Connecticut western news., 1898-07-28
Commanding omcers Praised.

The commanding officers merit great praeee for the perfect manner In which they entered Into this plan and put it into execution. The Massachusetts, which. according to routine. was sent that morning to coal al Guantanamo, like the others had spent weary nights upon this work and deserved a better fate than to he absent that mornins I inclose for the information of the de- partment copies of orders and memo randums issued from time Ia time re- lating tu the manner of maintaining the blockade.
 When all the york was done 30 we'll, 1t is difficult to discriminate in praise. The object of the blockade of Cervera's squadron was fully accomplished. and each individual bore we'll his part in It. the commodore in command of the Sec ond division. the captains of ships, their officers and men. The fire of the battleships was powerful and destruc- tive, and the resistance of the spanish squadron wac in great part broken al- most before they had got beyond the range of their own forts. The fine speed of the Oregon enabled her to take a front position fin the chase. and the Cristobal Colon did not give up until the Oregon had thrown a l3 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 maintained 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 the 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 Cristobal 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 reasonably have been expected of her
 The Speed of the cristobal Colon.
 Careful measurements of time and distance gave her an average speed. from the time she cleared the harbor mouth until the time she was run on shore at Rio Tarquino. of lS7 knots. Neither the New York nor the Brooklyn stopped to couple up their forward en- gines, but ran out the chase with one pair. getting steam, of course. as rapid ly as possible on all boilers. To stop to couple up the Sbrward engines would have meant delay of five minutes, or four miles in the chaee.
 Several of the ships were struck. the Brooklyn more often than the others, 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. It is difficult to explain this immunity from loss of life or Injury to chips in combat with modern vessels of the best 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 moke from their own guns but this speedily diminished in volume and soon almost disappeared. The lire from the rapid fire batteries of the battleships appears to have been remarkably de- structive. An examination of the stranded vessels shows that the Al- mirante oquendo especially had suf- fered terribly from this fire. Her sides are everywhere pierced. and her decks were strewn with the charred remains of those who had fallen.
 The reports of Commodore W. g. Schley and the commanding officers are inclosed.
 Extract From sohieys Report.
 In the course of his report to Admiral Sampson, Commodore Schley says:
 T would mention for your considera- ton that the Brooklyn occupied the most westward blockadins position. with the Vixen, and being more directly in the route taken by the Spanish squad ron. was exposed for some minutes. pos sibly ten. to the gun fire of three of the Spanish ships and the weet battery nt a range of l,500 yards from the ships and about 5000 yards from the batter les, but the vessels of the entire squad- ron. closing in rapidly. soon diverted this fire and did magnificent work at close range. I have never before wit messed such deadly and fatally accu- rate shooting as was done by the ships of your command as they closed in on the Spanish squadron, and deem it high privilege to commend to you for suCn ACtlon hS you may ueetn proper the gallantry and dashing courage. the prompt decision and skillful handling of their respective vessels of Captain Philip. Captain Evans, Captain Clark and especially of my chief of stan, Cap tain Cook. who was directly under my personal observation and whose cool ness, promptness and courage were of the highest order.
 'T congratulate you most sincerely upon this great victory to the squadron under your command. and I am glad that had an opportunity to contribute in the least to a victory that seems big enough for all of us.
 'T cannot close this report. without mentioning in high terms of praise the splendid conduct and support of Cap tain c. E. Clark of the Oregon. Her speed was wonderful and her accurate fire splendidly destructive"
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