The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-26
THE BATTLE Of SANTIAGO.
COMMANDER OF MARIA TERESA
WRITES HIS VERSION.
Condemns spain's Lack of Prepara-
ton and Needless Sacrifice of the
squadron-Makes Comparison of
Mnrksmanshfp During the Battle.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25-The bureau of
naval intelligence has issued a fresh vol
ume of its war notes series. and probably
the last of them which viii bear on the
battle of Santiago harbor. The present
publication is translation from the Span
ish officer Victor Concas y Palu, formerly
commander of the cruiser Infanta Maria
Teresa, and chief of staff to Admiral Ger
vera in the battle OF July -.
Like a number of previous articles from
officers of the Spanish squadron, bearing
on the same subject. Capt. Concas devotes
considerable space to lack OF naval prepa-
ration in Spain prior to the war and also
TO condemning the political party IN spain
which was responsible for offering up the
crippled squadron as a sacrifice on the
altar OF a historic ideal. All this has
been covered more fully in Admiral Ger
yera's published statements.
The narrative begins with the exodus of
the devoted squadron from Santiago mar
Dor. Capt. Concas says, In accordance
headed toward the Brooklyn. hoping to
ram her. This was frustrated by the
Brooklyn's frequently discussed loop" 70
starboard, which, Concas says, brought
the Texas and Iowa between her and the
Teresa
foot note inserted in the narrative at
this point reads: The turn was made to
starboard, though IT would seem reason
able to have been made to port"
There is nothing in the bureau publica-
ton TO indicate whether this foot note is
by Capt. Concas or not
Marksmnnsbip Compared.
Continuing his story. Capt. Concas tells
of the successful sinking Of the Teresa
and the other vessels OF the squadron. He
dweils strongly on a point which he de-
clares all other critics have overlooked
namely, that owing TO the narrow and
tortuous channel past the Moro, the
Spanish vessels had to come out so far
the combined force OF the American
squadron and destroyed In detail, making
" practically a series Of combats, each
time ship against squadron. He calls
attention, also, to the probability that the
American estimate OF per cent of hits
out of all shots aimed at Cervera'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 the fire. He says per cent.
of hits probably would not be too high.
In defense of the Spanish gunnery the
writer says that Cervera's ships fought
either DOW or stern on nearly all through
the battle This reduced the number of
guns they could bring to bear But ne
points out that the Brooklyn. which was
the only vessel keeping up n parallel
length OF time. was struck forty-one times
As she was under the fire only of the
Viscaya and Teresa. and for "A short time
the best guns Of the Colon Capt. Concas
says the Spaniards gave very good proof
of their ability as marksmen.
Yankee Luck OF the Oregon.
He credits the Iowa with landing the
two twelve or thrtcen-inch shells which
burst the Teresa's main steam pipe. and
put her out OF the action when her COM
mander had fair chance to escape The
shots. he says. have been claimed both by
the oregon and Indiana. but he adduces
considerable evidence that they came from
the Iowa. Another peculiar incident
brought out in the narrative and
striking example of Yankee luck was
that the Oregon while in pursuit Of the
in hc
dead angie" of the only guns of the
Colon powerful enough TO reach her
The Colon. Il win be remembered, did
not have her big thirty-ton guns. and in
the long stern chase the oregon happened
always 10 keep Just on 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 surrendered. He says she was run
ashore and her sea valves opened before
her flag was hauled down. Regarding this
incident. the writer says:
The Cristobal Colon was less fortunate
than any OF the others. for, although GO
ing at a speed of thirteen knots. she ran
ashore on the sand and IL Admiral samp-
son, with more seamanlke shirt. had
ordered the divers To close the valves. he
could most certainly have saved the cruis-
err but with feverish Impotence he lowed
her or with his own flagship, the New
York. Hardly had the ship been foated
when she began 20 list. at which moment
with great deStcrity, 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. the noble and hi
fated cruiser went to the bottom Of the
sea forever The few Americans and
Spauiards who were ON board hastily saw
ed themselves"
Horrible Destruction OF Life.
Speaking OF tho nature OF the wounds
inflicted by modern naval shell fire. Cant
| Eoncas declares them more horrible than
| can be described A hoatswa.n OF the
| injured escaped with less than two Many,
| he says, were blown into unacceptable
| fragments Cant Larzaga OF the Oquen~
| do was killed his executive officer. Lola
| cut IN two with she'll. tho third officer.
| Mates, and three iicutenants next in rank
| all Killed besides i2 men OF the crew The
| total mortality In thu fleet reached the aw-
4Iful ngure of - per cent Of the men en-
gagged
In closing the account OF tho battle the
/ author says;
| we could never complete this chapter
I Il We were 10 relate the lnuumerable acts
/ ~ courage. but 7 cannot 30 less than TO
mention one which I saw with my own
owes The Maria Teresa had already been
abandoned. the flames mounting up 90 the
/ height ~ the fuunels and prniectles ex-
ploding on all sides. and whom every body
thought no living soul was len on the
ship suddenly q man appeared there call
lag for help Instantly Jose S8saan cried.
( 4 VIII not let that man DIE and threw
himself into the water He climbed uu
/ the hioodsta.ned siaes ~ the ship, sel1ei
| the man carried him down on his shout
/ ders and swimming with him 90 the
shore. LAID his burden on tho beach. Il
was hardly possible 80 believe Thar that
shapoless form was a man with fourteen
wounds. who must have been lctt GA