Evening journal., 1898-05-31
sPAINs LAST NAVAL BATTLE.
Driven from the Pacific Ocean I'm 1854
After Disastrous Defeat by
Chilli and Peru.


Those who have followed Spanish his
tory have little to fear of the result of a
naval war between that country and
the United States. Since the battle of
Lepanto in 1870, when the Spanish and
Venetians together fought the Turks
and won after long and bloody con-
test, Spain has not won notable vic
tory on the sea. Her naval prowess
has steadily declined, and to-day few
Of the little South American republics,
who were her former colonies, would
confess that they were afraid Of her.
The last naval battle fought by Spain
in the new world showed conclusive
ly how her maritime power had de-
creased. She was defeated by Peru,
with Chili's aid, and since then the
Spaniard has kept away from the Pa
cific coast of South America.
The story Of that war and its disas-
trous results to Spain is told in the
Army and Navy journal. In 1861 Spain
sent squadron of seven vessels,
mounting 211 guns, TO punish the Pc
ruvians for maltreatment of Spanish
subjects. The Peruvians had nothing
on the water with which to oppose
this force, but Chilli came to her aid
with three vessels-the Esmeralda, car
rying AZ smoothbores; the Victoria, a
small one-gun monitor, and the Loa,
q diminutive Merrimac, plated with
iron and mounting two 6s-pounders.
The Esmeralda met the Spanish gum
boat Cavandago (three guns) and cap
tured her in 20 minutes without the loss
of a man. The Spaniards fired only
three shots. They had two men killed
and IA wounded. The loss of the
Cayandago, followed by the capture
of an armored launch, so chagrined
the Spanish admiral, Pareja, that he
blew out his brains in his cabin.
Admiral Nuncz, who succeeded Pa
reja, then gallantly assailed the de-
fenseless Valparaiso, where not n single
gun was mounted except few saluting
pieces. Not a shot was fired from the
town and the inhabitants promptly
evacuated it. The Spanish admiral, in
spite of the protests of the foreign
men-of-war in the harbor, threw from
feet of six vessels. The Spanish gun
merry was so wretched that little dam
age was done, except by fire, which
destroyed $1O,00O,00O worth of neutral
goods. II was n most wanton piece OF
barbarity, for il the Spaniards had
had a landing force they could have
taken the town without firing shot.
The gallant Nunez next assaulted
the city of Callao, which taught him the
difference between an open town ana
one that was adequately defended. In
four or five hours the Spanish squad
ron was badly used up and was glad
to crawl back 20 Spain as best it could
IN its crippled condition. The villa dc
Madrid, 56 guns, got a shot IN her steam
chest, and was towed out of action;
the Berenguela, 90 guns, had hole
20 feet square knocked into her near
the water line by an exploding shell
and crawlcd out of range TO repair
| damages.
The ammunition in two other Span
ish vessels gave out after a two
hours fight, and they had to retire,
one Of them having been twice on fire
| IN the neighborhood of the magazine.
| This left two vessels, the Numanc;a,
! irOnclad, and the Almanac. Two hours
| later these two vessels ceased their fire
and Withdrew, the Chilians firing at
them until they were beyond range.
| The Spanish loss is not exactly known,
but is supposed to have been about
200. Commodore Rodgers, U. S. N, es-
timated the loss to the Chilians at
so, though others give larger number.
! No serious damage was done to either
ships or forts by the fire, beyond that
named. The Spaniards then withdrew
discounted from the Pacific, being
short of stores and ammunition, and
with their vessels foul for want of dock
ing. They had established n base at
the Chincha islands, but they had no
facilities for repair.
Spain has shared in the movement OF
naval progress and Is far more for
midable in ships and guns than she was
in 1864, but not relatively. We have
no reason to suppose that her sailors
are better, though it may be that the
use of range finders may improve her
gunnery. Still the personnel factor
will tell, and that is always in favor
OF the American. The Spaniard has
never distinguished himself On the sen,
where the personal equation is so inn
portant.-Army and Navy Journal.
VirEinian Country store.
olonpa M 4ha xuollc nu1 tho eh ~ t--