New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-14
THE FNEMY'S TESTIMONY.

One by one the details Of the great sea fight
at Santiago are brought out. and one by one
they add 10 the credit and to the significance of
the American fleets achievement II iS not
merely the winning Of the victory that counts.
That that was to be done was. with 50 superior
n fleet. n matter Of course. II Is the way III
which IL was won and in which the campaign
was conducted from first to last American
testimony from varou, points of view has been
given all 10 the same effect Now comes that
of the Spanish captains still more impressive
and convincing II tells. better in some re
spcctS than any other ever can. tho story of
American strategy. readiness. GOODNESS and
awfuly effective energy when one" In" fight
was on The tribute ot brave men vanquShcd
to brave men victorious. II forms perhaps the
highest tribute Of all that can be paid 70 the
American heroes Of Santiago.
First. the strategy Commander Ccntrencs
denies that the Spanish fleet was lodging or
trying to eludc our own. However that may
be. he frankly admits that Commodore Schley
outmannuvrcd Admiral Ccrvera, and by clever
ruse and unexpected promptncsS surprised ana
trapped him In the harbor. And there he was per
fcctly guarded. so that whenever the SpanlardS
looked through the sea gate 10 see If they might
escape there was always that incxorable cres-
cent Of steel in The ofiing. pcrpctually ready 10
turn them back or to destroy them. Nor did
this readiness fail nj the supreme moment TIL"
Spanish lookOu,S reported that some Of the
blockading ships were out Of sight, the line was
weakened and the hour was opportunc. 80 out
came the Spanish squadron with rush. But
the ships tina, had trapped them and had
guarded them were still there to fight them.
They steercd straight for the Brooklyn the
swiftcst but the weakest Of the big ships In the
American line. She. they thought. being light
"in protection. would be- the easiest TO sink.
"and. MS she was fast would DO best out OF
"the way" The mighty Vizcaya says Cap
tain Eulate. sought to ram her. Had she done
so she might have gone through the weaker
Brooklyn through paper box. But. just aS
Farragut with the wooden Hartford ran down
an iron ram. Schley turned the Brooklyn 10
ram the Vlzcaya. "Thc manTnvre Of the
brooklyn" says Captain Euatc, was bcauti-
"ful. I moved IN toward the shore. so that
could avoid her" 1t was the stronger fleeing
from the weaker. Nor was that all The
Brooklyn's batteries did fearful work. She had
no big guns like those Of the Vizcaya and OF
her own cOnsors. But how she worked her
small ones. I'VE never thought. says one
Spanish officer 'the Brooklyn's battery was 50
terrible. She was frlghtfu sight when all
"hcr guns were going" And Captain Enlaic
adds: 1.-THE Brooklyn's broadside crashing into
"our superstructure simply trrrorizcd the men.
"Shn simply drove us in TO the shore. II
twas the Brooklyn that prevented mo from get
ting away"
That is the testimony, and II may well he be
leved 1t Is no reflection upon the superb
achievements Of our other ships 10 give thls
praise TO Commodore Schey and the Brooklyn,
for the Brooklyn was built TO be the swiftes Of
them all. and was the lightest In guns and
arrnor The Oregon and the Iowa ontcasscd the
SpaI iards in fighting strength. but were ont
classcd by them In speed. with the Brooklyn
conditions We're exactly reversed. She WAS
never meant TO stand up in set battle against
such floating fOrtrcsScs rs the Nzcaya Yet, by
virtue Of her speed and manTuvrng ability. The
fierce but accurate energy with which her bat
tercs were served and the genius Of her Com
modorc. she did that very thing and did il with
complete success What lesson IT Is for the
highest practicable speed for batleships and
for the heaviest possible armament for our
swift cruisers.