Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-07-27

Department today made pubIc the re-
port Of admiral Sampson the de-
struction of Cervera's fleet, off Santi-
ago, July 3. 1t is as follows:
r'Cnitcd States flagship New York. first
rate. off Santiago de Cuba. july 10,
1855.
Sir: have the honor 70 make the
following report upon the battle with
and The destruction of the Spanish
squadron commanded by Admiral Ger
vera. off Santiago de Cuba, On july
Bird. 1883
Tine enemy's vessels came out of the
harbor between $50 and 10 a. NJ, the
head of the column appearing arolnu
4 Cayo Smith at 9:3l, and emerging from
the channel five minutes later.
The position of the vessels OF rly
command on Santiago at that moment
were as follows: The flagship NV
York was four miles: east of the block
aiding squadron and about seven niles
from the harbor entrance. She had
started for Siboncy, where l intended
to land. accompanied by several ai
my STAFF. and go to the front to consult
with General Srofter. \ discussion OF
the situation and Il more definite under
standing between the operations pro
posed had been rendered necessary by
the unexpected resistance of the Span
ish garrison of Santiago de Cuba I
had sent my chief officer on shore the
day before TO arrange an interview
With General Shafter. who had hern
3 'uAlei iAif5 ~ oiH Llefl pTOSlIlllon. 1
made arrangements to got to his head
quarters. and my flagship was in the
position mentioned above when the
Spanish squadron appeared in tho
channel The remaining vessels were
IN or near the usual blockadinE posi-
tons. distributed in a semi-circlc abou,
4 the harbor entrance. counting from
the eastward to the westward in the
following ORDER:
The Indiana about mile and a half
from shore. the Oregon. the New York
placed between these two-lowa, Texas
and Brooklyn. the latter two miles
from the shore west'of Santiago. The
distance OF the vessels from the. Mar
Dor entrance was from TWO and one
half miles to four miles. the latter being
the limit of day blockading distance
The length of the arc formed by 1L.
vessels was about eight miles The
massachusetts, had left at A. NJ for
guantanamo for coal. Her station was
between the Iowa and Texas. The
4 auxiiiaries Gloucester and Vixen lay
close to the land and nearer the har-
Dor entrance than the large Vessels
the Gloucester to the eastward ana the
Vixen to the westward. The torpedo
8: boat Ericsson was In company with the
flagship and remained with her during
the chase until ordered to discontinue.
when she rendered very efficient scrv-
ices IN rescuing prisoners rrom the
81 burning Fizcaya. l enclose a diagram
showing approximately the positions OF
the vessels as described above.
-Four of the Spanish vessels moved
rapidly out of the harbor at a speed cs-
timated from to 10 knots in the fol-
lowing order: lnfanta Maria Teresa
tfiagshiD), Vizcaya, CriStobal Colon and
the Almirante Oqucndo. The distance
between these ships was abou, 500
yards, which mcans that. from the time
the first one became visible In the upper
reach of the channel until the last enc
was out Of the harbor. an interval OF
"a ,yy,yy
Following the Oquendo at Il distance of
about 200 yards came the torpedo
boat destroyer Pluton and after her
the Furor. The armorcd cruisers. AS
rapidly as they could bring their guns
to bear, opened u vigorous fire upon
the bockading vessels ana emerged
from the channel shrouded in the smoke
from their guns
rave or the men in our ships In
port all day Sunday were ut quarters
for Inspection.
The signal was made simultaneously
from several vessels "Enemy's ships
escaping" and general quarters" was
sounded. The men chcercd as they
sprang to their guns. and fire was
opened probably within eight minute.
by the vessels whose gums commanded
the entrance. The New York turned
about ana steamed for the escaping
fleet. tlying the signal Close in toward
harbor entrance and attack vessels .
and gradually Increased speed un.l to-
ID,
Waius me emu OF the chase she was
iiianiis i" - khots ana rapidly clos
ing on tne the ':flSl"bal Colon. She
was not at any time within range OF
me iieaVy spanish SHIPS. and her only
Pail ~ 5he nrlng was to receive the
10 undivided attention from the forts in
passing the harbor entrance and to fire
:, isW SHOTS AT one OF the deStroyers.
.,M ~ az: ~ lnc moment to be escaping.
the harb"r, turned to the westward.
t,, .is''is lHt't si,Geu 70 lhc luil power
1870, - ..'s,,. ei.silitS Inc heaVy blockadilE
nSor'.l. Hiiiei! n,au c''sGu IN toward
- =" !" . tile ils'a on me ehenEs APP
go n.y. a'iu q, thelf pest speed deLv-
:, 'sa d iai'lc nre' wen sustained and
obstructive, winch soon overcame and
"i.e e,r, me spanish tre-
u, 'la'ia'ihs ana Sailant
..5'i,;,II, Sl tne gloucester tSciteh the
=, "a a ~, - one VINO Witnessed
S n,,o 1 ,ilei'ls .te commentator OF tn.
~, ,oSp .. .lilell. one rs a last and
~ s's uilpiotesteo auSlilary vessel
lI