New-York tribune., 1898-12-22
PRICE THREE CENTS.
NEW LIGHT ON THE WAR
METHODS PURSUED BY THE NAVAL
STRATEGY BOARD
HOW TWO YOUNG ENsIGNs SECURED SPANISH
SECRETS At THE RISK or THEIR LIVES
MUCH INTERESTING AND HITHERTO
ryprnrLsrrEp CORRESPONDENCE.
Try TELEGRAPH 70 rur TRBuSE.l

Try TELEGRAPH 70 Tur TRIDCSEI
Washington, Dec 21.-New light IL tnro"" o"
some OF the most important naval opcfa'iohS
Of The war with Spain in an appendix OF over
seven hundred pages Ia tha report of Co.nmo-
dore Crown nsheid. CHIEF OF Navigation. wHich
was published by the Navy ID apartment to-oay'
ii contains practically all the communications
Which passed between the Nav Department.
ard commanding officers. both ahoat and ashore'
from f.nGiry H. the date the President became
convinced hat war could hardly he averted, and
when The arst precautionary order was capled
to Admiral sefridge on the European Station.
- retain all his enlisted men. down 70 the ap-
pearance Of the Evacuation Commission az Ia
vans. covering the whole subtec, fully under
convenient heads, such as the destruction Of the
Maine, the voyage Of the oregon, Dewey's vic
tory at Manila, the blockade in the West Indies,
the destruction Of Cervera's squadron. and naval
cooperation with the Army. Nne-tenths Of the
orders and reports have already appeared IN the
public prints either summarized or unabridged
but in the great mass Of documents several
notable novelties are disclosed.
THE BLUFF DEVISED BY DEWEY.
Perhaps the most interesting ~ these relates
70 the methods pursued by the Naval War
Board, ana especially the achievements OF two
young ensgns who volunteered for secret serv-
tee duty In Spanish possessions on the out
break Of hostllities. They were W. ii. Buck
who was graduated from the Naval Academy
in 1872 and Henry Ward. who was grad
uated In 1S95 These officers were attached to
the Bureau Of Navigation and solicited orders
involving the most hazardous enterprises.
almost rivaling Hobson. Buck went to Europe.
where he followed and reported the movements
of Camaras squadron TO the Red Sea, until II
was compelled 70 return through the Suez Canal
in obedience to one OF the ceverest strategical
bluffs that was made by the United States In
the progress Of hostities. II appears from the
publication that this blufr like so many OF the
successful maneuvres Of the war; was devised
by Admiral Dewey and not by the Naval War
Board as heretofore generally believed. The
records show that as early as June II the Navy
Department warned Admiral Dewey that a
Spanish squadron of two armored cruisers six
converted cruisers and four destroyers was re-
ported gathering In the Mediterranean. bound
for Manila and In the following ten days cable
dispatches sen. to him frequently telling
OF the progress OF this feet, eliminating in the
announcement by Ensign Buck Of its arrival at
Port Said on July % On June - Admiral
Dewey. replying to these dispatches. tele-
graphed:
Have received information Cadiz squadron
passed Gibraltar Friday morning. June Il:
bound eastward Shall the Monadnock and
Monterey arrive In time? In my Judgment, II
the coast Of Spain was threatened the squadron
OF the enemy would have 10 return.
Two days later the Iowa and the oregon. tho
Yankee the Dixie. the Newark and the Yosem-
tie. then blockading Cervera at Santiago were
ostentatiously assigned to Commodore Watson.
and 1t publicly announced that they were
preparing with all dispatch to start for the
pFor
Admiral Dewey Of this fact. sententiously
added. "the Spaniards know this" and a week
later It was possible for the Department to an
nounce to Admiral Dewey the annhiation OF
Cervera and at the same time communicate En-
sign Bucks Information that Carara was again
taking his ships through the Suez Canal on their
return to Slain
ENSIGN WARDS PERYLOUs MISSION
The achievements OF Ensign Ward secret
service were OF an extraordinary character, in
volving visit to Spain itself from which
one expected him to return. and among its
exciting episodes included his virtual arrest as
suspected SOY in San Juan de Porto Rico. Ward
is OF a handsome ana youthful appearance
usually clean-sha and OF stocky build. The
work mapped out for him was so highly perous
that II was deemed essential TO let none Of h!s
4 know anything regarding the undertaking
Public orders were issued 10 him 10 inspect the
Signal Service stati on the Atlantic Coast or
the United states. and no ono except Captain
Cr0wninshold suspected that ne was not faith
fully executing these ORD 80. on the day that
Tho Maine blown no - ard began the cult
walton Of 4 heavy beard Exactly -four months
later he appeared In Caiiz English tour
'st and with Il practiscd eye found out all the
Nav Department wanted 10 know about the
M in RI
Ourto. the recel fly purchased auxilia-ies Co
Iunihia and Normannia. and the other
service with Admiral Camara Ife then
went 10 Gibraltar. and after securing
Invaluable information from Spain'T secret
agents There reported fully by cable 70 Washing
ton ard took n English steamer 20 St. Thomas.
West Trdios Thence hp sailed after few davs'
stay FOR san Juan Dc Porto Rico. and entering
that harhor on merchan'man minntely noted
.rc location Of The mine fields the obstru ,tons
that had been sunk in the channels and the
condition Of the spanish naval and Land de-
fences n Is not possible ever at tiis te day
m ~elate tie incidents about Fnsign Wards ey-
citing visit to San Juan on account of important
International secrets that are mixed up with his
seizure. detention and eventual release by the
Sranieh naval and port authorities after they
exhibiting too much curiosity. but after spend
ing twtntv-four hours I'm that hartor he was
arln TO return - 81 Thomas and send the
sent'ol Information which Re had sought to the
na-al authorities After that tirnn he remained
in the Yves; Indies visiting Danish. French and
british ports. sending frequent dispetchcs N
Washington. until the protocol was s'gned and
~ was summoned home. Ensign ward was
married last month.
OTHER FEATURES OF THE VOLUME
l-ndo. fhe head OF precautionary orders appear
.,s4ru>.o-s 20 all the United Ste 20 shirs abroad
- .0oy their bmnkers with the best coal obtain
abe ,rd . keep them full on FEBRUARY e. be-
30, -. break OF war Admiral Dewey
told "Ir t.c event - war with spain. yolr duty
VIII bo to see that the Spanish squadron does not
le,~a he A-ia'ic coest and tncn offensive opera
,'on~ in The Phl'' pires. Keen the Olympia until
further orders" rhn after Order Is explained by
the fact that the flagship had been ordered back
10 The rniieH states for an o,erhaullng
Admiral Howell then In the N'dl,crrancar with