The Portland daily press., 1898-07-26

Washington, July 26.-The following
report from acting Rear Admiral samp.
son is made public today:
United States flagship New York, first
rate, off Santiago, July Is, 1898.
Sir-I 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
Santiago de Cuba,on Sunday. July s,1S9S.
2-The enemy's vessels came out Of the
harbor between 935 and 10 a. m, the
head Of the column appearing around
Cayo Smith at 9. 81, and emerging from
the channel five or six minutes later.
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 was about seven miles from
the harbor entrance. She had started for
Siboney, where intended to land, ac-
companied by several of my staff and go
to the front to consult with Gen. Shafter
A discussion of the situation and more
definite understanding between us of the
operations proposed had been rendered
necessary by the unexpectedly strong re-
sistance of the Spanish garrison of Santi-
ago. I had sent my chief Of staff on
shore the day before to arrange an inter.
view with Gen. Shafter, who had been
suffering from heat prostration. made
arrangements to go to his headquarters.
and my flagship was in the position men.
toned above when the Spanish squadron
appeared in the channel The remaining
vessels were in or near their usual block
aiding positions; distributed in q semi
circle about the harbor entrance, count.
ing from the eastward to the. westward
in the following order: The Indiana was
a mile and half from shore, the Ore
gon-the New York's place between these
two-the Iowa, Texas and Brooklyn.
the latter two miles from the shore west
of Santiago. The distance of the vessels
from the harbor entrance was from two
and half to four m1les-the latter being
the limit of day blockading distance.
The length Of the arc formed by the ships
was about eight miles. The Massachu-
setts had left at a. M. for Guantanamo
for coal. Her station was between the
Iowa and Texas. The auxiliaries Glou
cester and. Vixen lay close to the land and
nearer tho harbor entrance than the large
vessels, 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 her chase until ordered to discon-
tinue, when she rendered very efficient
service in rescuing prisoners from the
burning vizcaya.
4-The Spanish vessels came rapidly
out of the harbor at speed, estimated
at from eight to ten knots, and in the
following order: Infanta Maria Teresa
(fagshipl, Vizcaya, Cristobal Colon and
the Almirante Oquendo. The distance
between these ships was about 800 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
IL minutes elapsed. Following the
Oquendo at distance of about 1900
yards, came the torpedo boat destroyer
Pluton. and after her the Furor, the
armored cruisers, as rapidly as they could
bring their guns to bear opening vigor-
emerged from the channel shrouded in
the smoke from their own guns.
5-The men of our ships in front of the
port, were at Sunday quarters for in
specGion. The signal was made stimuli
taneously from several vessels ''enemy's
ships escaping" and general quarters
was sounded. The men oheered as they
tof f7nfr-
probably within eight minutes by the
vessels whose guns commanded the EN-
trance. The New York turned about and
steamed for the escaping feet flying the
signal "close in towards harbor entrance
and attack vessels" and gradually in
oreasing speed until toward the end of
the chase she was making l6 1-2 knots
and was rapidly closing on the Cristobal
Colon. She was not, at any time, within
the range of the heavy Spanish ships, and
her only part in the firing Yves to receive
the undivided fire from the forts in pass
ing the harbor entrance and to fire few
shots at one of the destroyers, thought at
the moment to be attempting to escape
from the Gloucester.
6-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
vessels, which had closed in
towards the Moro at the instant of the
enemy's appearance, and ut their best
speed, delivered a rapid fire, well sus-
tained and destructive, which speedily
overwhelmed and silenced the Spanish
fire. the initial speed of the Spaniards
carried them rapidly past the blockadlng
vessels, and the battle developed into a
chase in which the Brooklyn and Texas
had at the Start the advantage of posit-
ion. 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 chase and resume
stations. The vessels rescued
many prisoners. The Vixen, finding
that the rush of the Spanish ships would
put her between two fires, ran outside
of her column and remained there during
the battle and chase.
7-The skilful handling and gallant
fighting of the Gloucester excited the ad-
lniration of everyone who witnessed it
and merits the commentator of the navy
She is a fast ana entirely un-
protected auxiliary vessel-the yacht
Il 2l,,e, hot of 1ir.l1A