordered by the admiral's superiors. Ac-
cording to Captain Paget's view, the most
effective use Admiral Cervera could have
made Of his squadron was to have dis
mantled them of all the lighter guns, par
ticularly the quick fires, and turned over
guns and men TO General Toral for use in
defending the city. These quick-fire guns,
some hundred more distributed along the
intrenchments and handled by the trained
men of the squadron, would have been able
to sustain deadly fire on the American adj
vance. Captain Paget expresses the belief
that such a move would have made Santiago
practically impregnable. He has no doubt
starvation and disease would have broken
down the Spanish defense in time, but Ger
veraS guns could have held the town from
a defeat by assault In case of a sortie
from the harbor Captain Paget shares the
view of American naval officers that the
sortie should have been made at night: III
attempted in daylight the Spanish ships
should have directed their attention to the
American transports, as they furnished
vulnerable point where great havoc could
have been wrought In any event. Wn ei1ad
Captain Paget maintains that the Spanish
policy should have been to rush our SHIPS,
taking them unawares before steam could
be got up, and taking the risk Of loss SO
long some damage was inflicted. Had
this plan been adopted he thinks 1t might
have resulted in the ramming and sinking
of one more of our ships:
Captain Paget speaks highly OF our new
battle ships and cruisers. particularly those
now on the stocks which he has examined
critically through the plans and specitica-
tons. He says foreign naval experts long
could be built in the United states al
though he does not admit that our ships yes
excel or even equal those of British build.
In this connection prominent american
naval officer recently told Captain Paget
that the new cruiser New Orleans, bought
in England during the early stages OF the
war, was revelation TO the aulnorllles
here, in so far as her guns and armament
concerned