The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-27

they never did. Stationed close to the
entrance of the port were three picket
launches, and at a little distance far
Their out three small picket vessels
usually converted yachts-and when
they were available, one or two of our
torpedo boats. With this arrangement
there was at least certainty thatnOth-
ing could get out of the harbor unde-
tected. After the arrival of the army,
when the situation forced upon the
Spanish admiral a decision, our Wig
dance increased. The night blockading
distance was reduced to two miles for
all vessels, and 6, battleship was placed
alongside the Search1ght snip with the
broadside trained upon the channel in
readiness to fire the instant a Spanish
ship should appear. The commanding
officers merit the greatest praise for
the perfect manner in which they en-
tered into this plan and put it into ex-
ecutiOn- The Massachusetts, who, ac-
cOrding to routine, was sent that morn
ing to coal at Guantanamo, like the
others, had spent weary nights upon
this work and deserved a better fate
than to be absent that morning. I en-
close for the information of the de-
partment copies of orders and memoran-
dums issued from time to time, relating
to the manner of maintaining the block
ade.
Praise For the Oregon.
Is. When all the work was done so
we'll, it is difficult to discriminate in
praise. Inc OBJECT OF the DlOGkadG OF
Cervera's squadron was fully accom-
plished, and each individual bore well
his part in 1.-THE commodore in COM
mand on the second division, the cap
tains of ships, their officers and men.
The fire of the battleships was powerful
and destructive, and the resistance of
the Spanish squadron was, in great
part, broken almost before they had
got beyond the range of their own forts.
The fine speed of the Oregon enabled
her to take a front position in the chase
and the CFistObal Colon did not give up
until the Oregon had thrown a 13-inch
shell beyond her. This performance
adds to the already brilliant record of
this fine battleship, and speaks highly
Of the skill and care with which her
admirable efficiency has been main
tained during a service unprecedented
in the history of vessels of her class.
The BrOOklyn's westerly blockading
position gave her an advantage in the
chase which she maintained to the end,
and she employed her fine battery with
telling effect. The Texas and New
York were gaining on the chase during
the last hour and had any accident be-
fallen the Brooklyn or the Oregon
would have speedily overhauled the
CristObaI Colon. From the moment the
Spanish vessel exhausted her first burst
of speed the result was never in doubt.
She fell, in fact, far below what might
be reasonably expected of her. Careful
measurements of time and distance give
her an average speed-frOm the time
she cleared the udIDOE UlOuln Qlll41 NAAG
time she was run on shore at Rio Tar
quinO-of 1877 knots. Neither the New
York nor the Brooklyn stopped to
couple up their forward engine, but ran
out the chase with one pair, getting
steam, of course, as rapidly as possible
on all boilers. To stop to couple up the
forward engines would have meant a
delay of fifteen ninutes-or four miles
in the chase.
IA Several of the ships were struck
the Brooklyn more often than the 9TH
ers, but very slight material injury was
done, the greatest being aboard the
Iowa Our loss was one man killed and
one wounded, both on the Brooklyn. 1t
is difficult to explain this immunity
from loss of life or injury to ships in a
combat with modern vessels or the pest
type; but Spanish gunnery is poor at !
the best, and the superior weight and
accuracy of our fire speedily drove the
men from their guns and silenced their !
fire. This is borne out by the state |
mentS of prisoners and by observation.
The Spanish vessels as they dashed out !
of the harbor, were covered with the /
smoke from their own guns, but this I
speedily diminished In volume and soon /
almost disappeared. The fire from the |
rapid fire batteries of the battleships |
appears to have been remarkably des- /
tructive. An examination of the strand /
ed vessels shows that the Almirante !
Oquendo especially had suffered terribly |
from this fire. Her sides are every |
where pierced and her decks were |
strewn with the charred remains OF /
those who had fallen.
IS The reports of Commodore w. 5. |
Schley and of the commanding officers |
are enclosed.
16. A board, appointed by me several |
days ago, has made a critical examina-
ton of the vessels both with view of |
reporting upon the result of our fire !
and the military features involved, and /
of reporting upon the chances of saw /
ing any of them and of wrecking the /
The report of the board will |
be speedily forwarded Very respect
fully, w. I. SAMPSON,
Rear Admiral United States Navy.
Coumander-in-chief United States
naval forces, North Atlantic station
The secretary of war navy depart
ment, Washington, D. c.