The record-union., 1898-12-22
Official Documents Given Out by
the Department
Which Throw New Light on Interesting
Phases of the Conflict.
a Hitherto Unknown Hero Brought
to the Front in the Person OF
Ensign Ward, Whose Exploits
Proved of Inca1culab1e Benefit
to the Authorities at Washing-

ton.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 21.-The official
reports of all commanding officers of
the navy during the war have been
compiled and published by the Navy
Department. While treating of events
that have already figured in official re-
ports that have reached the public, the
documents still contain many minor re-
ports that throw side light on inter-
esting phases Of the war.
Almost in the beginning, in the brief
record of the proceedings Of the naval
war building, an unknown hero is
brought to light in the person of En-
sign II. H. Ward, who, at the begin
ming of the war, was on duty in the
Navigation Bureau, alternating with
Lieutenant Whittlesey in the heavy
duties Of assistant TO the chief of the
bureau. He volunteered for secret SER
vice duty, and his exploits, about which
nothing has been said in the past, may
We'll be placed on record beside those
OF Lieutenant Rowan in Cuba and
Lieutenant Whitney in Porto Rico.
Within a week after the declaration
of war Ensign Ward distinguished him.
self and went straight into the heart
Of the enemy's country, making his
headquarters at Cadiz, the principal
Spanish naval station, and informing
the Navy Department here of the
actual strength of the Spanish naval
vessels and their movements. Then he
went to the West Indies, and reported
everything that was going on there of
Importance to the American navy
Next he went again into the enc.
my's country in disguise, this time to
Porto Rico, where he was arrested as
a spy. By adroitness he managed to
secure his release, and, escaping from
San Juan, cabled the Navy Department
full account of the state of the de-
fenses there and the preparations MAX
ing for the reception of the Spanish
squadron under Cervera. All this time
even the officials of the Navy Depart
ment We're under the impression that
Ward was engaged in installing a sys-
tenn of coast signals on the New Eng
land coast.
While Ward was in Porto Rico. En-
sign Buck, another attache of the Nav
lgation Bureau, was on the shores of
the Mediterranean in disguise, watch
ing every movement of the squadron of
Camara, which started for the Philip
pines, but turned back
The reports of the famous naval bat
ties of Cavite includes one from United
States Consul Williams, a rather un-
usual thing in a report of a strictly ma
val character, but fully justified by it's
picturesque and untechnical description
of Dewey's great victory. Following it
9 a 70 hi
same engagement by the Commander
in-Chief of the Inflated Spanish fleet
Montejo.
The Admiral depicts the bad condi-
uons OF the Spanish fleet and defenses
He says that the cruiser Castillo was
incapable of maneuvering on account
of her bad condition, while the de-
lenses at the entrance of Subig Bay
were very backward. With much dis
gust he found that the guns which
should have been mounted were de-
Iayed a month and a half, and he was
not less disgusted to find that reliance
was had for the defense of the port
upon a few tOrpedoes, not properly
placed
Finding Subig Bay defenseless. the
Spanish squadron repaired to the bay
OF Manila, to meet battle under less nm
favorable conditions The Admiral
avoided the city, not wishing to draw
hre upon it, and prepared his fleet for
action, painting his vessels a dark
gray, and having the fires spread and
springs on the cables. He saws that
the force of Dewey's vessels. leaving
out the transports, amounted to 21 41O
tons, 1880 horse power. 163 guns
many rapid fire., 1850 men and an
average velocity of seventeen miles
Against this the power of his only five
effective ships was 1O.111 tons. II 900
horse power 76 guns Cverv short of
rapid fire). 1875 crew. and maximum
speed twelve miles.
The Admiral describes in vivid Ian
guage the terrible effect of the Ameri-
can warships on the light Spanish yes
sells. He says:
THE Americans fired most rapidly.
There came upon us numerous proiec-
tiles as the three cruisers at the end of
the line devoted themselves almost en-
tirely 10 fighting the Christina. my flag
ship. A short time after the action
commenced one shell exploded in the
forecastle, and put out of action all
those who served the four rapid fire
cannons. Meantime, another shell ex-
ploded in the foretop setting fire to the
crew bags.
AT 1:30 o'clock shell DESTROYED
completely the steering gear Another
destroyed the mizzen, bringing down
my flag and ensign. And her shell ex-
ploded on the poop and put out of action
nine men. A fresh shell exploded in
the officers cabin, covering the hospital
with blood, and destroyed the wounded
who were being treated there Another
exploded in the ammunition room.
I had to flood the magazine when
the cartridges began to explode. =
One large shell penetrated the fire
room, putting out of action one master
gunner and twelve men serving the
guns. Another rendered useless the
starboard bow gun and while the fire
increased astern another fire started
forward from another she'll The
broadside guns continued firing until
there were only one gun and one sea-
man remaining unhurt for serving
'aThe ship being out of control, the
hull, smoke pipe and the mast riddled
with shot or confused with the cries