The Red Cloud chief., 1899-03-24
MORE or THE SEA FIGHT.
some Inside Happenings In the Naval
Campaign Mt santiago.

''ihtffhh NJ
New YoRK, March 20.-Rear Admir-
nj Sampson has contributed IA chapter
TO the book with Sampson Through
the War;" just issued by w. A. M.
Goode. correspondent Of the Associated
Press on the flagship New York dur
ing the war.
The author states that the famous
dispatch beginning THE fleet under
my command" dated July 3, although
signed by sampson, was not written
by him
Admiral Sampson holds that the vic
tory over Ccrvera is not entirely ac-
counted for by the superiority OF the
American force and Is inclined to be-
licvc that IL was due more to excellent
craftsmanship than to anything else.
Regarding the strategy OF Cervera,
Sampson Is OF the opinion that had
the Spanish admiral come out during
the evening, making his departure to
coincide with a passing storm, he
would have had a good chance to save
one or more Of his vessels. Explain
ing this, Admiral Sampson writes:
IF this attempt had been made dur.
ing darkness IL would have enabled
one OF the Spaniards TO have gone out
Of sight of most of our vessels in a few
minutes. The result would undoubt.
eddy have been different. Therefore,
IL Is my opinion that II the time OF
escape had been set for the evening
the result would have been more sue
c~essful. The whole night would have
been left to the Spaniards to eludc
their pursuers and especially had the
hour beer set to coincide with q pass
ing storm, which would have dimin.
ishcd the intensity of our ~searchlight
and would have greatly increased the
intensity Of the darkness"
CAPTAIN EVANS OPINION.
Summing up the much-discusscd
question OF how Ccrvera was bottled,
Captain Evans, after telling Of the
discovery of tho Cristobal Colon, on
May 20, in the mouth Of Santiago har-
Dor, writes as follows:
I'VE signaled to the flagship Brook
lynn Spanish cruiser Cristobal Colon
in the harbor,' and the answer came
promptly, Il understand A moment
later IA second Spanish cruiser, sup
posed to be the Maria Teresa, was dis
covered to the left of Cay Smith, and
still later the spars OF a third were
seen over the land. The Iowa was at
once cleared for action and everything
was made ready for battle, as we felt
sure the Spaniards meant to fight. II
they had wanted TO escape they GER
tainly had had every opportunity to
do SO.
Later on it was found that Admi.
raj Ccrvcra had entered the harbor Of
Santiago May Is, the day and almost
the hour the flying squadron left Key
West for ~Cienfuegos. 1t Is, therefore,
evident that the m%aneuvering Of the
flying squadron had nothing to DO
either with forcing Cervera into San
tiago or preventing his escape there
from up to 7:i5 u. m. on May -.
son June | Admiral Sampson ar.
rived upon the New York and the
Iowa ceased TO be u vessel Of the flying
squadron. The admiral's plan OF
blockade was substituted for that of
Commodore Schley and the beginning
OF the cad was in sight"
In another chapter, entitled, The
Battlcship In and Ont OF Action" Cap
tain Evans gives the following lessons
that in a general way he dcduced
from the war!
"First-Thc absolute necessity for
fast armorcl cruisers, capable of long
sea endurance.
"Second-Ample supply of torpedo
boat dcstroyers.
~"Third-The absolute necessity for
proper c~olliers and supply vessels,
"Fourth-Thc absolute necessity o.
~smokelcss powder.
"Fifth-The need OF some instru
ment by which the range can be nc
curately and rapidly obtained.
"Sixth-Thc necessity for n NOR,
perfect system Of communication, boil
as regards the ship herself and as be
tween different ships of the sam
squadron.
Seventh Necessity for smokcles
fuel.
"Eighth-Ineficiency OF fire fror
ships against earthworks properl,
constructed.
Ninth Necessity for two conninI
towers, n fore and one aft.
Regarding the best place from
which to tight a battle saip Capital,
Evans writes: II know OF no NOR
devilish place han the cenning towe
} OF a battlcship in action Yet tn
former commander OF the Iowa |
: forced to admit that, taking into cor
/ sideration the tactical value Of tn
captains life, the coming tower |.
after all, the best but by no means tn
= most pleasant place in action. Car
tain Evans states that he believes tn
: effects OF the rapid fire has beer ovel
4 estimated by the hasty conclusion
: drawn from the battle Of July 3 r,
garding water supply for ships caT
tain Evans writes:
Q THE effect OF using salt water
the boilers Of our battle ships durin
. Cha ~ .... - -.