The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-28

they never did. Stationed close to the
entrance of the port were three picket
launches, and at a little distance far
Their out three small picket vessels
usually converted yachts-and when
they were available, one or two of our
torpedo boats. With this arrangement
there was at least a certainty that moth
ing could get out of the harbor unde-
tected. After the arrival of the army
when the situation forced upon the
Spanish admiral a decision, our Wig
ilance increased. The night bIockading
distance was reduced to two miles for
all vessels, and a battleship was placed
alongside the searchlight ship with the
broadstde trained upon the channel in
readiness to fire the instant Spanish
ship should appear. The commanding
officers merit the greatest praise for
the perfect manner in which they en-
tered into this plan and put it into ex-
ecution. The Massachusetts, who, &C
cOrding to routine, was sent that morn
ing to coal at Guantanamo, like the
others, had spent weary nights upon
this work and deserved a better fate
than to be absent that morning. en-
close for the information of the de-
partment copies of orders and nemoran-
dums issued from time to time, relating
to the manner of maintaining the block
ade.
Praise For the Oregon.
13. When all the work was done so
praise. The object of the blockade of
CerVera's squadron was fully accom-
pHshed, and each individual bore well
his part in 1.-THE commodore in COM
mand on the second division, the cap
tains of ships, their officers and men.
The fire of the battleships was powerful
and destructive, and the resistance of
the Spanish squadron was, in great
part, broken almost before they had
got beyond the range of their own forts.
The fine speed of the Oregon enabled
her to take a front position in the chase
and the CriStobal Colon did not give up
until the Oregon had thrown a 13-inch
shell beyond her. This performance
adds to the already brilliant record of
this fine battleship, and speaks highly
OF the skill and care with which her
admirable efficiency has been main
tanned during a service unprecedented
in the history of vessels Of her class.
The BrOOzlyn's westerly blOckading
position gave her an advantage in the
chase which she maintained to the end,
and she employed her fine battery with
telling effect. The Texas and New
York were gaining on the chase during
the last hour and had any accident be-
fallen the Brooklyn or the oregon
would have speedily Overhauled the
CristObal Colon. From the moment the
Spanish vessel exhausted her first burst
of speed the result was never in doubt.
She fell, in fact, far below what might
be reasonably expected of her Careful
measurements of time and distance give
she cleared the harbor mouth until the
time she was run on shore at Rio Tar
quinO-Of 1871 knots. Neither the New
York nor the Brooklyn stopped. to
couple up their forward engine, but ran
out the chase with one pair, getting
steam, of course, as rapidly as possible
on all boilers. To stop to couple up the
forward engines would have meant
delay of fifteen minuteS-Or four miles
in the chase.
IA Several Of the ships were struck,
the Brooklyn more often than the 9TH
ers, but very slight material injury was
done, the greatest being aboard the
Iowa. Our loss was one man killed and
one wounded, both on the Brooklyn. 1t
is difficult to explain this immunity
from loss of life or injury to ships in a
combat with modern vessels Of the best
type; but Spanish gunnery is poor at
the best, and the superior weight and
accuracy of our fire speedily drove the
men from their guns and SIlenced their
fire This is borne out by the state
ments of prisoners and by observation.
The Spanish vessels as they dashed out
of the harbor, were covered with the
smoke from their own guns, but this
speedily diminished in volume and soon
almost disappeared. The fire from the
rapid fire batteries Of the battlesh1ps
appears to have been remarkably des-
trlctive. An eXaminatiO of the strand
ed vessels shows that the Almirante
Oquendo especially had suffered terribly
from this fire. Her sides are every
where pierced and her decks were
strewn with the charred remains of
those who had fallen.
IS The reports of Commodore w. 5.
Schley and of the commanding ofncers
are enclosed.
16. A board, appointed by me several
days ago, has made a critical examina-
ton of the vessels, both with a view OF
ranOrtine- upon the result of our fire
and the military features involved, and
of reporting upon the chances Of saw
ine. any of them and of wrecking the
The report of the board will
he sneediIy forwarded. Very respect
fully, w. L. SAMP9ON'
Rear Admiral United States Navy.
Observation-Disclosures United States
naval forces, North Atlantic station
THE secretary of war, navy depart
ment, Washington, D. G.