The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-13

HIS squadron Would Escape
Americans Praised for Their HUI
manfty Fatal Orders Sent by
BIanco-The Plan Was TO Run
and Not to Fight.
WASHINGTON, Nov. I'm his Of
fetal report to the Spanish minister of
marine describing the battle of San
tiago, Admiral Cervera gives high
praise TO the humane and courteous
treatment accorded him and his sub
| crdinates by the American authorities.
He speaks of the efforts made by the
! Iowa and Gloucester &c save life, of the
| solicitude shown by the Americans for
the comfort of those whom they had
taken prisoners. and. finally, OF the
generosity of the Yfctors in providing
so Hospitality for them in the United
| States
Admiral Cervera's report was for
warded to Spain through the navy de-
partment, having been translated In
order that no information OF a char
acter valuable TO the enemy might
reach Madrid. A copy Of the transla-
ton has been retained at the depart
ment. and Secretary Long has repeat
eddy declined TO make IL public. From
other sources. however. the facts in
Admiral Ceryera's report have been Sc
cured.
The report includes the reports made
to the commander in chief of the
squadron by the officers who command
ed the Spanish ships during the action.
but they. however. are withheld from
publication at this time.
Admiral Cervera states that he left
the harbor OF Santiago de Cuba at $3.50
on the morning OF July 3, first tele-
graphing 10 Capt Gen. Blanco:
In compliance with the orders Of your ex-
cellency. and appreciating the fate that vii
befall my squadron, as ] have already an
nounced, leave the bay of Santiago on Ju y
for the sea.
The order OF sailing" the admiral
In his report continues. had been fixed
as follows: In the first place the IN
fanta Maria Teresa. and afterward,
IN this order, the Vizcaya, Colon and
| Oquendo, and lastly the destroyers, all
going under full steam and proceeding
as rapidly as possible. The Maria
Teresa was TO commence the battle.
giving the other ships the direction 10
the westward"
That he was justified In taking this
action, the admiral states, is shown by
the praise which he has received from
American officers
THE destToyers were not to take
miral. nor, in fact. were any OF the
ships. the plan being TO make our es-
cape as best we could and avoid en-
gaginE the enemy IL possible.
OPENING OF THE ATTACK.
1T was about twenty-five minutes TO
10 In the morning when the Maria
Teresa attacked and opened fire upon
the enemys battle ship OF the type OF
the Indiana and upon the Iowa.
launching herself particularly against
the Brooklyn. which was the most dan
gerous obstacle in our path. The
Brooklyn was stationed on the right
side OF the mouth of the bay, and her
great speed gave her an advantage
which made her especially dangerous
TO my command. The remainder OF the
ships We're at this time attacking other
vessels OF the enemy"
Admiral Cervera gives a list OF the
vessels comprising the powerful Ameri-
can fleet which he was compelled to
engage, and especially calling attention
to the armored cruiser New York,
which carried the flag OF Rear Ad-
miral Sampson; the Brooklyn. flying
the flag OF Commodore Schley, and the
battle ships Iowa, Oregon, Indiana and
Texas.
"Realizing what the departure OF
my squadron would mean" continues
the report, Il took the course which l
Ind determined upon before sailing.
fully understanding the desperateness
OF the venture and appreciating before
hand what the result would be. The
American men-of-war were alongside
OF our ships. and after a short time the
battle became general
The result OF the ihttle was never
In doubt, but I never thought that my
vessels would be so quickly destroyed.
The eneny's fire produced terrible In
furles on board the Maria Teresa, de-
stroying her auxiliary steam pipes and
Ere mains. In such q horrible moment
! the commander OF the Teresa, Com
mander Conca, feel, wounded. and IL
was necessary 10 remove him. / myself
took command of the ship.
The dead and wounded We're failing
without cessation. shortly afterward I
was informed that, in consequence OF
the explosion OF a shell OF 81 millme-
ters. my apartments had taken fire.
The fire. which soon spread. commence
ed at the same time on the other side
OF the ship. also as r result OF the eX-
| plcsion OF a shell. Sufficient water could
not be obtained 10 keep the flames I'M
der control
STRANDS HIS SHIP.
II gave Instructions TO my adjutant
to open the valves Of the after part OF
/ the SHIP but IL was impossible 10 do
I 50. a thick wall OF smoke prevented
passage through the ship below deck.
! and my Instructions could not be car
\ rled out. In view Of the utter inpos-
/ sibility Of defending the ship any long
/ er in such q position, she was directed
with the greatest rapidity TO the shore
10 the westward OF the Cabraera.
/ where she was stranded at the same
moment that her machinery stopped
The second and third commanders
agreed with me that Il was impossible
longer 10 prolong the fight. We pro-
/ posed TO haul down the flag but il was
Z impossible on account az the great head
way made by the flames. AT this tims
I the fire had nnde sGch headway that n
( became necessary 10 abandon the sl,ir,
/ and those who were able 10 do so threw
/ themselves into the water, where they
! were saved by two American boats
/ which had approached"
Admiral Cervera here gives tbs
inEnes OF wounded and dead officers OF
I the Teresa
/ A Spanish boat was lowered In The
| water, but filled on account Of the In
| turles II had sustained under the ter
rtne IRE OF the American ships. An
ether steam launch met the same fate
The admiral then jumped into ths
water, followed by his son ard two SER
seSnts.
HELPED BY A SAILOR.
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