Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-03

Exhaustively Reviewed BY . German
Naval Authority.

NdV2i Authority.
THE FEELING OF HELPFULNESS
AND IMPCTENCY ON THE PART
OF SPANISH OFFICERS AND
CREWS WAS AS IMPORTANT A
FACTOR IN THEIR DEFEAT AS
ANYTHING ELSE-SPANISH IN
COMPETENCY AND AMERICAN
SUPERIORITY CONCLUSIVELY
SHOWN.
Washington, April 1.-The Bureau OF
Naval Intelligence of the Navy Depart
ment has issued the last OF the series
of sketches of the Spanish-American
war, by Commander Jacobson, OF the
German protected cruiser Geier. Tue
last of this interesting series deals with
the condition of the Spanish ships after
the battle OF Santiago. This portion OF
the sketch contains a number OF OBJ
seryations regarding the technical e.
feet of our gun fire which will interest
naval officers. The most interesting
observations to the laymen are those
upon the strategy, of lack OF 1t, dis
played by Cervera. The Spanish Az
miral having been ordered to leave the
harbor, to remove the main object OF
the attack upon Santiago, Commander
Jacobson says his position was not dill
ficult. He did not dare make the at
tempt at night, and so decided to go
out in broad daylight.
1.-THE whole crew." he says, fell d
victim to this fatal decision. lnstruc-
ticns for the sortie and the western
course were issued. The Admiral was
entirely convinced of the impossibiiity
of defeating the enemy, or of reaching
another Cuban harbor; even II ne
should succeed in steaming right
through the hostile fleet. 1t is to TINS
feeling of helplessness and Impotence
as against the American naval forces,
more than to anything else, that
ATTRIBUTE THE DEFEAT.
The Spanish ships had spent a month
and a half in the harbor without even
attempting to attack the blcckading
fleet when a favorable opportunity pre-
scented itself, or even Of harassing IT.
The two torpedo boat destroyers were
not used for the purpose for which
they were intended. The inactivity and
lack Of initiative must have had very
demoralizing effect on the officers and
men. If we add TO this the certain
knowledge that the opposing forces
were much stronger. it will be readily
understood that the idea OF general
flight after coming out of the harbor
entrance was the only acceptable one,
especially in view of the possibility OF
Bleaching the ships, thereby rendering
them unserviceable, and eventually
rescuing the crews. From the very mo-
ment that this feeling Of impotence took
possession of the Spanish and led to
the above reflections, their fate,
pscychologically speaking, was sealed.
We do not mean to disparage their
yalor and tenacity, in the midst OF the
hostile fire, but on the other hand 1t is
quite natural that the Admiral, seeing
that everything was happening that he
had foreseen, was the one who
SET THE EXAMPLE
of running his ship ashore. All the
other commanders followed this ex-
ample.
"On the American side the situation
was lust the reverse. Admiral Samp-
sons fleet was fully conscious OF Its
Iower. The blockade was being con-
Quoted in accordance with carefully
prepared plans, as were also the ar
rapgement in case of the enemy's at
tempt to escape. Frequent engage
ments with the Spanish forts had given
commanders and crews that calm as
surance in the handling of their Wea-
pons which guarantees success. The
long blockade service, exhaustive and
monotonous, hardly interrupted by
any action on The part of the Spanish,
had strung the nerves to the highest
pitch, and every body was anxious for
the end to come Cuddenly the enemy
attempts to escape All the passions
that had been smouldering under the
ashes break forth. The welcome OPP
portunity for settling accounts with
the enemy had come at last, and with a
wild rush the American ships fell upon
their victims. At the beginning the
American fire, owing to the excitement
of the personnel and the great dis
lance, was probably not very effective;
but when the Spanish Admiral turned
to the westward and the other ships
followed him the moral superiority OF
the Americans reasserted itself. The
commanders. calm and cool-headed,
had their ships follow the same course,
and the Americans, having every adj
vantage on their side, recommended
the fire on the fleeing ships, which
soon resulted in their
TOTAL ANNIHILATION.
II have already spoken of the lack
of training of the Spanish crews, the
neglect of gun and torpedo target prac-
tice, the inadequate education of the