Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-12
SPANS Lost Navy.

not the very greatest, has been the
rapid destruction of SPANS navy AMI
the escape of American ships from in
Jury. When the war began Spain had,
according to official figures, 1863 ships
of all kinds either in commission or
building, While the United States pos
sessed 1913 finished and unfinished, not
counting a number of wooden sore"
steamers unfit either for offensive or
defensive purposes. Today Spain has
remaining of these same ships not
more than 1O9, while the United States
has lost none except the Maine,
blown up in the harbor of Havana
through Spanish treachery before hos
tilities commenced and has added over
100 to her auxiliary navy.
OF the vessels comprising the Span
ish navy when war was declared, %
were armored or cruising ships of from
45S to 5000 tons each, and with total
displacement of about 152 sos tons.
Their speed ranged from eight to over
20 knots, and they carried total of
over 800 guns of large and small calibre
and machine guns. Thirty-three ves-
sells were torpedo boats and destroyers,
having speed of from eight to 80 knots.
an aggregate tonnage of 2049, and an
equipment of SO torpedo tubes and 50
quick fire guns. Nine vessels were
first class gunboats of 300 tons, 90 were
second-class boats, of from 1903 to 255
tons, and 40 were third class boats of
very small size.
OF the ships of the United States
complete or building, GO We're armored
or cruising vessels of from S3S to II, 52j
tons displacement and a total of 266, 635
tons. These had a speed of from six
to over q knots, and carried 1874 guns
of different sizes and kinds. Twenty
four were torpedo boats having a speed
of from Is to 80 knots with total
with SO torpedo tubes and 81 rapid-fi.e
guns. There were besides 10 screw
steamers Of from 300 to $50 tons avail
able for certain work.
BY subtracting the vessels building
for the two navies. Spain had a de-
cided advantage, for While there We're
but two or three of from 5000 to 5000
tons only. the United States had five.
four Of which are over il 900 tons each.
Since the war began Spain has added
about a dozen boats and the United
States over 100.
Since the opening of hostilities the
three principal losses to Spain's navy
have come through the battles of
Manila, Santiago and Manzanillo. Of
thea ships she had lost IS are armored
or cruising vessels of from $50 to 1000
tons, five torpedo boats. and destroyers
and at least 81 gunboats of the three
different classes. The most important
7es torf ildtanta Mnra Teresa. 700,
tons: Vizcaya, 1000 tons: Cristobal
Colon, $50 tons; Castillo, 3342 tons;
Don Juan de Austria, 1912 tons, Reina
Maria Cristina, 5000 tons; Don Antonio
del Ulloa. 1152 tons: Isla de Mindanao.
4l95 tons; Velasco, 1889 tons; Isla de
Cuba, 1000 tons; Alphonso MI, 5000
tons; Reina Mercedes, 1890 tons; Furor
and Pluton, destroyers, and the De-
structor,a large torpedo Gunboat, which
was blown up by mismanagement, near
Gibraltar. Besides these of others de-
stroyed or captured the following are
known: Rapdio, $50 tons; Marquee
del Duero, 800 tons; Isla de Luzon, f.
Cano, 525 tons, and Leyte.
OF the fine fleet of armored ships
fine on paper at least, Spain has bu;
eight left, ranging from 5000 to 991'
tons, and of these not one-half can g
to sea, because of their being hope
lessly out of repair as far as Spain i:
concerned. If Watson goes to Spair
her few remaining good ships seen
| doomed. OF the 81 cruisers, little an,
big, remaining from the original AZ
little is known. Most of them wer
| small vessels of bet tween 500 and 200
tons. and presumably most of them ar
scattered and in bad shape in differen
ports of Cuba and Porto Rico, an,
cannot be considered as factors in tn
present war. We shall soon gathe
| them in or sink them. Thus Spain
feet is practically wiped out, and he
greatest defence to her commerce gone
without hope of repair for years t.
come. Incompetency, discoura gemen
of mechanical science and deep roote
obstinacy are the fundamental causes
materially aided by American Drawer,
intelligence and good gunnery
Major General O. o. Howard, u.
Army. retired, addressed the boys >