Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-30
SANTIAGO FROM OTHER SIDE.
Battles and CapituIation nv Seen by
SBanish Officer.

NRoi1lNOlO ON, november E3.-Ini
Bureau Of Naval Intelligence to-day is
sued another of its war series, this tim,
the Battles and Capitulation Of San
tiago de Cuba, by Lieutenant JOSEPH
| Muller y Tejciro, the second in comma no
| of the naval forces of the province OF
| Santiago de Cuba"
Captain Glover, the chief Of the Intelli
gence Bureau, explains in an intrOduc-
tory note that the writer was an eye
witness Of most of the events that he
describes, and from his position had ac-
cess TO official information. The style IS
peculiarly interesting and free from bias,
and has an air Of authenticity, which will
give the book place I'm history though
1t is not an official publication.
CONDITIONS IN THE CITY.
The publica don begins with a chapter
entitled the 1.-TWO Fleets" telling OF the
arrival of Cervera's squadron on the 18th
of May and OF the disappointment of the
people. who expected no less than eight
battleships, instead of five. The Lieu
tenant mentions the fact that provisions
were very short; also, that the military
element Of the province were nine or ten
months in arrears in the payment Of
their wages. and had been living on
credit for some time. Everything was
lacking-food, money, credit and pur-
chasing resources were exhausted. What
happened at Santiago was true Of other
places in the islands The merchants.
instead Of contributing to the welfare Of
the army, hid whatever they had and
raised prices.
He speaks of the difficulties Of coaIing.
and shows that the fleet was very badly
supplied.
Ell CANEY AND SAN JUAN.
Speaking of the battles Of FL Caney and
San Juan, Lieutenant Tejeiro says the
Americans, II must be acknowledged,
fought with truly admirable courage and
spirit. The casualties Of the Spanish
side are stated 10 be sixty officers and 533
men. He claimed that only go men de-
Tended El Caney for ten hours. and that
go defended San Juan for four hours.
The Lieutenant gives considerable space
20 the naval battle, most Of which is
taken from persons who were saved from
the Spanish ships. The coolness ana
courage OF Admiral Cervera are noted.
The fire Of ths = anish ships was said %
have been slow. while that Of the Ameri-
can ships was very brisk. In discussing
the disaster, he says that the loss Of the
fleet had been foretold by all its COM
but the public opinion I'm the
lSldllu OF CuDd required the presence or
the feet in Cuban waters. The ships had
not been cleaned, were short Of coal, and
were not in good condition TO fight. The
feet received definite orders f~om the
Captain-General Of Cuba to leave San
tiago in spite Of Admiral Cervera's re-
TOTAL SPANISH LOSSES.
The total losses i'm all the attacks on |
are given as follows: officers |
killed. 16; men killed. l07; officers wound |
ed, SO; men wounded, 5jG; prisoners and |
missing, Z officers and 116 men.
He closes the account Of the naval bat
lie Of Santiago by saying: 81 have never
been able TO understand the reason why |
there was sent to the Island of Cuba Il
ieet that was in no manner able to cope
With that Of the United States, and which |
therefore could in no wise prevent the
ships Of the latter from blockading our
1orts and controlling the seas. But since
{ was sent, without its arrival being
lble 10 prevent the loss of the island. |
which was lost. as experience has shown,
rom the very moment when war was ac-
,epted, owing to the conditions prevailing
here then It should have been prevented
rom being destroyed, as its destruction
vas without any resulting advantage
whatever"