The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-30
TH2 SPANISH REPORT
Of the Battles Ending in the Sur
render Of Santiago.
HoBsoN's REPORT CONTRIBUTED

| According to tine Spanish Court, Which
Exonerated Of1icers from Blame the
Merrimac Was Sunk by the Reina
Mercedes and Water Batteries.
Washington, Oct. 3O-The bureau of
naval intelligence has made public
very interesting document published in
the official organ of the minister of war
at Madrid and containing the sentence
OF the supreme council in the proceed
ings instituted because of the capitula-
ton of Santiago in the summer of 1898.
The defendants named in the proceed
ings are Jose Toral Velazquez, general
OF division and the successor Of Gen.
eral Linares in command of the Fourth
army corps of Cuba; General Mesa,
chief OF the brigade Of Guantanamo;
Lieutenant Colonel Velarde, military
commander of Baracoa; Lieutenant
Colonel Rafael Algeria, commander of
Sagua de Tanamo; Captain Arturo
Hidalgo, commander of Alto Songo;
Captain Jose Garcia. commander of
San Louis: Captain Romualdo Mar
tinez, commander OF Palma Soriano,
and Captain Clemente Peyro, COM
mander at Ell Cristo. The defendants
named. besides General Tora1, are the
commanders of the outlying military
posts which were included in the
capitulation of Santiago.
The most interesting feature of the
report Is the fact that the court lays
great stress upon the Importance of
the American naval forces and de-
clares that without their cooperation
1t would have been impossible for the
American forces to have compelled the
surrender of Santiago. The sentence
of the court concludes by indicating
General Toral from any censure for the
surrender of the city, stating that he
had used every means of defense re-
CURED by the laws of honor and duty,
as attested by the brilliant battles sus-
tanned from June % to the day of
capitulation and the many casualties
in generals, commanders, officers and
privates during said battles" The
other defendants are exonerated, act
ting under instructions of their COM
handing general, who In turn had the
sanction of his home government for
each step taken.
Before reaching this conclusion,
however, the court goes into what may
be characterized as brief but compre-
hensive history of the whole Cuban
campaign from the Spanish standpoint
1t is declared that during the lombard
ment of Santiago on May 81 about 100
shots were fired by Spanish batteries
and the Colon in space of As min
utes. The fact that the Colon aided
the batteries of the Moro, Socapa and
Punta Gorda during this bombardment
is new. Referring to the sinking of
the Merrimac in the channel at the
mouth of the harbor, the court de-
clares that she was sunk by the COM
bined fire of the Reina Mercedes and
the water batteries, statement not in
agreement with Lieutenant Hobson's
view of the affair on board the Mer-
rimac.
OF the bombardment by the Ameri-
can squadron on June 6 the court
says that over 1900 projectiles were
discharged by the hostile fleet, result
ing in serious injuries to the Reina
Mercedes and the garrison quarters at
Moro. 1t says, however, that no guns
were dismounted by this bombardment.
One chief was killed, however, and
eight men killed, two chiefs. five Of
ficers and 56 men wounded" This is
rather larger casualty list than was
credited to this bombardment at the
time.
Coming down to the fight at Caney,
the court declares that one-half of tho
officers engaged Were either killed or
wounded. 1t points out with pride,
however, that the Spanish artillery
during the mornings fight on July
was able to silence the American bat
terry at Ell Paso and cause 1t to with.
draw.
OF the general engagement on July
it is said that over 500 men and so
chiefs and officers were kill
ed and wounded. 1t is pointed out
that during the engagement of July
only LOO men of the Spanish COM
mand were actively engaged, the
others, it is explained, being to the
westward, occupied in guarding threat
ened points and unable to be of ma
.erial assistance