The times., 1899-12-11

that is, that we should obtain a yictory-that
would not change the final result of the cam
paiGu. The enemy would not declare himself
defeated, and it would he foolish for Us to pre-
tend 10 overcome the United States in wealth
and production. The later would recover easily,
while Ve would die of exhaustion. although vic
| torous, and the ultimate result would always be
q disaster.
After it was decided he should sail for
Cuba, Cervera wrote;
regret very much to have TO sail without hay
ing agreed upon some plan even on general lines,
for which purpose / repeatedly requested per
mission TO go to Madrid. From the bulk OF tele-
grams received i think / see that tic Govern
ment persists In the idea OF sending the hotilla
TO Cuba That seems TO me very risky adyen-
iure, which may cost us very dear, for the loss
OF our Hotlla and the defeat OF our squadron IN
the Caribbean Sea may entail a great danger for
/ the CanarltS and perhaps the homhardment OF
! our coast cities. ] do not mention the fate ot
! the island OF Cuba, because have anticipated
| 1t long ago.
/ letter written at Cape Verde Islands
1 April 20 contained an account of a consul
/ tation of the officers of Cervera's fleet, in
4 which they agreed it was best to sail for
/ the Canaries instead of for Cuba The de-
cision was endorsed by Cervera. In spite
/ of this letter he was ordered to sail for
Porto Rico without definite instructions.
! April %, 1898, Cervera telegraphed the
Minister as follows:
] beg your exccIlcncy to permit me to insist
! that the result OF voyage to America must
be disastrous for the future of our country. That
! Is the opinion Of all men of honor. [ beg your
1 eXceency 20 read this telegram and my whole
/ official and confidential correspondence TO the
/ president Of the council, in order TO ease my
| conscience
In sailing to the West Indies Cervera
/ experienced much trouble with his flotilla
several Of the vessels breaking down. and
all being badly in need of repairs Cervera
was notified on May u that he might re-
turn to Spain. but later General Blanco
| insisted that the feet was needed in Cuba,
and the order was countermanded After
visiting several ports for coal and supplies
I with little success Cervera finally reached
Santiago May 10. While waiting for coal to
arrive and endeavoring to get some specific
orders from Spain the American ships ar
rived off Santiago. Cervera May Is sent
the following despatch to the Minister Of
Marine:
We are bIockaded qualified our coming here
as disastrous for interests Of country. Events be-
gin to show was right With disparity OF forces
any effective operation absolutely impossible We
have provisions for one month.
Discuss Attempt to Escape.
May 26, a consultation of the officers
of Cervera's feet was held and two of
them advised that they try TO run the
]
of the fear of wreclIing the Colon on the
submerged rocks in the harbor. Cervera
agreed with the majority and the sortie
was deferred. For the next month tele-
grams were interchanged daily between the
officials in Spain, Cervera, Blanco, and
Linares. the commander at Santiago, re-
garding the chances of CerVeras feet
escaping. The officers of the fleet urged
that they should try and escape at night
hut Cervera held that the blockade was
closer at night than in the day. and that
! there would be less chance of escape
The poor condition of the batteries of the
Santiago forts made it impossible to drive
the blockading feet far enough away tC
help the feet escape. The condition o1
Cervera's command June % is given il
| a despatch as follows:
Out of 5000 rounds for 5.5-inch IIontoria guns
only 620 reliable. rest have been pronounced ase-
less, and were not replaced by others for lack OF
stores when we left. Two 5.5-inch Hontoria guns
of yizcaya and one Of Oqucndo defective, and had
been ordered TO be changed for others Majority
Of fuses not serviceable We lack Bustamentt
torpedoes. Colon is without heavy armament
Nizcaya is badly fCuled and has lost her speed
Teresa does not have landing guns and those o
NiZcaya and Oquendo are unservccablc We have
little coal; provisions enough for month OF July
BlGckading feet Is four times superior; hence
our sortle would be positively certain destruction
A second telegram of the same day says
loss Of the squadron and majority OF its crews
l shall never take this step my account
| but If your eXcellency 80 orders ! shall carry i
out The loss of the squadron was in my judg
ment, decreed when Ii ordered to come here
. Therefore its painful situation is not a suTpris
/ TO me Your cXcellency will give instruction
{ whether we are 10 go out to this sacrifice which
l believe frIitless.
After a number of other teIegraps wer,
exchanged, CerYera, July ? at $40 a. m.
, I ba oil
5 Blanco:
In view Of exhausted and serious condition o
1 Santiago, as stated by General Toral, your ex
/. | cellency viii re-embark landing troops Of squad
. ron as fast as possible, and go out Immediately.
e Breaking the News TO Spain.
2 July 4, Ceryera sent the following teIe
e gram to General Blanco
/ In compliance with your exccllency's orders.
went out from Santiago yesterday morning wit
| the whole squadron, and after unequal battl
against forces more than three times as large a
. mine my whole squadron was DESTROYED Teresa
: 1 Oquend0, and zcaya all with fire on board, ra
T. ashore Colon, according to information fror
> Americans, ran ashore and surrendered The dc
= stroyers were sunk. Do not know as yet loss O
IS men. but surely 600 killed and many w0uude
- proportion OF latter not SO largo The survivor
IS are United States prisoners Galantry Of al
l. the crews has earned most enthusiastic congratu
l. lations OF enemy Captain OF EizCaya was al
: lowed to retain his sword feel very gratefl
d treat ne. Among dead is Yillamil, and. ! belicv,
Y Lazaga; Ccncas and Eulate wounded We hay
e lost everything, and shall need funds.
Regarding his treatment by the America
i officers Cervera says:
{ In order to complete The outline OF the his
:; tory fths mournful day. there only remain
e FOR me to tell your excellency that ol7 cnemiC
u have treated and treating us with the al
:. most chvalry and kindness They have cIothe
.! us as best they could giving rs not only article
q furnished hy the Government. but their own PEI
n sonal property. They have even suppressed a
1 most entirely the usual hurrahs out Of re,peC
Z, for our bitter grief. We have been and al
& st1u receiving enthusiastic congratulations upo
% our action, and all wing IN making Ou
" captivity as light possible.
N Later General Blanco in a despatch t
II Cervera said: Perhaps if another tim
i for the sOrtie had been chosen the resu
'e would have been different"
Cervera resented this, taking it as a Ger
p sure On him. Later Blanco apOlogized an
III commended Ceryera and his men for the
ar bravery.
u ALEXANDRIA NEWS.
: ALEXANDRIA, Dec 10. W. Herring. an cr
gineer on engine 1889. Of the southern Raj
road while shifting cars last right in J-,;o