The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-27
SPA|N'S SDNNEN SHIPS
Stories of the Battle by
Sampson and SChIGy.
EVERY NAN DID HIS DUTY.
Admiral Finds It Difficult to Dis
Criminats.

Makes No Especial Mention of the
Commodore, But Acknowledges
the Good Work of His Sbip-Be-
slows Especial Praise on the Ore
CONS WOrI-Comm schIey
Praises the Work of the Men on
the brooklyn in the Highest
Terms and Mentions Several of the
Officers by Name--AIsO Puts in n
Good Word for the Oregon.
washington. July 26-The navy depart
ment to-day made public the report of Ad
miral Sampson on the destruction of
Cervera's squadron off Santiago, July 3,
1t is as follows:
United States Flagship New York,
First Rate, Off Santiago de Cuba, July is,
1S9S.-Slr: 1 have the honor to make the
following report upon the battle with and
the destruction of the Spanish squadron
commanded by Admiral Cervera off Santi-
ago de Cuba on Sunday, July 3, 1885
Second. The enemy's vessels came out
of the harbor between 9:35 and 10 a. M,
the head of the column appearing around
Cayo Smith at 9:31 and emerging from the
channel five or six minutes later
Third. The positions of the vessels of
my command off Santiago at that moment
were as follows: The flagship New York
was four miles east of her blockadlng sta
ton and about seven miles from the har-
Dor entrance. She had started for sibo-
ney, where 1 intended to land accompa-
MED by several of my staff, and go to the
front to consult with Gen Shafter A
discussion of the situation, ana more
! definite understanding between us of the
operations proposed, had been rendered
necessary by the Unexpectedly strong re-
sistance of the Spanish garrison Of San
tago. 1 had sent my chief of STAFF on
shore the day before to arrange an inter-
view with Gen. Shafter, who has been
suffering from heat prostration.
Il made arrangements to go to his head
quarters and my flagship was In the posi-
ton mentioned above when the Spanish
squadron appeared In the channel.
THE remaining vessels were In or near
their usual blockading positions; distrib-
uted in a semi-circle about the harbor en-
trance, counting from the eastward 10 the
westward in the following order: The In
DIANA about a mile and a half from shore;
the Oregon-the New York's place be-
tween these two-the Iowa, Texas and
Brooklyn, the latter two miles from the
shore west of Santiago.
THE distance Of the vessels from the
harbor's entrance was from two and one-
half to four miles, the latter being the
length Of the arc formed by the ships
was about eight miles.
THE Massachusetts, had left at a. m.
for Guantanamo for coal. Her station
was between the Iowa and Texas
THE auxiliaries, Gloucester and Vixen
lay close to the land and nearer the har-
Dor entrance than the large vessels, the
Gloucester TO the eastward and the Vixen
to the westward.
"The torpedo boat Ericsson was in com
pany with the flagship and remained with
her during the chase until ordered to dis
continue when she rendered very efficient
service In rescuing prisoners from the
burning Vizcaya.
Il enclose a diagram showing approxi-
mately the position of the vessels as de-
scribed above
"4.-The Spanish vessels came rapidly
out Of the harbor at a speed estimated al
from to 10 knots, and in the following
order: lnfanta Maria Teresa (hagshipl.
Vizcaya, Cristobal Colon and the Alni-
rante Oquendo. The distance between
these ships was 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 Ouueudo
at a distance of about 100 Yards. came
the torpedo boat destroyer Pluton and
after her the Furor
"The armored cruisers, as RAPIDLY as
they could bring their guns to bear open
ed vigorous fire upon the blockadinR
vessels and emerged from the channel
shrouded in the smoke from their guns.
"5.-The men Of our ships in front of
the port were al Sunday quarters for in
spection. The signal was made sirnultan-
eously from several vessels 'Enemv's
ships escaping and general quarters
were sounded
"The men cheered as they sprane 10
their guns and fire was opened probably
within eight minutes by The vessels whose
guns commanded the entrance.
The New York turned bout and stear,.
ed for the escaping fleet flying the sional
Close In toward harbor entrance ana ~
tack vessels and gradually increasiag
speed until towards The end Of the chaee
she was making 16Ia Knots and was randi
ly closing on the Cristobal Colon gba
was not, az any Time within the range Of
the heavy Spanish ships, and her on4v mart
In the firing was to receive the undivided
fire from the forts In passing the harbor
entrance, and TO fire a few shots ar ,,na
Of the destroyers, thought at the moment
to be attempting 20 escape from the Glo,l-
cester.
'6.-The Spanish vessels. upon clearing
the harbor, turned to the westward Ia
column, increasing their speed 20 the fn1
power OF their engines. The heavy blocK-
aiding vessels, which had closed IN toward
the Morro at the instant OF the enemv'g
appearance, and at their best speed, de-