The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-01
10 FAIED DISASTER
Went SPANS Fleet. Driven
Forth by Fools.
CERVERA'S OWN STORY
Is a Monument to His Govern
ment's Stupidity.

New York. Nov. So-Editorially the
New York Evening Post says: Admiral
Cervera obtained from the queen regent
late in August. permission to publish the
official correspondence relating to the
der his command. The result is volume
of more than 200 pages. a copy of which
has just reached US. II contains many
dispatches which have been published be-
fore, but some which are entirely new.
and in particular several letters which
passed between Admiral Cervera and the
minister of marine before the war broke
out, which are not only new but OF the
deepest interest. The whole is now Of
fered as the apologize of the gallant old
sailor. With a proud humility. al once
digniied and pathetic, he lays before his
fellow-countrymen and the word the
proof that. whoever Numbered. whoever
was the victim of wild illusions. he was
not: but that, throughout his head was
as clear his foresight as keen, as his
heart was stout.
as far as the letters OF 1885 Seer
vera's constant warning to the minister
Of marine was. do everything in reason
or honor to satisfy the United States.
for, II war breaks out we shall be over
whelmed." Minister Bermejo was incred-
ulous. A good part of the American
navy was in the Pacific. Yes. replied
clear-sighted Cervera, on March T. 1895,
but what does that mean except the i'm
mediate crushing of our feeble naval
forces IN the Philippines? An. rejoined
the minister. but you do not take into
the account the superiority of our ho-
mogeneOus, educated and disciplined
crews in a combat with the mercenary
Ievies of the Unite. States" AS 20 that.
answered Cervera, sadly. you have only
to remember what happened to our an
cesters at Trafalgar. But surely, urged
Bermejo. with your swift ships you can
ravage the Atlantic coast. and speedily
bring the enemy to terms. Are you
crazy?" was Cervera's despairing COM
ment.
So the correspondence went on through
all those weary weeks Of waiting for the
war The men in charge OF the fleet
Cervera and all his sptains-solemrly
warned the government that their cam
paign must be defensive, a. it would
necessarily be disastrous. But at the
same time Blanco was urgently tele-
graphing from Cuba, and Macias from
Porto Rico, that the squadron must he
sent. or all would be lost. Thus pulled
about, the government was at its wits
end. and finally called the famous coun-
Gil OF war of the eighteen or twenty adj
nirals and captains IN Madrid. which
decided that Cervera must sail from
Cape Vrde and fling himself on the Zoe.
That was about what his orders amount
ed to, for he was utterly unable then or
later 70 get ineligible instructions from
the minister Of marine. His orders were
simply to sail for the Antilles. calling al
some neutral port for information. and
then going 10 Porto Rico or Cuba, as he
might think best. and doing there what
ever MS skill. discretion and COURAGE"
might suggest. Was ever hapless officer
sent more bunglingly to the fate which Re
knew TO he as certain as the sunrise
Yet Cervera set sail with his crippled
ships as braveIy and cheerrully as II go
ing to assured victory. He said that il
the admirals overruled him. one % them
really ought 20 relieve him but he was
not the man 70 shrink from duty. and
with a proud moriturus salute 10 tho
Spanish government and people, he put
to sea.
Cervera fully intended 70 20 to Porto
Rico after calling at Fort de France.
His statement to that effect is a trih-
ute 70 the shrewdness OF our own naval
strategists. who sent Sampson 70 that
island 10 meet him. But At Martinique
Cervera heard that Sampson was await
ing him; he himself had to 70 20 Cura-
Goa for coal: and then. by 4 good deal
OF luck talg0 casuaD. as he himself con-
fesses, got into Santiago uuohserved. To .
Cervera at Martinique the following OK .
traordirary telegram was sent by the
minister OF marine:
Madrid. May p 1sas
since your sailing tae situation haf
changed. Your Instructions are amp.Get
SO that n you Judge that the squadron
cannot operate 20 advantage where YOU
are. yos may return 10 Spain, cho7s NJ
your own route and port % CALL tsourh
this would preferable be Cafiz. ~
knowledge receipt and advise o. yo1r de-
cizion"
Cervera did not acknowledge receipt.
because he never zsw the dispatch -IE
he got back 70 Spain. He sailed before
l. was delivered. But 90 an Indication .
Of the state n mird q the svsnlrn Eas-
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