The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-12-01

view having been prearranged bstw cen
General Shaf,er and Admiral Sampson.
the latter in the flagship New York
left the fee; for siboney. When the
flagship was about four miles east OF
her biockading station and abou, sew
en- miles from the Moro. the Spanish
squadron VAS seen s,eaming ou, OF the
harbor entrance. This was at D. 30 a. m.
The vessels Of the biockading squadron
were. as usual. In their designated posi-
tions- making a senicircie about the
harbor entrance. counting from the
eastward. in the following order: In
diana. Oregon-the New York.s place
being between these two-Iowa. Texas
and Brooklyn. The Massachusetts had
gone that morning TO Guantanamo for
coal. The Gloucester and Vixen lay to
the eastward and westward OF the har-
Dor entrance. close to the land. The
torpedo boat Ericsson was in company
with the flagship.
Admiral Cervera's squadron came
out of the harbor in the following or
der: Infanta Maria Teresa. Vizcaya,
CristoDaI Colon, Almirante Oquendo
and the torpedo boat destroyers Pluton
and Furor. The New York turned and
steamed for the escaping fleet. flying
the signal TO close in toward the har
Dor entrance and attack the vessels. but
our ships had already. in accordance
with standing orders, at once engag
ed the Spanish ships with the utmost
spirit and vigor, and in the course OF a
running fight, which continued until
l:20 p. m. the latter We're completely
destroyed and sunk. and the famous
victory. with its splendid credit to o.
ficers and men, was Won"
Auxiliary Force Praised.
The secretary commends the officers
and men of the auxiliary naval force
that patrolled the coast and the work
| of the coast signal service. He gives a
| list of auxiliary vessels bought for the
government the former owners and the
| prices paid. The force of enlisted men
allowed by law prior to the outbreak
| of the war was 1880. On Aug. 15 when
| the enlisted force reached its maximum.
there were 24,123 in the service.
Mr.. Long concludes that section of
| the report entitled The War" thus:
The department feels, in contemplate
ing the vast amount of work necessary
to the successful operations Of the navy
| during the last year, that the country
| as well as the service, has cause for
| congratulation in the results which
|
| generally approved and in the further
| fact that no personal feeling has arisen
| to mar the glorious victories and mag
| nificent work of the service"
The report contains the following in
! teresting figures:
| BattleshipS now being constructed ..
| Additional battleshps recommended.
| Cruisers now being constructed.
| Additional cruisers recommended. Il:
| *Cost of new battleships recon-
| Hehdeo ...-..............--..... .slo, Soo,oV
| Cost of new cruisers recon-
| HeHueu lo,aoooV
| Estimates for the fiscal year 1899. 40 53S. 49,
| Appropriations for the fiscal year
! 1873 ............-.......... .Il5. oZ!O
| Estimates for the fiscal year 1900 Al, ,09S. .25
| Excluding cost Of armor and armament
| The report makes the following rec.
| concentrations:
The amalgamation Of the officers Of tn,
| line and engineer corps.
| An increase of SO officers in the new line
Naval academy course to be four in
stead of six years.
| Revival of the grades Of admiral ant
vice admiral and resurrection Of the mid
shipman' in place of the naval cadet"
Increase of pay Of naval officers to equa
| that in the army and marine corps.
i Enlistment up to 20 600 men and $500 ap
prentices.
i Transfer of the transport fleet from tn
army to the navy department.
Il A national naval reserve, an increase II
the marine corps to 5000 men and a nev
system of rewarding officers for bravery.