The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-26

of the new continent were. to knock at the
! harbors of old Europe, beginning with the
Oldest of her nations; but the rurn of the
others was sure to come, and then it woT;lji
be too late for the latter to repent OF hav-
ing abandoned US in the hour Of neel''
How near the Spanish squadron came TO
being discovered before it reached Santiago
is told as follows:
During the night of May IS, off Jar.aica,
we crossed two trans Atlantic steamers
which left us in doubt as to whether they
were auxiliary cruisers or not. But soon
one OF these vessels passed within sight OF
us, making signals with the Morse alpha
bet and with a searchlight in operation.
But she did not discover us, as we were
proceeding without lights. with the excep-
ton of small screened lamp at the stern.
of such feeble light that it could not be
discerned beyond distance OF three cables,
which was the distance maintained between
our ships
The following incident afi i the arrival
of the fleet at Santiago. is related
Notwithstanding all this there was a
great deal of foolish talk ard as this might
seem exaggerated We will relgte that at d
banquet given in honor Of the squadron,
while the officers of the army and navy
were continually talking of duty, which
ought to have opened the eyes of even the
most blind, the Archbishop himself pro-
posed toast TO our assault upon the Cap
itol of Washington. This toast was re-
ceived with feverish enthusiasm by some
and with profound sorrow by us, who
knew that our fate was already decided
and that we were irredeemably lost.
But this did not prevent the Spanish
themselves from taking advantage Of the
occasion, as was shown during the latter
half of June. when. in order to do honor 10
tan, u
for two weeks, | bought for him from a
Spaniard small barrel. containing fifty
pounds of flour and had to pay for it $40
in gold. And while this is not considered
anything in particular. and the same thing
happens everywhere, what is objectionable
is the fact that while clut hing their
money they still pretended &c be ardent
patriots"
Concas says the Americans have never
given the Cubans credit for the assistance
they rendered at the blockade of Santi-
ago, and that without the Cuban aid the
Americans would have been forced to with
draw from Santiago. He says that the
Merrimac was sunk too far inside the har-
Dor TO blockade the channel but later in
the article admits that the wreck OF the
Merrimac hampered the movements OF the
ships in leaving the harbnr and il it had
not been there the ships would have s,oOd
a better chance of escaping.
He says the plan of battle was for the
Teresa TO engage the Brooklyn. and sacri-
flee that vessel that the others might es-
cape. but the plan was spoiled. He gives
the Iowa the credit for DESTROYING the
Teresa. He speaks of the death dealing
projectiles and the heroism of the Spanish
officers as follows;
And how terrible were TIE wounds.
We still remember with horror the fright
full havoc caused by the large fragments
of the modern shells. A boatswain of the
Maria Teresa had fourteen wounds; no one
struck by American projectiles had less
than two. and of such size and capricious
frightfulness that not even the most hard
ened could view without pity
"Zaragoza, with gaping wounds, asked