The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-27

bodily upon the beach, the New York's
stem being Placed against her fore, the sh p
being handled by Capt. Chadwick with ad-
mirable judgment and sank in shoa water
and may be saved Had this not been done
she would have gone down in deep water
and would have been, to Certainly, total
loss.
II. regard this complete and impor ant
victory over the Spanish forces as the sue
ycessful finish of several weeks of ardu-us
and close blockade, so stringent and effe tive
during the night that tie enemy was de e.
red from making the attempt to escape at
night and deliberately elected to make the
attempt in adylight. That this was the case
l was informed by the commanding officer
of the Cristobal Colcn.
HOW 1T WAS DONE
Il. 1t seems proper to briefly inzcrfbe here
the manner in which this was ac-ompl's she'd
Tie harbor of Santiago is naturally easy to
blockade, there being but one entracc9, and
that narrow one, and the deep wate- ex-
tending close to the shore line Pres ing
no difficulties of navigation outside OF the
entrance. At the time of my arriy al be,o-e
the port, June 1, the moon was at is full,
and there was sufficient light duri-g the night
to enable any movement of GU side 1t IF r.
ence to be detected. But with the waning
of the moon and the change o. rk nj shts
there opportunity for the enemy to es-
cape, or for his torpedo boats t. max, al
attack upon the blockading ve;sels. 1t WAS
ascertained with fair conc.usiveness that the
Merrimac so CALAMITY taken into the chan
mel on June g. did not obstruct it. there ore
maintained the blockade as fellows: To tn,
battleships was assigned the duty, in turl,
of lighting the channel. Moving UP to the
port at distance of from o-e to two miles
from the Morro-dependent upon the condit on
of the atmosphere, they thrs W search ight
beam directly up the channel and held 1t
steadily there. This light ned up the tire
breadth Of the channel for half mile inside
the entrance so brilliantly that the movement
Of small boats could be detected. Why the
batteries never opened fire on the searchl ght
ship was always matter Of surprse to me-
but they never did. Stationed close to the
entrance Of the port were thr> g picket launch
es and at little distance farther out thr ae
picket vessels, usually converted yachts, AMI
when they were available one or two of our
torpedo boats. With this arrangement there
was at least certainty that nothing could
get out Of the harbor undetected After tn =
arrival Of the army, when the situation 70 ced
upon the Spanish admiral a decision, our
vigilance increased. The night block d ng
distance was reduced to two miles, for all
vessels, and battleship was placed along
side the searchlight ship with her b.oadsise3
trained on thee hanne in readiness to fire h +,
instant the first Spanish ship should appe r.
The commanding officers merit the greatest
praise for the perfect manner in which they
entered Into this plan aud put 1t into execu-
tion. The Massachusetts,, who, accord ng to
routine, was sent that morning to coal at
Guantanamo like the others, had spent weary
nights upon this work and deserves a better
fate than to have been absent On that morn
ing.
MAINTAINING BLOCKADE.
enclose for the information Of the deu,rt.
ment copies Of orders and memorar dunn issued
from time to time relating to the manner of
maintaining the blockade.
IL. When all the work Is done % we'll IL
is difficult to discriminate in praise. The OBJ
1ect Of the blockade of Cervera's squadron
was fully completed and each man bore his
part in it, the commodore in command OF
the Second division. the captains of ships and
their officers and men, The Are of the battle
ship was powerful and destructive and the re-
sistance Of the Spanish squadron was in great
part broken almost before they had got out
of range Of their own forts. The great speed
Of the Oregon enabled her to take q front
position In the chase and the Cristobal Colcn
did not give up until the Oregon had thrown
13-inch she'll beyond her. This performance
adds to the already brilliant record Of tn
hne battleshtp, and speaks highly Of the skill
and care with which her admirable efficiency
has been maintained during service unpre-
cedented In the history of vessels Of her class
The Brooklyn's westerly blockading pos ton
gave her an advantage in the chase, which she
maintained to the end, and she employed her
fine battery with telling effect. The Texas
and New York were gaining on the chase
during the last hour, and had any accident be-
fallen the Brooklyn or Oregon would have
speedily overtaken the Cristobal Colon. From