Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-12
Cervera Wanted to Go Out and Fight
ON May 23-Vesuvius' Shells Did
Little Harm Beyond Terror
king Pe0ple-Cerve-
ra'A Dash.


My career is ended. shall go back to
Spain to be killed or die in disgrace
Commodore Schley put out his hand and
rested it on Cervera's shoulder. He speaks
perfect Spanish, and the liquid language
flowed easily as he said:
Admiral you are brave man and COM
ing out as you did in the face of a superior
force is but an exemplification of that
bravery. Your country can but do you
honor
The story of Cerveras attempt to escape
is an interesting one, and is told briefly by
the commander of the frigate Adolpho Cen
trcres, prisoner on board the converted
yacht Vixen, taken off the battleship Cris-
tobal Colon. Chief Engineer Sanford E.
Moses, of the Vixen, acted as interpreter
for the correspondent of the Associated
Press. the conversation being in the inter-
national language of the navy, French.
Commander Centrores told this interesting
story:
1T is not true that the heavy fire of the
American ships drove us out. Besides the
accident to the Reina Mercedes, we had no
casualties. The dynamite shells Of the We
suvius did no damage except to terrcrize
the people. A shell did not strike Smith
Cayo at all, but hit near the base.
I'VE arrived in Santiago harbor on May
19. We did not know that our whereabouts
were a secret We made no attempt to hide
or to cover up our plans. We simply took
easy stages to get to Cuba. 1t was fright
fully hot in the harbor and we suffered
greatly. We made no attempt to get out
AZ afc oil
our machinery was defective and we were
trying to repair it. The frequent bonn
bardments by the American ships resulted
in quite loss of life. but did little other
damage. The batteries were not harmed
to any extent. 1t is not true that we dis
mounted our ships guns. The Reina Mer-
cedes' guns were all in the forts when
Commodore Schley arrived.
'.On Saturday, May 2S. we got word that
Schley had left some point in Cienfuegos
for Santiago. and we started to get out.
The news had come too late. as Schley
had left couple of his ships to act as de-
coys before Cienfuegos and in the mean
time had come down here.
"On Sunday morning, May q, We found
Schley blocking our way. 1t was then
Cerveras intention to come out and give
battle, but General I.inares and the citi-
zens objected and we stayed
What about the Hobson expedition"
was asked.
well, we were very much surprised and
at first alarmed. believing that a torpedo
boat attack was coming. The shore bat
teries opened up and the ships used their
rapid-fire guns. The dynamos were not
going, however. and We had no searchiights
so that we could not find the object. We
did not sink her with our batteries or our
mines. She sunk herself with her own tor
pedoes by blowing out her bottom. Ad-
miral Cervera, in making tour Of the
shore batteries in a steam launch little
later. found Hobson swimming in the
entrance and trying to get out to sea. He
had on a life preserver and when picked
up asked that they save his companions.
This was done, all Of the men being in the
water and not on raft, as has been said. y
Then Mr.. Centrores began the most inter-
esting part of his narrative, that relating
to the movements of Cervera. He said:
admiral Cervera, after the arrival of
a great American fleet. did not believe it
wise to go out and try to fight it. He
argued that the best policy for the fleet
was to hold the harbor against the enc
my and be ready, by an enfilading fire
over the hill, to drive back the invading
army. AT first the people in Santiago
believed this wise, but provisions ran short,
and dispatch after dispatch came from
Madrid, where public sentiment demand
ed a naval battle. On Saturday last a
conference was called on the flagship
Maria Teresa and all the officers of the
fleet were present. Admiral Cervera an
nounced his intention of going out and 1t
was decided to try II that night.
Just after dark and after the ships had
got their anchors ready to start. beach
lights were seen on the western hill and
1t was decided that the American fleet had
been warned Of our intention and would
close in on us. In addition to that, it was
found that the searchlights flashed in the
entrance from the American ships would
prevent us steaming by the Merrimac
wreck. where there was a very narrow
channel. 1t was afterward. too late. learned
that the supposed signal lights were insur-
gents burning up blockhouses.
THE order Of coming out and the tactics
to be employed were these: The Maria
Teresa, carrying Admiral Cerveras flag
was to go first, and then was to follow the
Vizcaya, the Oquendo and the Cristobal
Colon. The torpedo boat destroyers Furor
and Pluton were to come out last and run
inside of the ships, which were to hug the
shore to the west. The west end Of the
blockading station was chosen because 1,
was tnOugnt tnat the bfOOklyn. DelnS u&nt
| in protection would be the easiest to sink
| ard. as she was fast, would be best out OF
| the way
Then one of the other officers added:
I'VE never thought the Brooklyn's bat
| terry was so terrible or that she would at
| tempt to fight all of US. She was frightful
sight when all her guns were going"
Continuing. the commander said:
''On Sunday morning, the lookouts re-
ported that the Mars, New Orleans and
New York were not In sight. and it was
concluded that it was good time to make
| the start. We were the last ship out and
| we saw at once that the Brooklyn, Texas
and Oregon were doing dreadful work with
| the two leading ships. That is all 1 know
] of the battle. except that two eight-inch
shells from the Brooklyn went through us
and a thirteen-inch she'll from the Oregon
| hit us in the stern. We saw no other ships
than those in the last two hours, but we
had to make such a long detour in goins
| out that We thought best to surrender.
He waited a moment and said:
'Brazzey's Annual puts the Oregon down
at fifteen knots, but she was doing more
| than that when she shased us."
All Of the officers captured were pretty
well broken up over the affair. They said
| they had not heard from home for three
| months. None of the ofdcers of the Colon
| was killed