The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-19

S-pounder rapid-fire guns: speed. IA knots:
crew, 300. Isla de Cuba, Captain j. Sid
rach, and Isla de Luzon, Captain j. de la
Herian; 1890 tons each battery, four Al
inch. four 6-pounder and two 3-pounder
rapid-fire guns; speed, 16 knots; Grew, 200
each. Don Antonio de Ulloa, Captain Il.
Robion, and Don Juan dc Austria. Captain
j. de la Consha; 1130 tons; batteries four
4.7inch, two 2.7-irch and two 3-pounder
rapld-flre guns; sped, IA knots; crew. 200
men each
General Lezo, Commander r. Benevento
and Marques del Duero, Commander 5.
Moreno Guerra; ga and 500 tons, respect-
lively; batteries, two 4.T-lnch. one 9.5-inch
and two S-pounder rapid-fire guns; speed.
about IL knots; crew, 100.
The Velasco was also in the harbor, but
1t was undergoing repairs and her guns
three 5.9-inch and two 27-inch rapid-fire
guns-were mounted in earthworks on
shore. There were four torpedo boats, two
of which were sunk during the action. and
two fine transports, the Manila and the
Isla de Mindanao, one Of which was cap
tured and the other sunk. It will be seen
that the Spanish squadron was inferior In
every way to the attacking fleet. If 1t had
been obliged 20 come out into the open sea
TO fight IL would not have had a ghost OF u
chance. But that which gave the Span
iards an equalizng element was the POSI-
shore batteries.
1t Is estimated by experts that one gun
mounted on shore Is worth several aboard
ship 1t has a fixed platform, and is,
therefore, able TO fire with much greater
accuracy. Another great advantage our
enemy had was the knowledge Of the exact
distance Of our ships at all times during
the action. Having no range marks TO go
By and receiving no aid from the few range
finders installed in our vessels, 1t was an
exceedingly difficult matter for our Off
GERS to determine the proper elevation TO
be given TO our sights.
We were constantly moying-sometime
In and gometimes across the lines OF firo-
30 that even when shot was seen to strike
in The right SPOT Il was no guide for the
next one. At distance OF 1000 yards or
lte5 the Spaniards ought not to have
missed one snot In five. especially as their
shore batteries were behind them, and the
fact that we suffered so little Is the best
evidence that our enemies were not capable
OF taking advantage OF all their opportuni-
ties.
Five times we made the circuit in front OF
ia Spanish position. as have already fully
described In my cable dispatches. From the
bridge Of the flagship was able to watch
every move OF our own and The enemy y
vessels, and seeing the storm o! shells
striking about MS or bursting close aboard
the ships OF our squadron. we had gooi
reason for fearing that our rosa had been
heavy.
az course we knew that the Olympia had
escaped without casualties. but as we had
/. dozen hearbreadth misses IL did not seem
POSSIBLE that our oonsorts had been equally
fortunate. ] began, at first to keep count
o. the shells which just tarely cleared our
fuii or which burst right ia our faces, for
I had an idea that the fight would not las,
more than half an hour NJ the outside. an |
] thought It would be Interesting to know
low many times W escaDed being HI.