The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-22
NEW HEROES COME TO LIGHT.
THEY WENT INTO THE HEART OF
THE ENEMY's COUNTRY.

A@ANA@lAA . ONNN
ErsiGn Ward in Disguise watched
the Spanish Navy Mt Cadiz-He
Was Arrested in Porto RicO-En-
sign Buck Kept Up with Camarn's
Famous SuuadrOn-SIOntijO Tells
of Many shelIs-SOme of Dewey's
Suggestions.
Washington, Dec. 2L-The official re-
ports of all commanding officers of the
navy during the war nave been compiled
and published by The navy department.
While treating of events that have al
ready figured in official reports that have
reached the public, the documents still
contain many minor reports that throw
side lights ON interesting phases of the
war.
Almost in the beginning, in the brief re-
cord of the proceedings of the naval war
board, an unknown hero is brought to light
in the person of Ensign H. II. Ward who
at the beginning of the war, was on duty
in the navigation bureau, alternating with
Lieut.. Whittlesey in the heavy duties of
assistant to the chief of the bureau. He
volunteered for secret service duty and
his exploits, about which nothing has been
said in the past, may well be placed on
record beside those of Lieut.. Rowan in
Cuba and Lieut.. Whitney in Porto Rico.
Within a week after the declaration of
war, Ensign Ward disguised himself and
went right into the heart of the enemys
country, making his headquarters at Ca
diz, the principal Spanish naval station,
and informing the navy department here
of the actual strength of the Spanish na-
val vessels and their movements. Then
he went to the West Indies and reported
everything that was going on there Of
Importance to the American navy. Next
he went again into the enemy's country
in disguise, this time to Porto Rico, where
he was arrested as a suspicious charac-
ter and a spy.
Explored Porto Rico.
BY adroitness he managed to secure his
release and, escaping from San Juan, ca
bled the navy department fun account
of the state of the defenses there and the
preparations making for the reception of
the Spanish squadron under Cercera. All
this time even the officials of the navy de-
partment were under the impression that
Mr.. Ward was engaged in installing a
system of coast signals on the New Eng
land coast.
While Ward was in Porto Rico Ensign
Buck. another attache of the navigation
bureau. was on the shores of the Medi-
terranean in disguise, watching every
movement of the squadron of Admiral Ca
mara, which started for the Philippines,
but turned back.
OF the strategy board itself, it is said
that it was part of its duty to keep in
formed of all the movements, resources
and plans of the Spanish naval forces
through secret agents, and it is known that
the navy was thus informed of alT import
ant movements. At times, however, u-
formation was conflicting and decisions
had to be made as to which report was
true.
The reports of the famous naval bat
tie of Cavite include one from United
States Consul Williams. rather unusual
thing in a report of a strictly naval char
acter bat fully justified by its pctur-
esque and untechnical description Of Dew
eys great victory.
Following it is a report TO his govern
ment on the same engagement by the
commander-in-chief of the Inflated Span
ish fleet, N4ontijo. The admiral depicts
the bad condition of the Spanish feet
and defenses. He says that the cruiser
Castillo was incapable of maneuyerlng on
account of her bad condition, while the
defenses at the entrance to Subig bay
were very backward. With much dis
gust he found that the guns which should
have been mounted were delayed month
and a half, and he was no less disgusted
TO find that reliance was had for the de-
fense of the port upon a few torpedoes,
not properly placed
Admiral MOntIjO's Report.
Finding Subig bay defenseless, the
Spanish squadron repaired to the Bay of
Manila to meet battle under less unfavor-
able conditions. The admiral avoided the
city. not wishing TO draw fire upon 1t,
and prepared his fleet for action, paint
ing his vessels a dark gray, and having
the fires spread and springs on the ca
bles
He says that the force of Deweys YES
sells leaving out transports amounted to
q ,410 tons, 40, 9,290 horsepower 1853 guns
(many rapid-dre) 1,75O men, and an av-
erage velocity of seventeen miles. Against
this the power of his only five effective
ships was 1O.111 tons, 11,20O horsepower
76 guns, very short of rapid-hre) 1876
men, and maximum speed twelve miles.
The admiral describes in vivid language
the terrible effect of the American on
slaught OH the Spanish vessels. He says:
"The Americans fired most rapidly.
There came upon us numerous projectles,
as the three cruisers to the end Of the
line devoted themselves almost entirely to
fighting the Christi tina, my flagship. A
short time after the action commenced
one shell exploded in the forecaste and
put out of action all Of those who served
the four rapid-nre cannons.
Shells Exploded Everywhere.
Meantime another shell exploded in the
Orlop, setting fire TO the crews bags. =
AT 1880 one shell destroyed completely
the steering gear. Another de-
stroyed the mizzen, bringing down my
flag and ensign. Another shell ex-
ploded on the poop and put out OF action
nine men A fresh shell exploded in the