The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-18
THE NAVY IN THE WAR.
Impor tant Statements by Officers Re-
garding Engagements.

New York, March 17.-Rear Admiral
Sampson has contributed a chapter to the
book with Sampson Through the War"
just issued by W. A. NJ. 6oode, curre-
spondent OF the Associated Press on the
flag ship New York, during the war. 10
this chapter Admiral Sampson gives the
first expression of his opinion upon the
destruction Of Cervera's feet He holds
that the victory over Cervera Is not en-
tirely accounted for by the superiority of
the American force and he Is inclined tn
believe that 1t was due more to excellent
arksmanship than to anything else.
Regarding the strategy OF Ceryera,
Spanish Admiral come out during the
evening, making his departure to coin
eide with passing storm. he would have
had . good chance TO save one or more OF
his vessels. Explaining this Sampson
writes: Had 1t not been for the use of the
searchllghts by ou- ships to illuminate
the channel, which the Spaniards must
necessarily Ecome out, they probably
would have selected the darkness. Had
ships to follow different courses after get
ting to SEA, the probability that one or
more of them might have escaped would
have greatly increased; but as all pursued
the same cour 80 IL favored their destruc-
ton and rendered their escape impossible.
Each ship, as she came out, was subject
to the tire of all our ships, whereas, had
they followed different courses, the pro5a-
bility is that owing to the Giro umstances
of position ore or more of our slower ships
might have found herself compelled TO
engage q vessel of the enemy OF much
higher speed OF the reverse might also
easily have happened. II this attempt
had been made during darkness, IL would
have enabled one of the Spaniards to
have got out of sight of most OF our yes.
sells In few moments. The result would
undoubtedly have been different.
Commander Todd, who writes on 1.-The
Affair at Cardenss, explains how the
Winslow came to be sont In towards the
batteries at Cardenas.
cher commanding officer, writes
Todd, was not ordered to engage the
gunboats, but to locate them, just as a
scout Is sent to locate an enemy's land
force. But in his anxiety to get into the
engagement, Lieut.. Bcrnadou allowed his
vessel to run into the range buoys OF
the Spaniards (as stated by himself later
on hoard the Wilmington The COM
judgment in not keeping his vessel
clear of the range buoys, and greatly SO
in again Streaming into practically tire
sumo spot, after once getting clear, ard
with his steering gear disabled. The
casualties on board the Winslow occurred
after sho had steamed in the second
time. This error of Judgment Undouhted-
ly came from Lieut.. Eernadou's intense
anxiety to be In the fight.
he was not ordered to attack. but to To-
cate the gunboats. To rely upoa his
feeble gun fire to damage superior enc
my cannot ba callsd good professional
judgment no matter how CALAMITY ut
tempttd
For his trayery ON this occasion Lieut..
Beruadou WAS Recommended by oecie-
farv 10 Y t. lie promoted ten numbers.
Z The au hor, speaking of the reports
l ned in by the vario IS officers, after
the nes ruo,ion of Letvera's leet, says
t g account CT the battle submitted by
Hear ADMIRAL Schlay, contradicts In Va
rlous details those sent In by the battle