Arizona republican., 1898-07-27

Washington, July 26.-The navy de- partment today made public the re- ports of Admiral Sampson, Commo- dore Schley, Captain Clark of the Or egon and Captain Evans of the Iowa, on the battle of July 3, which resulted in the destruction Of CeryeTa's squad ron. Admiral Sampson's report says in part: "The enemy's vessels came out of the harbOr between 9:30 and 10 a. m., the head of the column appear ing around Cayosmith at 9:31 and emerging from the channel five CT six minutes later. The position of the vessels Of my command off Santiago at that moment were: The flagship New York, four miles east of her blockad- ing station and about seven miles from the harbor entrance. She had started for Siboney where l intended to land. The remaining vessels were in or near their usual blockading positions dis tributed in a semi-circle about the harbor entrance, counting from east ward to westward, in the following or der: The Indiana about mile and a half from shore, the Oregon in the New York's place between these two, the Iowa, the Texas and the Brooklyn, the latter two miles from the shore west of Santiago. The distance of the yes sel from the harbor entrance was from two and one-half to four miles, the lat ter being the limit of the day block ading distance. The length of the arc formed by the ships was about eight miles. The Massachusetts had left at a. m. for Guantanamo for coal. Her station was between the Iowa and the Texas. The auxiliaries Gloucester and the Vixen lay close to land and nearer to the harbor entrance than the larger vessels, the Gloucester to the eastward and the Vixen to the westward The Ericsson was in com pany with the flagship and remained with her during the chase
 GOING TO DEATH.
 "The Spanish vessels came rapidly out of the harbor, at a speed estimated at from eight to ten knots, and in the following order: The Infanta Maria Teresa, the flagship Vizcaya, the Cris- tobal Colon and the Almirante Oquen- do. The distance between these ships was about 800 yards. Following the Oquendo at a distance of about 1900 yards came the torpedo boat destroy CTS the Fulton and the Furor. The armored cruisers, as rapidly as they could bring their guns to bear, opened a vigorous Ire upon the blockading vessels and emerged from the channel shrouded il smoke from their guns. The men of cur ships in front Of the port were at Sunday quarter for in spection. The signal was made sinul- 0 enemy's ships are escapinc,' and gen. eral quarters were sounded The men cheered as they sprang to the guns and fire was opeled probably within eight minutes, by the vessels whose guna comne1ded the entrance.
 THE FLIGHT
 "The Spanish vessels. upon clearing the har5or, turned to the westward ia column, increasing their speed to the full power of their engines. The heavy blockading vessels, which had closed in toward MCrro at the instant of the eneny's appearance and at their best speed, delivered a rapid fire well sustained and destructive, which speedily overwhelmed and siIs2ced tho Spanish fire. The initial speed of the Spaniards carried them rapidly past the blocllading vessels, and the battle developed into a chase in which the Brooklyn and Texas had at the start the advantage of position. The Brook lyn maintained the lead until the Or egOn, steaming with amazing speed from the commencement of the action, took the first place. The Iowa and the Indiana had done good work, and not having the speed of the other ships, were directed by me in success sion at about the time the Vizcaya was beached, to drop out of the chase. The skillful handling and the gallant fight ing of the Gloucester to the admira- ton of every one who witnessed it, merits the commendation of the navy department.
 THE DESTRUCTION.
 ''The method of escape attempted by the Spaniards, all steering in the same direction and in formation. removed all doubts or difficulties and made plain the duty of every United States vessel to close in. The Infanta Maria