Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-01
ASCRIBED TO CAPT. COOK
The Famous 0 der Turning the Brooklyn in
the July 8 Pattle.
Prof. Rnwson's Criticism Replied to
by an officer of the Cruiser, Who
Gives New Reason.

Prof. Edward K. Rawson. superintendent
of naval war records. has written a PAM
phiet, entitled Twenty Famous Naval
Battles in the course of which he criticises
the famous loop made by the cruiser
Brooklyn at the battle of Santiago bay
July 3 1898. His remarks on that subject
are as follows:
The furthermost vessel to the westward
was TIL Brooklyn. under command of Capt.
+. A Cook. flying the broad pennant of
Commodore ". S. Schley. The signal from
the Iowa, 'Enemys ships coming out, and
the firing of her gun found every one alert
while the Brooklyns navigator, Lieut.
HOdgson. almost simultaneously announced
the fact. Immediately the signal was run
Up. 'Enemys coming out; action
Within five minutes fire was opened on
the Teresa by her port hattery-a raking
fire at the close range of fifteen hundred
yards. She then. as the enemy turned
westward, by the order of Commodore
Schley. wore around with port helm, firing
she turned. until the starbOard battery
came into play. Her maneuver was differ
ent from that of the flett, taking her to the
eastward, while the enemy was flying to
the westward. and bringing her more
directly into the zone of fire. Her great
speed made up for any loss of time. and
her fire was continuous, it may be doubted
whether there was any loss of efficiency.
1t was maneuver which, If followed by
the fleet, would have resulted detrimental
iy. AS it was, the swift, unexpected turn
ing in, the grand rush for close action,
amid the dense smoke, nearly caused a
collision with the Texas, which was avoid
ed by the prompt reversal Of the engines
of that vessel. To have turned to the west
ward in common with the almost stimuli
taneous movement of the vessels nearer the
MORO was the wiser plan; it would natur
ally be expected of her from her extreme
westward position.
1t wO old seem, then that the Brooklyn,
with her superior speed. lost an opportunity
TO especially distinguish herself, either in
an encounter with the Vizcaya, or in lead
ing the lighting as the Spaniards flew west
ward
An officer of the Brooklyn. now in this
city, takes strong exception to Prof Raw
sons statements, and says:
when the battle began the Brooklyn was
to the westward of the harbor entrance.
and the others were to the eastward. The
Brooklyn went straight in toward the har-
bor's mouth, and it was Capt. Cook who
gave the order to port the helm, and not
Commodore Schey.
when Captain Cook returned to where
the flag officer was standing the latter
asked HIM if he had put his helm aport, and
receiving an affirmative answer resumed
his study of the course which it was ex-
pected the Spanish ships would pursue
When Captain Cook gave the order to turn
the helm aport he issued it because he
feared the purpose of the Spanish fleet
when it came straight out of the harbOr
entrance was TO dash between the Brook
lyn and the Texas. and it was for this rea-
son and for no other that the helm was
put aport, tnstead of to starboard.
"Of course. as the vessels were heading
from the eastward toward the mouth of
the harbor. had they turned they would
have put their sterns toward the enemy
and gone in different direction, but the
Brooklyn quickly rounded. firing her bat
terry as she wore, and then speeded on In
the van. remaining in the lead throughout