The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-22
ENSIGN WARD THE MAN
UNDER DISGUISE IN THE ENE-
MY'S COUNTRY.
EXPLOITS IN SPAIN AND WEST INDIES
Kept Our Navy Informed Of Enemy's Move
mems. MonIo's Vivid Picture Of his
Battle With Dewey, Dewey's
W;o,Ae nc pb;Iinn,ooc
Views of Philippines,

views vi Hiiipp'tlcS'
Washington, Dee. 21.-The official re-
ports OF all commanding officers Of the
navy during the war have been com
piled and published by the Navy De
partment. While treating of events
that have already figured in official re-
ports that have reached the public, the
documents still contain many minor
reports that throw side lights on in
teresting phases of the war. Almost in
the beginning, in the brief record of the
proceedings of the Naval War Board,
an unknown hero is brought to light in
the person of Ensign III. I'll. Ward, who
ut the beginning OF the war was on
duty in the Navigation Bureau, alter
mating with Lieutenant Whittlesey in
the heavy duties of assistant to the
chief of the bureau. He volunteered
for secret service duty, and his exploits
about which nothing has been said in
the past may well he placed on record
beside those of Lieutenant Whitney in
Porto Rico. Within a week after the
declaration of war Ensign Ward dis
guised himself and went right into the
heart of the cnemy's country, making
his headquarters in Cadiz the prnci-
pal Spanish naval station, and inform
ing the Navy Department here Of the
actual strength Of the Spanish naval
vessels and their movements. Then he
went to the West Indies and reported
everything that was going on there of
Importance TO the American Navy Next
he went again into the enemy's country
in disguise, this time to Porto Rico,
where he was arrested as Il suspicious
character and spy. BY adroitness
he managed to secure his release and
escaping from San Juan, cabled the
Navy Department a fri account of
Navy Department IL full account of
preparations making for the reception
Of the Spanish squadron under Cervera.
All this time even the officials of the
Navy Department were under the inn
preston that Mr.. Ward was engaged
in installing a system of coast signals
on the New England coast.
While Ward was in Porto Rico En-
sign Buck, another attache of the Nav
gation Bureau, was on the shores Of
the Mediterranean in disguise watching
every movement of the squadron of
Admiral Ceryera, which started for the
Philippines, but turned back. At the
strategy board itself it is said that it'll
was part of it's duty to keep informed
of all of the movements. resources and
plans of the Spanish naval forces
through secret agents and it is known
that the navy was thus informed of all
important movements At times. how
ever, information was conflicting and
decisions had to be made as to which
report was true.
The reports of the famous naval bat
tie of Cavite include one from United
States Consul Williams, rather un
usual thing i'll a report of strictly
naval character but fully justified by
its picturesque and untechnical descrip-
ton of Dewey's great victory Follow
ing it is report to his Government on
the came engagement by the commander
in chief of the ill-fated Spanish fleet. |
Montiio. The Admiral depicts the bad
condition Of the Spanish feet and de-
fenses. He says that the cruiser Cas- |
tilla was incapable of manoeuyering on
account of her bad condition, while the
defcnses at the entrance to Subig Bay |
We're very backward. With much dis
gust he found that the guns which |
should have been mounted were delayed I
month and a half and he was no
less disgusted to find that reliance was
had for the defence of the port upon |
few torpedoes, not properly placed. |
Finding Subi@ Bay defenceless the Span |
ish squadron repaired to the bay of |
Manila to meet battle under less unfa-
yorable conditions The Admiral avoid |
ed the city. not wishing to draw fire
upon it, and prepared his fleet for ac-
ton, painting his vessels n dark gray
and having the fires spread and springs
ON the cables. He says that the force
of Dewey's vessels leaving out trans
ports amounted to y ,4f0 tons, 1890
horse power, 1863 guns (many rapid hrel,
1,750 men and an average of velocity
Of seventeen miles. Against this the
power of his five effective ships was
10,111 tons, II 200 horse power. I6 guns
(very short of rapid fire., 1879 crews
and maximum speed of II miles. The
Admiral describes in vivid language the
terrible effect of the American on
slaught on the Spanish vessels He
says:
'.The Americans fred most rapidly.
There came upon us numerous pr0jec-
tiles. as the three cruisers at the end Of
the line devoted themselves almost en-
tirely to fighting the Christina, my flag
ship. A short time after the action
commenced one shell exploded in the
forecastle and put out Of action all of
those who served the four rapid fire
cannons; meantime another shell explo-
ded in the Orlop, setting fire to the
crews bags; at 1:30 one shell destroyed /