Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-26
COVERS WERE LAID FOR $50
SPEECHES BY ADMIRAL SCHLEY, DIR.
DEPEw AND GENERAL TRACY.
sehIey Greeted With Prolonged
Cheers When He Arose to Speak
DIR. Depew Reviews Mo-
tives of the United
Stntes' Wars.

[ dinner was rendered to Rear Admiral Win
| field 5. Schley in the Brooklyn Club TO-
| night by its members. Covers We're laid
| for 150. The club house and dining room
| were decorated with flags of all nations
| and potted plants ard flowers. Rear Ad-
| miral Schley was escorted to the club by
| Congressman Bennett, and he was accord
| ed a hearty reception by the guests when
| he took his place at the guests table along
| with Chauncey NJ. Depew, Benjamin F..
| Tracy. Colonel Hester and st. Clair Nc
| Kelway. Letters of regret Were read from
| General Woodford, William c. Whitney
and Supreme Court .Judge-elect A. F.
| jerks.
Mr.. McKelway acted as POSTMASTER and
| introduced the guest of the evening. When
| Admiral Schley arose to speak he was
greeted with prolonged cheers, which were
renewed at intervals during his telling Of
| the destruction of Cervera's feet. 'It is
| a high tribute to my profession he said.
| Ito say that not one vessel of the Spanish
fleet escaped u.s.
Admiral Schley spoke as follows:
Il am overwhelmed by, the reception YOU
accord me, the more so because have been
simply an humble. instrument in bringing
| about a result which has added 50 much
to the glory of the nation.
Il had no personal ambition which did
not include the highest glory to my pro-
fession and the greatest luster to my ma
tion. felt after that momentous day that
the battle was big enough for us all. At
all events. it seems to have been big
enough for the country and big enough
for the world.
1T is curious how little things change
results. After the army had invested San
tiago and performed prodigies of valor, I
was impressed on that critical Saturday
| night which preceded the historic July 3,
1 may say that l was confident. the enemy
contemplated movement. 1t proved to
be true.
''The Spanish forces to the westward had
abandoned six blockhouses which were I'M
mediately seized by the insurgents and
burned. At $50 o'clock that night the
enemy's ships were all prepared to get IN
der way, to make dash in the night. They
thought those burning blockhouses was
signal to us. There were six blockhouses,
as have said. and the enemy had six ships.
That wasa critical moment in Cervera's
life.
In the night time there was possi-
bility of one vessel escaping. Coming out
in the day time. it was simply and utterly
impossible. The enemy thought we were
all at quarters. So We were. In one minute
and thirty seconds from the time he ap-
peared at the mouth of the harbor every
1t was the most beautiful sight I ever
saw
There was burst of laughter and excla-
nations of Right you are
Il say so frankly" Admiral 'Scflley went
on. The ships appeared in column. / was
standing on the bridge of the Brooklyn
and the first impression made upon me
was that it was like Spanish bullfight.
They came on tail up and head down.
,JIal
ward to confer with General Shafter.. Be
fore leaving. he sgnaled to disregard the
orders of the commander-in-chief. This was
announcement that the senior officer
was left in charge. Fortunately or unfor-
tunately. that happened to be myself. The
moment the enemy appeared l set the sig
nal for close action.
THE enemy could choose one of three
methods. He could elect to fight and avail
himself of the protection of the land bat
teries; he could try to escape and scatter
as flock of partridges when it is flushed.
or he could attempt to run, choosing either
the eastern or the western course.
II was an anxious moment while We
were waiting TO see what he proposed do
ing. 1t required quick decision and quick
action. Fortunately he chose to run and
took the course to the westward.
-All the vessels closed in with terrible
cannonading. The Brooklyn was the point
of attack, because she was the fieetest and
the flagship. The storm of proiectiles round
about reminded me of a mill pond in hail
storm, but until a. man was killed near me
] was not aware that there was a shot
within a hundred miles of me.
The furious onslaught was made in the
tactical diameter of the enemys fire. We
could move in and mask or turn out and
unmask. OF course we turned in. and.
within twenty-nine minutes. four of the
enemy's ships were absolutely annihilated
The Colon and the Vizcaya were left.
They put their helms to port and speeded
to the westward. There was running
fight of ffty-four minutes"
Admiral Schey described that fight and
the destruction of the NiZcaya, leaving her
10 the Texas to dispose of.
I'VE went on after the Colon. / felt
as did Nelson at Trafalgar. that the VIC
tory would be incomplete if one ship es-
capped. I told Captain Cook to go below
and have dinner, as we would not come up
with the Colon for half or tnree-quarters
of an hour We went down to dinner and
during that operation we were under heavy
fire. but We did not reply. because it did us
no harm"
Admiral Schley pictured the surrender of
the Colon, and recapitulated the results Of
the battle. He spoke of Dewey's victory
dl anu TtltIitu ~ Ills own WORK
in Porto Rico. Then he added some mod |
est things about himself and sa down amid |
tremendous cheering. |
The ether speakers were Chauncey NJ
Depew and Benjamin +. Tracy.
Mr.. Depew said
1T is wonderful privilege 10 live in a |
period of the national eXaltation of ones
country. 1t enlarges the vision. broadens |
the opinion and clarifies the judgment of |
a.,
patriotism. 1T lifts the entire population |
to better view of the plane upon which |
nations are maneuvering for ascendencv. |
1t gives to individuals nerve and brain
tension which makes the dullest sensitive |
to the music of the national anthem and
nightly enthusiastic over the victories OF |
the army and navy. The older generations I
have had this experience both in the civil
war and in our war with Spain.
when a resistless fury impels free
people to fight it. is for right, justice and
liberty IL is often upon sentiment and to |
crystallize into law, national or internation
al. that sentiment. The war of the revo-
luton was fought to establish principle
repudiated by statesmen. and existing only
as theory in philosophy. that all men
are created equal. with certain inalienable
rights, among which are life. liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. The civil war
was fought because this sentiment had not |
been crystallized in the constitution or in |
the laws or in the life of the nation From |
1872 10 1914 our American navy was making |
hat glorious record which IL has epuolad |