New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-26
AN ECHO OF SANTIAGO.
REPORT OF THE MARIA TERESA'S COM
MANDER.

Washington, Feb. 25-The Bureau Of Naval
Intelligence has issued a fresh volume Of its
War Notes series, and probably the last of them
which will be on the battle of Santiago Harbor
The present publication is translation from
the Spanish of Captain Victor NJ. Concas Y
| Palau, former commander of the cruiser Infanta
Maria Teresa, and chief of staff of Admiral
Cervera in the battle Of July g.
Like a number of previous articles from Of
ficers of the Spanish squadron bearing the
same subject, Captain Concas devotes consider
able space to the lack of naval preparation In
Spain prior to the war and also to condemning
the political party In Spain which was RESPONSE
BILE for offering up the crippled squadron as
sacrifice on the altar of an historic ideal. All
this has been covered more fully in Admiral
Cervera's published defence.
The vital section of the narrative begins with
the exodus of the squadron from Santiago Har-
Dor. Captain Concas says that in accordance
with previous instructions the Teresa WAS
headed toward the Brooklyn. hoping to ram
her. This frustrated by the Brooklyns
frequently discussed loop to starboard which,
Concas says brought the Texas and the Iowa
between her and the Teresa" footnote in
serted in the narrative at this point reads: THE
turn made to starboard, though 1t would
seem reasonable for it to have been made to
port There is nothing in the bureaus pub
LEGATION TO indicate whether this footnote is by
Captain Concas or not
Captain Concas tells of the successive sinking
of the Teresa and the other vessels of the squad
ron He dwells strongly point which he de-
clares all other critics have overwhelmingly.
that owing to the narrow and tortuous channel
past the MORO the Spanish vessels had to come
out far apart that they were each attacked
by the combined force Of the American squadron
and DESTROYED in detail M lIV a
series of combats, each time a single ship
against squadron. He calls attention, also, to
the probability that the American estimate Of
per cent Of hits out Of the shots aimed at Ger
vera's feet is too low. He says the most horrible
mortality in every case was in the upper works.
where the shots left no marks except those
wiped out by fire. He says per cent Of hits
would not be too high.
FEW GUNS IN ACTION.
In defence of the Spanish gunnery the writer
says that Cervera's ships fought either bow
stern on nearly through the battle. This
duced the number Of guns they could bring to
bear.
He points out that the Brooklyn. which 7yas
the only vessel keeping up broadside fight at
close range for any length Of time. was struck
forty-one times AS she was under fire only OF
the Vizcaya, the Teresa and for a short time of
the best guns of the Colon, Captain Concas says
the Spaniards gave good proof OF their ability
as marksmen.
He credits to the Iowa landing the two 12-inch
shells which burst the Teresa's main steam pipe
and put her out of action when her commander
thought she had a fair chance to escape. These
shots he says have been claimed both by the
Oregon and the Indiana. but he adduces consld-
cradle evidence that they came from the Iowa
Another peculiar incident brought out In the
narrative was that the Oregon in her pursuit
of the Colon remained, unconsciously. the writer
says, in the dead angle" between the only guns
on the Colon powerful enough to reach her. The
Colon, it will be remembered did not have her
big thirty-ton guns. and in the long stern chase.
the oregon happened always TO keep IN the spot
where the upper deck guns could not be trained
on her. and the Colon could not FIRE without
heaving to and losing valuable time.
The author Indignantly denies that the Colon
was wrecked by her crew after she had been
surrendered. He says she was run ashore and
her valves opened before her flag
hauled down. Regarding this incident. the
writer says:
CRITICISM OF ADMIRAL SAMPSON
The CrIstobal Colon was less fortunate than
any OF the others, for, although going at speed
of thirteen knots, she ran ashore on sand; and
II Admiral Sampson, with a more seamanlike
spirit had ordered the divers 10 close the valves
he could most certainly have saved the cruiser,
but, with feverish Impotence. he tOwed her off
with his own flagship. the NewYork. Hardly
had the ship been hoated when she began
list, at which moment, with great deXterity he
pushed the Colon back again with the ram OF
his own ship toward the sandy shoal; but ii was
too late, and, turning over. that noble cruiser
went to the bottom of the sea. The few Ameri-
cans and Spaniards who We're still board
hastily saved themselves.
Speaking OF the nature of the wounds inflicted
by modern naval shell fire. Captain Concas de-
A boatswain of the Teresa had fourteen wounds.
None Of tho men injured at all escaped with less
than two Many. he says were blown into I'M
fragments. Captain Larzaza. Of the
Oquendo, killed; his executive officer. Lola,
cut in two with shell; the third officer. Matos
and the three lieutenants next in rank were all
killed, besides 121 men of the crew. The total
in the feet reached the figure of 90
per cent of the men engaged.
In closing the account Of the battle the author
says:
We could never complete this chapter If we
were to relate the nnumerabe acts Of courage,
but cannot do less than TO mention one which
l saw with my own eyes. The Maria Teresa had
already been abandoned, the flames mounting
up to the height of the tunnels, and projectes
exploding all sides. and when everybody
thought that no living soul was left on the ship,
suddenly man appeared there calling for help.
Instantly Jose Casado cried, Il will not let that
man diet" and threw himself into the water. He
CLIMBED up the DlOOu stained SlneS or the snip,
seized the man, carried MIN down on his Shout
ders, and, swimming with him to the shore laid
his burden on the beach. 1t was hardly possible
to believe that that shapeess form was a man
with fourteen wounds, who must have been left
aboard as dead.
WAITING GAME IN FRICK- CARNEGIE SUIT. |
ANSWERS TO BE DELAYED AS LONG AS POSSIBLE
NEW STEEL PLANT TO BE BUILT BY