The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-04

keep out of reach of our ships Another
evidence of this is the report Of Admiral
morning the admiraIs ship, the Maria
Christina made desperate effort to
leave the line, and to fight at short dis
tance, which made it necessary to con-
centrate all the batteries Of the Olympia
upon this ship
AMERICANS WE'RE BUSINESSLIKE.
THE. only preparation that had been
made for war was with the Americans,
who We're businesslike and who arranged
8o Of ths Ts s9 Rsp' Of aRf Nav pap Admiral
Dewey began with the cruisers Isla de
shipwrecked Castillo and the Christina,
and with the last ships that he had, he
that that which would have come in the
end would take place in a few moments,
namely, the destruction of the Spanish
minated Immediately This. was natural,
because the enemy. notwithstanding his
second which was not favorable to him,
because he was thousands of miles from
home, and to have fooled time away
would have been to perhaps lose the day.
In this way the enemy got out of reach
of our cannon and remained out of reach
all the While. Of this retreat It was said
ports for more ammunition and others
say that it was done in order for the
crew of Admiral Dewey to have break
st do not believe there is a military
man in the world who would suspend hos
tilities in order to allow his crew to get
breakfast, especially at that moment. No,
It was evident that something extraor-
binary had happened to the enemy's
squadron. waited two hours on board
of Bacoor, having on board General Sos
toa, after which time I went ashore to
see If the Americans would attack again.
Naturally, as commander of the naval
forces on sea and shore, I had no special
place to be, but was expected to go from
shore to ship and ship to shore, in order
to offer protection to both. I remained on
shore at this time because the fleet was
already destroyed.
LOST WHEN CEVERA SAILED.
I'm conclusion, must state that con-
sidered the campaign lost when Cervera's
fleet left Cape Verde Islands thus divid-
ing our naval forces: second. that the
Philippines was the only country in the
world which had no military power, and
that only thirty-six days before the de-
claration OF war was any thought taken
to fortify Subig: third that the squadron
did not advance on Subig because it did
fend itself in Subig. and when I went to
Subig I notified the ENTHUSIASTICALLY. and
brand the statement of General Angus
TN TO the contrary as untrue; fourth, that
made aware of the precarious position,
that Lieutenant Sobral. naval attache at
ton in ample time. and that the Span
ish government could have done all that
was necessary to make it impossible to
overcome us, but failed to do so; fifth,
that I took all the precautions it was pos.
and material ana that in selectnr ca1
vite, did so because there was other
place 1Ortned at all. ana 1t would have
been impossible not to sacrifice the squad
ron; sixth. that the enemy's squadron
was discovered and fired upon before they
came within reach of our cannon; that
we were absolutely at the mercy of Ad-
miral Dewey. who, with his far-re1ching
cannon, knew that we could do nothing;
seventh, that when the revolution began,
and the Americans brought insurgent
chiefs, it was plainly understood that
they did not intend to leave. which con-
firnied the advance advices from Lieuten-
ant Sobra1- Then. of course, some one
had to be sacrificed. in order to have an
other shoulder to bear the blame for Of
fetal neglect; and. as the governor gem
eral put up a pitiful story, and the other
court martials proved the government
was alone responsible. then if my people
need a crucifxion, they can take me for
it.
1.-The war ended, and the glorious his
tory of Spain sustained an irretrievable
shame, but even in its disgrace, the Span
ish soldier and sailor has shown that he
knows how to die for his flag, and the
world will be the judge of this history
and as such judge. the world in time to
come viii decide whose fault it was and
why. and what brought Spain almost to
ruin