The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-12-07
LOW FIGURE ON
SPANISH LOSSES,
Second in Command to Toral ReckOns
His Casualties at About Seven
Hundred.
COULp HAVE RESISTED LONG.

de Caba, by Lieutenant Jose Muller y
TejeIro, the second in command Of the
naval forces Of the province of Santiago
de Cuba" Captain Clover, chief of
the intelligence bureau, explains In an
Introductory note that the writer was
an eye witness Of most of the events
that he describes, aud had access to
official information.
The style is peculiarly interesting,
free from bias, and has an air Of au-
thentieity. The author began to keep
an exact diary of events at Santiago
from the moment Of the appearance
there Of Cervera's fleet.
The publication begins with chap
ter on ''fhe Two Fleets" telling of the
arrival of Cervera's May 10. and Of the
disappointment Of the people, who ex-
pected no less than eight ships, instead
Of five. He makes a comparison accu-
rately of the vessels Of the two squad
rons.
The lieutenant mentioned that pro-
visions were short, also that the militia
~ element of the province were nine
OF ten months in arrears in the pay
ment Of cOnsignments, aud had been
living on credit for some time. Every
thing was lacking food, money, credit
aud purchasing resources were exhaust
ed What happened at Santiago was
true Of the other places in the islands
The merchants hid whatever they had
and raised prices.
WHY THE FLEET STAYED N.
He speak OF the difficulties OF coal
ing, and shows thst the feet was bad
ly supplied. Concerning the opinions
as to why the fleet did not go out, be
refers to the great joy caused by its ar
rival, and then says that the ships in
the harbor were compelling the enemy
to sustain with superior forces the
blockade with all its difficulties and
dangers. It was not believed that the
American ships would expose them
selves to serious disaster or would force
any one Of the ports which were b-ing
blockaded. The Spanish ships did not
have t. give battle in order to obtain
results, and be says that II provisions
had not been wanting in Santiago and
the Spanish fleet had remained there
no ons could tell to what extremes inn
patience and despair might not have
carried admiral Sampson.
a diary OF the blockade is given
The movement Of ths American ships
was puzzle 10 the Spsniards as they
did not know why they remained on
watch sll day and disappeared at night,
But it wassupposad thatthe Americans
were afraid of the destrOyers Speak
ing of the Merrinac, be says: 1--WE A.
Santiago have not succeeded in ascer-
timing definitely y-:ao1gh it is probi-
bly, known IN Spain from American
newspapers that are in the habit of
publishing everything-what was the
real object that the Merrimac had in
view"
SCARED By THE ARMY.
The arrival OF the army created con-
sternation in Santiago and speculation
As 70 whore the army would land. Pro-
visions were still running short, aud it
is stated that if FL Caney and San Juan
had not been taken the Spaniards would
not have lost cOnmanication with the
cultivated region, nor would the aque-
daet have been cut. The small mum
Der Of the Spanish forces made it inn
possible to save these positions
He speaks Of the destructive work OF
the Vesuvius whenever the bombs fell
upon any point where there were works
or guns.
Speaking OF the battles of Ell Caney
and San Juan, be says the Americans.
fought with truly admirable courage
and spirit. While the battles were
going on at FL Caney and San Juan
the enemy sent forces against the whole
Spanish line, for the purpose, no doubt.
Of hara ssing and making the attack
more general The casualties of the
Spanish side was stated to be 60 officers
and $50 me1. II claimed that only
52D men defended Fl Caney for ten
hours, an that 2j9 defended San Juan
for four hours.
He speaks ofthe lively bombardment
by SEA aud land July ., and the sortie
Of the Spanish fleet July 5. he speaks
Of the action Of the Spanish admiral as
one Of the greatest acts Of valor. For
soms time the Spanisrds did not know
whether the ships had suec esded in
making their escape, bat having been
informed that they had, there was
great rejoicing. Il was at 6 o'clock
that the pilot came ia and informed
them that the Teresa, Oquendo and the
destroyers had been lost.
AMERICANS FIRE RAPID.
.The.coolness and courage of Admir- ]
Cervera is noted. The fire Of the Span
ish ships was said 10 have been slow,
while that Of the American ships was
very brisk. In discussing the disaster,
he says taAt the loss Of the feet had
been fOretold by all its commanders
The feet received dsfnits orders from
the captain general OF Clba to leave
Santiago, in spite Of Admiral CerverA's
remonstranees.
He says the Spanish are proud Of The
disaster Of Trafalgar on account Of the
heroism Of the navy, bat the battle Of
Santiago IS m1ch more glorious. Tae
Mercedes was sunk in the narrow part
Of the channel - preveat the Ameri-
can fleet from entering.
He then takes up the narrative OF
the conditions ia the city, and what
was done from July 4 until thesur
render, whicl includes the bombard-
ments. Al the time Of the surrender
there were 9, 100 sick and wounded sol.
diers Of the Spanish army. The total
losses in all the attacks on Santiago
are given as folloEs: Officers killed,
70 men killed. 107 Officers wounded,
So; men WOUNDED, 556 prisoners and
missing, officers and lie men,
He closes the account Of the naval
bsttle Of Santiago, saying: al havs
never been able to understand the rea-