Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-29
1T HAS BEEN MADE THROUGH THE
FRENCH AMBASSADOR.
INSPECTED AT WASHINGTON
NO INTIMATION AS TO ITS NATURE
GIVEN OUT, HOWEVER.
II the Report Is Ever Made Public II
Will Be Through the Spanish
GOvernment-Captai Cooks
Reply to Commodore
Schley.


vera has forwarded to the Spanish gov
ernment. through the French embassy.
his full report of the naval engagement
which resulted in the annihilation of the
Spanish fleet. The report Is very long
covering many pages of the admirars own
writing. and is even a more elaborate
treatment of the great engagement than
that of Admiral Sampson in his report to
the navy department.
Through the vicissitudes Of war, Admiral
Cervera's report, although addressed to
the Spanish minister OF marine, was sub
mitted first to the American department in
order that precautions might be taken,
as usual in communications passing be-
tween prisoners Of war and the enemy's
government. The examination made by
the naval authorities here was solely for
purposes of precaution. and care was taken
not to intrude into the privacy of the docu-
ment beyond this necessary inspection. It
was then sent to Ambassador Cambon, to
be forwarded to the Spanish admiralty
The strictest secrecy has been observed
while the document has been in transit,
and. in order to avoid conjectural stories
as to the contents of the report. 1t can be
stated that no intimation as to its contents
mas been allowed to escape from the few
persons through whom 1t passed en- route
10 the Spanish minister of marine. If the
Cervera report ever reaches the public,
1t will be through the Spanish government,
though 1t is probable that the report is
not OF character likely to be made public
at Madrid
The navy department has made public the
reports Of Captain Cook. of the Brooklyn.
giving his story of the destruction of Ger
Feras fleet. The report is as follows:
AT anchor. Guantanamo Bay July Z. 1885,
"Sir:-First-At 900 a m July gave or
ders and arrangements were made for gen.
eral muster at $50 a. m. At $50 a. m the
enemy were telegraphed by the Iowa as
coming out. At the same time they were
discovered by the quartermaster on watch.
n. Anderson, Of this ship. and reported to
the officer of the deck. The executive Off
Ger, Lieutenant Commander Mason, VINO
was on deck about to execute the order
for general muster. Immediately gave the
order clear the ship for action and gen.
eral quarters" Signal was made at the
same time, enemy coming out action"
l went Immediately forward, stood for the
enemy and gave orders to get steam on all
boilers. We started with steam on three
boilers at about twelve knots speed.
second-The head of the Spanish squad
the entrance Of the harbor of Santiago
heading about southwest. The Spanish
squadron consisted of the Maria Teresa
(iagship), Vizcaya, Ouuendo and Colon and
two torpedo boat destroyers. We opened
fire on the leading ship in five minutes
from the discovery.
'Third-The port battery was first en-
gagged as We stood with port helm to head
off the leading ship and giving them a
raking fire at about IL 800 Yards range Tho
enemy turned TO the westward 70 ,1oso
into the land. We then were around IN
starboard bringing the s.arho.rd h.t.,
into action. The enemy buegad tha shers
to the westward.
"Fourtb-The Rroo1,v, ,o,d;,, e.,
lowed nv the Texas love Ore.,n I.s.
ana and Gloucester The yiren wh;.h haa
heen IN xaa,ward ~ -. IN ,ha h,..,.sS
ran To the .outhw.rd ona ..s.sns no ..,
and kent for Some ,,r,a ~ a,,, ~. y, a,sn 10
distant about ! Mo vards e,,,dan.i1, t,.aSs
ing to guard against tornedo ott.ors 80.
this ship: the shells nassinr over ne fem
very thick about her. some nassinr over
her. At this time the firing was yery
fast. and the whistling of shells incessant
and our escape with so little injury was
miraculous and can only be attributed to
the bad craftsmanship on the part Of the
dropped astern while We were wearing. un-
der the heavy fire OF our fleet, ran ashore.
fhth-lne S1zcaya, oquendo and Colon.
Gohunueo on ana gained IN distance. The
ptoohis" was ehsaseo win the 'hree ieao-
Is s,hpS VI ~ .ie enemy "hisn were Forging
."I io%a anu inuia.a keep
go ~ IT, 49,. W. s'eas uioppihs
.,..a,, g. - - a,,.,,. . ny
,~,or;o,s 90 ,,,,,,. .,Ia ...,s, - -oS,
oth.rs t. uo. ON ;,s,;r,n, .;ah. .s 90.
tbts b,ttIesb,n With a Iarga ,rh,,. -
before ber and bar sn,oLastocLs ha,oh;,o
forth continued nuffs from bar rorooJ
draupht- We were making fourteen kno,s
at the time. and the Oregon came nm on
our starboard quarter at about GOO wards
and maintained her position, though we
soon after increased our speed to fifteen
knots and, just before the Colon surren-
dered, were making nearly sixteen.
"Sixth-The Oquendo. soon after the fall
ing out of the Teresa. dropped astern and.
on fire ran ashore The yizcaya and Colon
continued on under fire from Rrooklvn and
Oregon The other yasse,. of orr e..,
80 moi, .s,ar, .,a ~. - - IT,
r.. 80, s,.;.a,t,-. -. e.. -,
e up A'
aoout .o'' a. "i., 'iie siAcasa was seen "
De on nre ana tne Coioh passed INSIDE OF
her Win increased speed TOOK the iead ana
gradually forged ahead. The Vizcaya
soon after ran on the beach, ablaze with
fire. We signaled the Oregon to cease
down. Firing Immediately ceased. and
we both continued the chase of the Colon.
now about l.. 900 wards away. The ranges
- -. rnn a. :, M, ..,.s. TIT a. NJ,