, 1898-11-14

In his official report to the Spanish
minister of marine, describing the bat
tie of Santiago, Admiral Cervera gives
high praise to the humane and courte-
Gus treatment accorded him and his
subordinates by the American authori-
ties.
He speaks of the efforts made by the
Iowa and Gloucester to save his life,
of the solicitude shown by the Ameri-
| cans for the comfort of those whom
they had taken prisoners, and, finally,
of the generosity of the victors in pro-
viding so Hospitality for them in the
United States.
Admiral Cervera's report was for
warded to Spain through the navy de-
partment, having been translated in
order that no information of a charac-
ter valuable to the enemy might reach
Madrid. A copy of the translation has
been retained at the department, and
Secretary Long has repeatedly declin-
ed to make it public. From other
sources, however. was obtained the
facts il Admiral Cervera's report.
The report includes the reports made
to the commander-in-chief of the
squadron by the officers who command
ed the Spanish ships during the action,
but they, however, are withheld from
publication at this time.
Admiral Cervera states hat he left
the harbor Of Santiago de Cuba at half
past 9 on the morning of July 3, tele-
graphing to Captain General Blanco:
I'm compliance with the orders of
your excellency and approaching the
fate that will befall my squadron, as |
have already announced. l leave the
Bay Santiago on July 3 for the sea-"
The order of sailing the admiral
continues, had been fixed as follows:
In the first place. the Infanta Maria
Teresa, and a%fterward. in this order,
lastly the ~destroyers, all going under
full steam and proceeding as rapidly
as possible. The Maria Teresa was to
commence the battle, giving the other
ships the direction to the westward"
That he was justified in taking this
action, the admiral states, is shown by
the praise which he has obtained from
American officers.
The destroyers were not to take part
in the fighting" continues the admiral,
nor. in fact, were any of the ships, the
plan being to make our escape as best
we could and avoid engaging the enemy
IL possible. 1t was about 25 minutes
to 10 in the morning when the Maria
Teresa attacked and opened fire upon
the enemy's battleship OF the type of
the Indiana and upon the Iowa. launch
ing herself particularly against the
Brooklyn, which was the most danger
Gus obstacle in our path.
THE Brooklyn was stationed on the
right side of the mouth of the bay, and
her great speed gave her an advant-
age which made her especially danger
Gus to my command. The remainder
OF the ships were at this time attack
ing other vessels of the enemy"
Admiral Cervera gives a list of the
vessels comprising the powerful Amer
lean feet which he was compelled to
engage, and especially calling atten-
tion to the armored cruiser New York
which carried the flag Of Rear Admiral
Sampson; the Brooklyn, flying the flag
Of Commodore Schley. and the battle
ships Iowa. Oregon, Indiana and Texas
"Realizing what the departure of my
squadron would mean" says the re,
port. Il took the course which I had
determined upon before sailing, fully
understanding the d~esperateness of the
venture and approaching beforehand
what the result would be. The Ameri.
can men-of-war were alongside Of gu
ships, and after a short time the battle
became general.
The result Of the battle was never
in doubt, but l never thought that my
vessels would be so quickly destroyed
The enemy's fire produced terrible in
juries on board the Maria Teresa. de.
stroying her auxiliary steam pipes and
fire mains. In such a horrible moment
the commander Of the Teresa, Com.
mander Conca, fell, wounded, and II
was necessary to remove him. l myself
took command of the ship. 1t having
been found impossible to find him a,
this critical period.
THE dead and wounded we're falling
without cessation. Shortly afterward
l was informed that, in consequence o.
the explosion OF a shell of ST m. m.
my apartments had taken fire. The fire
which Soon spread, commenced at the
same time ON the other side Of the ship
also a. a result OF the explosion OF
shell. Sufficient water could not be OBJ
tanned to keep the flames under con
troll.