Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-27
SAMPSON AND SCHLEY
THEIR REPORTS ON THE DEsTRUC-
TION OF CERvERA's FLEET.
ADMIRAL MENTIONS MARYLAHDER.
He Hardly Does More, However-The
Commodore, ON the Other Hand,
Says victory II "Big Enough for
Au.-

| WASHINGTON. July 2s-The Navy De-
partment to-day made public the report
Of Admiral Sampson on the destruction
Of Cervera's squadron. of Santiago, July
Cd. II is as follows:
United States Flagship New York,
First Rate, OF Santiago de Cuba.
"Cuba, July Is, 1898.
"Sir: have the honor to make the fol-
| lowing report upon the battle with and
| the destruction of the Spanish squadron
| commanded by Admiral Cervera. off SAM
tiago de Cuba, on Sunday, July 9. 1898:
~ The enemy's vessels came out of
the harbor between 9:S5 and 10 A. NJ. the
head OF the column appearing around
| Cay Smith at 9:31. and emerging from the
channel five or six minutes later.
NEW YORK NEAR SIBONEY.
'3. The positions OF the vessels of my
command OFF Santiago at that moment
were as follows: The flagship New York
was four miles east of her blockading
station, and about seven miles from the
harbor entrance. She had started for ST.
honey. where I intended to land, accom-
panied by several of my staff. and go to
the front to consult with General Shaf-
ter. A discussion Of the situation, and
more definite understanding between US
on the operations proposed, had been
rendered necessary by the Unexpectedly
strong resistance of the Spanish garrison
of Santiago. had sent my chief Of staff
on shore the day before to arrange an
interview with General Shafter, who had
been suffering from heat prostration.
made arrangements to go TO HIS head
quarters, and my flagship was in the po-
sition mentioned above when the Spanish
squadron appeared in the channel. The
remaining vessels were in or near their
usual blockading Observation-Disclosures in
a semi-circle about the harbor entrance
counting from the eastward to the west
ward, in the following order:
VESSELS IN THE FIGHT.
The Indiana, about mile and a half
from shore; the Oregon; the New Yorks
place between these two; the Iowa, Texas,
and Brooklyn, the last-named two miles
from the shore west of Santiago. The
distance of the vessels from the harbor
entrance was from two and one half to
four miles, the latter being the limit OF
day blockading distance. The length OF
the arc formed by the ships was about
eight miles. The Massachusetts, had left
at A. NJ. for Guantanamo for coal. Her
station was between the Iowa and tho
Texas. The auxiliaries Gloucester and
Vixen lay close to the land, and nearer
the harbor entrance than the larger ves-
sells, the Gloucester to the eastward and
the Vixen to the westward The torpedo
boat Ericsson was in company with the
flagship, and remained with her during
the chase. until ordered TO discontinue,
when she rendered very efficient service
in rescuing prisoners from the burning
Vizcaya. 1 enclose a diagram showing
approximately the positions OF the yes-
sells as described above.
THE SPANISH FLIGHT.
a. The Spanish vessels came rapidly out
OF the harbor at speed estimated al
from 8 to 10 knots, and in the following
order: The Infanta Maria Teresa alag.
ship, the Vizcaya, the Cristobal Colon,
and the Almirante Oquendo. The dis.
tance between these ships was about 500
yards, which means that from the time
the first one became visible in the upper
reach of the channel, until the last one
was out of the harbor, an interval Of
only about II minutes elapsed
Following the Oquendo at a distance
of about 200 yards came the torpedo
boat-destroyer Pluton, and after her the
Furor.
THE armored cruisers, as rapidly as
they &C aid bring their guns to bear, open
ed a vigorous fire upon the blockading
vessels, and emerged from the channel
shrouded in the smoke from their guns.
THE CHASE.
20. The men Of our ships in front or the
port were at Sunday quarters for inspec-
tion.' The signal was made simulta-
neously from several vessels.
Enemy's ships escaping and general
quarters was sounded. The men cneered
as they sprang TO their guns, and fire was
opened probably within eight minutes by
the vessels whose guns commanded the
entrance. The New York turned about
and steamed for the escaping fleet, flying
the signal, Close in toward harDor en-
trance and attack vessels and gradually
increasing speed until. toward the end OF
the chase, she was making 16 l-2 knots and
was rapidly closing on the Cristobal
Colon.
NEW YORK NEVER I'm IT."
''She was not. at any time. within the
range of the heavy Spanish ships and
her only part in the firing was to receive
the undivided fire from the forts in pass
ing the, harbor entrance and to fire a few
shots at one of the destroyers, thought
at the moment to be attempting 10 es-
cape from the Gloucester
&c. The Spanish vessels, upon clearing
the harbor, turned TO the westward in
column, increasing their speed TO the full
power OF their engines. The heavy block
aiding vessels, which had closed In to-
ward the MORO at the instant OF the
enemy's appearance. and at their best
speed. delivered rapid fire, well sus-
tanned and destructive, which speedily
overwhelmed and slenced the Spanish
fire.
SCHLEY'S SHIP IN THE LEAD.
"The initial speed of the Spaniards car
ried them rapidly past the blockading
vessels, and the battle developed into a
chase, in which the Brooklyn and Texas
had at the start the advantage OF posi- |
ton. The Brooklyn maintained this lead. |
The oregon, steaming with amazing |
speed from the commencement OF the |
action. took first place. The Iowa and |
the Indiana, having done good work, and |
not having the speed of the other ships, |
were directed by me in succession, at |
about the time the Vizcaya was beached, |
TO drop out Of the race and resume block
aiding stations. These vessels rescued |
many prisoners. The Vixen. finding that
the rush of the Spanish ships could put
her between two Of them. ran outside OF
our own column and remained there |!
iuring the battle and chase.
COLCHESTER HIGHLY PRAISED