The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-31

most engaged was about a mile and
a half
S-No American ship at any time
during the battle was within mile OF
an unsurrenuered Spanish ship
While charts were made and the bat
tie fought over and over again. as on
a chess board, by the members, show
ing the positions of all the ships on
both sides in the entire engagement.
the main discussion. as far as could
be learned in the navy yard, was in
regard 10 the Brooklyn and the New
York
According TO the testimony the
Brooklyn was lying further out TO sea
than any of the American ships. She
headed in at once and when about > 1000
yards from the Maria Teresa, which
was leading the Spanish fleet out. she
turned TO the eastward, then doubled
southwark TO sea for q short distance.
Schley then followed a parallel
course with the Spaniards. keeping up
a running fight He was we'll outside
the course of the other American yes
sells and in the lead. He kept this
position, an average distance of about
two miles from the Colon, until that
ship surrendered.
The issue of the battle. the board
I. learned. was not affected by any sig
mails that Schley made from his flag
ship. The Oregon dashed out from the
very beginning OF the engagement and
kept within range OF the enemy until
the fight ended.
The New York, the board finds, did
nothing to affect the issues of the bat
/ tie. When the Colon's flag came down
the New York was nearly ten miles 10
/ the eastward. Sampson. on the New
York. was near Siboney. where he
( heard the firing. and turned about and
came back as fast as forced draughJ
could bring him.
The New York was further inshOre
! than any of the other vessels, but too
far away to assist any in the destruc-
ton of the Spanish fleet. All she did
was TO fire two shots at long range at
| torpedo boat destroyer.
She did not reach the Colon until
. three-quarters of an hour after the
, Oregon and the Brooklyn and FIFTEEN
minutes after the Texas reached there.
| The Texas signalled the Vixen and the
Vixen the New York, but the New
York did not answer.
At the time of the hottest fighting
. between 10 and 1915 ann the Brook
Ign was in line with the Oregon. but
three-quarters of a mile further out to
sea. The Oregon at that time was
pouring fire into the Maria Teresa.
The Oquendo was about 5000 yards
distant, with Texas and the Iowa a
half-mile to the rear OF her.
The elaborate chart prepared by the
board shows the positions OF the ships
at the times metioned here:
$50 a. m, when Cervera came out.
$50 a. m, when the torpedo boat de
stroyers appeared.
1915 a m, when the Maria Teresa
turned 10 run ashore.
1920 a. m, when the Oquendo turned
to run ashore.
1870 a. m, when the Furor blew up.
11O5 a. m. when the Vizcaya turned
to run ashore.
LIS p. m. when the Colon surren-
dered.
The uavigators of the ships were Sc
lected for the board because they, bet
ter than any others. knew the posi-
tions of the ships in the fight. The
navigator is the actual sailing master
He is on the bridge nearly all the time
OF a battle, and it is his business to
know just what the ship is doing. and
TO keep an accurate record of her move
ments.
The board was made up as follows:
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright OF
the Gloucester, presiding officer; Lieu
tenant Samuel p. Comley of the Indi-
ana, Lieutenant Lewis c. Heilner of
the Texas, Lieutenant William II.
Schuteze of the Iowa, Lieutenant Al
bon c. Hodgson of the Brooklyn. Lieu
tenant William \. Allen of the Oregon
and Lieutenant Edward f. Capehart OF
the New York.