The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-14
Ais views of Naval Battle
# OF SAINT
TARS WERE NOTNAPPING.
Our Ships Were Constantly Under
way Before the Fight
THE MISTAKE cERvERA MADE.

Rear Admiral Oscar f. Stanton, u.
S. N, retired, one Of the best known
and ablest tacticians and naval strate-
pists in the United States, has given to
the New York World the first authentic
and authorized explanation Of SYST what |
occurred off Santiago do Cuba sunday,
July 3. when Commodore Winfield Scott
Schley. with the vessels under his COM
maud. so gloriously succeeded IN de-
stroyinp all the Spanish vessels under
Admiral Cervera's command.
"That the Merrimac did not block
the channel completely is understood
said Admiral Stanton. 1--WE know from
reports made public some time ago thas
there was deep water at both bow and
stern of the Merrimac. The Vesuvius, it
will be remembered, succeeded IN steam
ing clean around the wreck some nights
ago. We don't know as yet which side
of the channel was chosen by the Span
ish admiral in making his exit. Accord
! Jug 20 the reports printed we are given
| 70 understand that the Spanish war
ships, after passing clear OF Morro,
headed in q westerly direction at once.
| / don't believe that this is correct MY
recollection is that the water dircctlyto
the west of the mouth Of the harbor is
rather shallow. On the other side (the
MORO side) the water isvery deep. The
high bluff would explain that. When
was first off Santiago in 1858, aboard
the Constellation, we hove TO outside
and sent a boat inside. We did not en-
ter the harbor proper at that time OH ac-
count OF sickness. / mention this in or
der to explain what / believe to be
mistake in the reports furnished thus
far. We are given to understand that
the American ships were anchored OFF
shore think the water is entirely too
deep for anchorage there. l should
think that our ships must have been
kept under way constantly
"The reason why the Spanish admiral
chose to make dash for liberty and
freedom on a Sunday morning was be-
cause he believed he would catch cur
men mapping 1t was just there that he
made his mistake. He knew that we al
ways held our musters and inspections
on board ship Sunday mornings. he
believed. no doubt, that we did not
have sufficient steam up on our ships to
enable us to follow him at once he
furthermore bolieved--and he might
have had good reason for such belief
that he would be able TO run away from
our ships on account Of the superior
speed possessed by the vessels under his
command. You might say that therc
} was difference in speed between the
American and Spanish warships averag-
ing about four knots.
1--WE find at the time Cervera made
his mad dash that tho flagship New
York, flying the flag of Rear Admiral
Sampson, was some distance away, and
still proceeding in an casterly direction.
She was bound for the landing place
where Admiral Sampson intended to
communicate with General Shafter OF
the army. This mission of the admiral,
no doubt, was very important one
He could not know Beforehand that the
, Spanish ships would attempt to make
their escape. But at the same time u
: must be remembered that the Other
\ American warships left behind to guart
the mouth Of tho harbor of Santiago
!, wero distributed rs had been arranged
, for weeks probably. We find the In
g diana, Iowa, Oregon and Texas, four O
$ tho finest battleships OF our gloriou
navy, together with the Brooklyn. fly
: ing tho pennant OF Commodore Schley
e in n half circle around the mouth Of th
hartor Tho Gloucester and the Ericsson
: ard maybe soruc minor boats were ais
a on guard. These vessels were, no doubt
i drifting leisurely about. The necessar.
n precautions had been taken. The look
out men were at the stations, and th
Q mouth of tho harbor was being watche'
/. continuously. Now comes the repor
e that the Spanish ships arc trying TO cs
!, cape And here wo come to the firse pic
$ ture. Tho feet OF Spanish warships ha
: to leave the harbor in single file. Thi
G was necessary ON account of the narrow
. ness Of the channel. and also because
the shallow water TO. be found near ia
entrance To the harbor.
"Tho reports say that the Spanis
Il ships the moment they cleared the haI
!. Dor proper took n course directly west
= think this il true only as conccrne'
: tho torpedo destroyers. The bigger ship
:. must have headed southeast. for som
: time mt least. With that course the
/. were practically heading for the cente
n of the half circle OF our ships.
The very first moment the America
lookout men saw the Spanish ships th
scenes aboard our warships had changed
n There was prompt action. IL. is her
y that the grcat training OF both officer
IS aud men came into play. Our men af
"a intclligent mon. They are noble mcl
ls They are the true sailors Of the ngs
= While tho cSpanish torpedo boat destroy
ers head right OF tothe westward, th
bigger ships of the enemy continue in
southcrly direction. Our ships come o
- toward them. practically closing in O
"a them and pouring fearful fire upo
4 them.