The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-12-28
SOME FACTS
ABOUT THE WAR.

ABOUT THE WAR.
INTERESTING NAVAL
HISTORY.
Washington, Des. q The Official
reports Of oil sonmandipg officers OF
Abe navy during the wsr have been
ssRplied and published by the navy
,leps While treating Of events
sshat have slready figured in Official
reports that have resched the puhlic che
documents still contains many minor
reports that throw side lights on
intereating phases Ct che war Almost
ia the beginning, 10 the brief record Of
he proceedings Of the naval war
beard. an unknown hero is brought 20
flight IN the person Of Ensign 81 a.
Ward. who at the beginning Of the
Ssar vas on duty 10 the navigation.
bureau. alternating with Lieut..
Whit.lesy in the heavy duties of
sssisssns TO the chief Of the bureau.
He volunteered for secret service duty
and bis exploits, about which nothing
has been said 10 tae past, may we'll be
placed on record beside those Of Lieus.
Rowan in Cubs and Lieut.. Whitney in
Puerto Rico. Wishin week after the
] HE declaration Of wsr Easign Ward
disguised himself and wens right into
: tae heart &c the ensmy's country.
making his headquarters as Cadis, the
principal Spanish naval station, aud
Informing the navy department here Of
she actusi strength of the Spanish naval
vessels and their movements
Then be ueat to the West Indies
and reported everything that was going
sIon there Of importance to the American
navy. Next, he went again isto the
eDemy's country 10 disguise. this time
10 Puerto Rico, where he was arrested
ss suspicious character and spy.
By adrcisness he managed to secure his
release sDd escsping from San Juan
fsabled the Bavy department full
account Of sbe state Of the defesses
shese aud the preparstions making for
the reception Of the Spanish squadron
under Cervera. ALI this time even ehe
officials Of the navy department were
nnder the impression that Mr.. Ward
Nag engaged 10 installing q system Of
coast signals on the New Eogland
coast.
While Ward was in Puerto Rico.
Ersign Buck, smother asssche Of the
navigation bureau, was on the shores
of the Mediterspean 10 disguise
watching every movement Of the squad.
ron Of Admiral Camara. which started
for the Philippines. bus turned back.
Of the strategy board itself it is said
THAT it was par: Of its duty TO Eeep
informed OF all of tSe movements.
resources and plans of she Spanish
naval forces through aecret agents aud
il is known that the Bavy was thus
Informed of ali important movements.
At times, however. Information was
conflicting aud decisions had TO be made
as TO which report was true.
The reports of she famous naval bat.
tie Of Cavi.e including oue from United
States Consul Williams, rather uo-
usual thing in report of strictly
naval character. bat folly justified BY
{ its pictoresque and unsecbaical descrip.
tion Of Dewey's great victory. Fol.
loving i, is a report to bis government
..on the same engagement by the com
mapder- o.cbief of the ill-fated Spanish
aess, MoDtojo. The admiral depicts
the bad condition Of the Spanish feet
aud defeuses. He says that the cruiser
Castillo was incapable Of manoeuveripg
on socouns of her bad condition. while
the defenses at the entrance Of the Su-
big bay we're very backward. With
much disgust be found that the guns
which should have been mounted we're
delayed month and half and be was
20 less disgussed to 6nd that reliance was
had for The defeDse of the port upon a
few sorpedoes. not properly placed
bsFiodiDg Subig y defeoseless the
Spspise squadron repaired to the bay
OF Manils TO nee. battle uuder less no.
favorable conditions. The admiral
avoided the city. not wishing to draw
J Gre upon it, and prepared bis feet for
action, painting bis vessels 10 dark
gray asd having the fires spread and
springs on the cables. He esys that
the force Of Dewey's vessels, leaviDg ous
sraosports. amounted to 81 40 tons.
AZ. .29O borse power, 1853 guns (many
rapid 6re). l.75o men and an average
sss velocity of II miles. Against this
power of bic ouly Eve effective sbips
vas 10, Ill tons. 1920 horse power.
79'guns (vesy short of rapid are),
1875 men. and msxinum speed OF