Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-07-09
FATAL BLU NDER.
Cervera Should Have Sailed East
ward to Escape.
by Going to the Westward He Isnn Di-
rectly Into the American Squadron
and Insured Destruction - Dslu-
sIons that Prevail In MRdrIJ
AS to His Alleged Escape,

Cervera held consultation with his
officers before sailing out of the har-
Dor of Santiago de Cuba, and by a
small majority the move was agreed
upon. The minority said that de-
struction was sure, as many of the
firemen had mutinied and the best
men in the fleet were worn out by
serving the guns in the shore bat
teries.
On the morning of the sortie careful
observations were taken of the sea,
east and west. Admiral Cervera de-
cided upon taking the westward
course for Manzanillo, Cienfuegos, or
if possible Havana. He would have
gone east but for the sighting of
large transport feet off Siboney and
the assurance that convoy of war
vessels was still with the transports.
AS a matter of fact, there is no war
vessel larger than a converted yacht,
except the New York, that could have
obstructed Cervera's escape eastward.
Naval men here are sure that the
Spanish vessels could have disabled or
sunk the New York and escaped had
the eastward course been chosen.
After n chase of 60 miles to the
westward, the Brooklyn, closely fol-
lowed by the Oregon, overhauled the
Cristobal Colon after she had run
ashore and had hauled, down her flag.
Capt. Cook, of the Brooklyn, went on
board of her, and the commander of
the Spanish armored cruiser came for
ward to surrender and was taken on
board the New York. which came up
an hour after the Brooklyn and Ore
gon had completed the capture of the
Cristobal Colon. The latter was not
seriously damaged, though she was
struck several times by shots from
the Brooklyn and Oregon.
During the chase clever maneuver
of Commodore Schley's in heading due
west to Cape Caney, while the Girls
tobal Colon had taken n more SOUTH
erly direction with a much greater
distance to cover, rendered the Span
iards' escape impossible.
There seems to be no doubt that
the Cristobal Colon and perhaps the
three other armored cruisers would
have escaped had it not been for the
prompt action of Schley. The Brook
lyn, his flagship, alone was in a posi-
ton to attack the Spanish vessels as
they left the harbor, and the commo-
dore steamed directly towards them
and engaged all four cruisers, infict-
ing great damage.
The Oregon was the first TO join the
Brooklyn and afterward the Iowa, In
diana, Texas and Vixen closed around
the Spaniards, all pouring in a deadly
fire. but, from the beginning to the
end of the fight, the Brooklyn, Oregon
and Gloucester took the most impor-
tant part in the destruction of the
| enemy.
One man, George Henry Ellis, was
| killed on board the Brooklyn. His
head was blown off by a shell. One
other man, j. Burns, was injured on
| board of her.
The Brooklyn was struck half a
dozen times, but no injury was done
to any other American ships.
Madrid, July 6.--Indescribable en-
| thusiasm prevails here over the sup
| posed escape of Admiral Cervera and
his squadron from the harbor of San
tiago de Cuba. The admirars name is
on every tongue, and it is claimed that
| it was he who saved Santiago by
adding to Gen. Linares' handful of
soldiers his brave sailors to man the
guns ashore and repel the Americans
under Shafter."
Such is the exultant eulogy of Ad-
| miral Cervera heard on all sides, this
state of public feeling being due 10
the official announcements from San
tiago. For instance one statement
from Santiago is as follows:
''When Cervera found that it was
certain that Col. Escario's reinforce
ments were in proximity to Santiago,
the admiral held a council with the
commanders of his squadron, disclos-
ing to them plan to force the block
ade in broad daylight. The command
ers responded unanimously: For
ward
1T was arranged that the torpedo
boat destroyers should take the lead,
feigning an attack, and discharge the
torpedoes against the enemy's ships,
the Cristobal Colon protecting their
advance, sheltered by the batteries of
Morro castle and distracting the en-
emy's attention while the remainder
of the squadron sailed out of the
harbor.
THE Americans at first were taken
by surprise. Then recovering they
opened a tremendous fire, especially
against the torpedo boat desrroyers,
which vessels Cervera lad Instructed
to steer an opposite course to the
squadron. The Americans were de-
ceived and maneuvered toward the
supposed course of the Spaniards
while Admiral Cervera went full
steam ahead, maintaining a con,
tinuous fire until clear of the Ameri
can lines and then steamed away
westward, pursued for some distance
by the swiftest American vessels. un
til they were lost sight of from MorrC
castle.
"In the meantime the torpedo boa
destroyers sank under rain of shel
from the American warships. 1t is
presumed part of their crews were
saved by the enemy or swan ashore
a number of life buoys were provided
on board the torpedo boat destroyers
whose crews anticipated that their
vessels would be destroyed
Left Camp Thomas for the Front.
Chattanooga, Tenn, July 6.-Order'
were issued yesterday noon to the
First brigade, First division, FRS
army corps, to break camp and marcl