The age-herald., 1898-07-27

ment today made public the full reports of Admiral Sampson. Commodore Schley, Capt Clark of the Oregon and Capt. Evans of the Iowa on the battle of July Sd which resulted in the destruction of Cervera squardon Theyare as follows
 United States flagship New York, hrst class, off Santiago de Cuba, July 15 1893.
 Sir:-I have the honor to make the fol- lowing report upon the battle with and the destruction of the Spanish squadron, com manded by Admiral Cervera, off Santiago de Cuba on Sunday. July 3, 1898.
 9 The enemy's vesseles came out of the harbor between 9:35 and 10 a. m., the head of the column appearing around Cayo Smitha 9:31, and emerging from the chan mel five or six minutes later
 3. The position of the vessels of my com mand off Santiago at that moments were as follows: The flagship New York was four miles east of her blockading station and about seven miles from the harbor en- trance. She had started for Siboney where 1 intended to land, accompanied by several of my staff, and go to the front to con suit with Gen. Shafter. discussion of the situation and more definite under standing between us of the operations pro- posed had been rendered necessary by the strong resistance of the Spanish garrison of Santiago. I esnt my chief of staff on shore the day before to arrange for an in terview with Gen. Shafter, who had been suffering from heat prostrations. ] made arrangements to go to his head quarters and my flagship was in the posi- ton above stated when the Spanish squad ron appeared in the channel. The remain ing vessels were in or near their usual blockading positions, distributed in a semi circle about the harbor entrance, counting from the eastward to the westward in the following order:
 Position of the Ships
 The Indiana about a mile and half from shore, the Oregon, the New York place between these two; the Iowa, Texas and Brooklyn, the latter two miles from
 the shore of Santiago. The distance of the vessels from the harbor entrance was from two and one-haif to four mes-the latter being the limit of day blockading distance. The length of the arc formed by the ships was about eight mics. The Massachusetts had left at a. m for Guantanamo for coal. Her station was be- tween the Iowa and Texas. The auxil- iaries Gloucester and Vixen lay close to the land and nearer the harbor entrance than the larger vessels, the Gloucester to the eastward and the Vixen to the west ward The torpedo boat Ericsson was in company with the flagship and remained with her during the chase until ordered to discontinue, when she rendered very effl- cient service in rescuing prisoners from the burning Vizcaya. I enclose diagram showing approximately the positions or the vessels as described above.
 1. The Spanish vessels came rapidly out of the harbor at a speed of eight to ten knots, and in the following order: h. fanta Maria Teresa (fagship). Vizcaya. Cristobol Colon and the Almirante Oquen- Jn diatap these ShiDS about 800 yards. which means that from the time the first one became visible in the upper reach of the channel until the last one was out of the harbor an interval of only about twelve minutes elapsed. Following the Oquendo at a distance of about 200 wards came the torpedo boat destroyer Fulton. and after her the Furore. The armored cruisers as rapidly as they could bring their guns to bear, opened vigorous fire upon the bockading vessels and emerged from the channel shrouded in the smoke of their guns.
 The Signal Given
 ,. The men of our ships in front of the port were at Sunday quarters for inspec- tion The signal was made simultaneously from several vessels. "Enemy's ships es- caping" and general quarters were sound ed. The men cheered as they spfang 10 their guns. and fire was opened probably within eight minutes by the vessels whose 
 York turned about and steamed for the es- | capng fleet flying the signal, "Close in to- wards harbor entrance and attack vessels v and gradually increasing speed unt.l toward the end of the chase she making 161s knots and was rapidly closing in on the Cristobal Colon. She was not at any time within the range of the heavy Spanish ships. and her only part in the firing was to receive the undivided fire from the forts in passing the harbor entrance, and to fire few shots at one of the destroyers, thought at the moment to be attempting to escape from the Gloucester. The Spanish vessels, upon clearing the harbor, turned to the westward .fh column, increasing their speed to the full power of their engines. The heavy blockading vessels which had closed in toward the Morro at the instant of the enemies appearance and at their best speed deliverd a rapid fir, well sus- | taind and destructive, then speedily over l whelmed and silenced the Spanish fire. l The initial speed of the Spaniards carried | them rapidly past the blockading vessels, l and the battle developed into chase. in which the Brooklyn and Texas had tie | starting advantage of position. The Brook l lyn maintained this lead. the Oregon steam- l ing with amazing speed from the com mencement of the action took first place. | The Iowa and the Indiana have done good work. and not having the sped of the other ships were directed by me in succession at  1 about the time the Vizcaya was beached | to drop out of the chase and resume block ading stations. These vessels rescued many
 prisoners The Vixen, finding that the rush 1 of the Spanish ships would have her be- 1 tween two fires, ran outside of our own
 column and remained there during the 1 battle and chase.
 l The Gallant Gloucester
 1 T. The skilfu handling and gallant fight 1 ing of the Glocesier excited the admiration l of every one who witnessed 1t and merits | the commendation of the navy department. | She is a fast and entirely unprotected aux | Hilary vessel--the yacht Corsair-and has a good battery of light rapid-fire guns. She | was lying two miles from the harbor en- trance to the southward and eastward and l immediately steamed in. opening fire upon 1 the large ships Anticipating the appear | ance of the Futon and Furor. the Glou- 1 cester was slowed here. gaining more rap l idly a high pressure of steam. and when l the destroyers came out she steamed for 1 them at full speed and was able to close | at sbort rnnoe whore her fra accurat. 4,