The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-27

| An interesting contribution to the naval
literature Of our war with Spain is to be
found II the story of Schley's battle with
! the squadron Of CeryeTa of Santiago Har-
| Dor. July 8. 1898 By Captain Concas, Of the
! Spanish Navy. who commanded the cruiser
! lnfanta Maria Teresa on the occasion. a
translation Of this monograph has been
T prepared and issued by the Intelligence
Bureau OF our Navy Department
The narrative OF Captain Concas. in the
main. goes over familiar ground. but it is
important in respect OF certain details Of
the engagement. concerning which there
has been much and bitter contention.
Among other things il settles the question
OF Schley's strategic loop. which. accord
ing 10 this Spanish authority alone saved
the Brooklyn from being rammed by the
Infants Maria. that vessel being under or
ders to effect such movement. and in the
act Of attempting it when the American
commander made ii impossible b. his sud
den evolution Of evasion. Captain Concas
shows that the Brooklyn Was more con-
tinuously and dangerously under the fire
OF Cervera's squadron than any other ship
in our feet. being at close range with the
Yiscaya the Teresa, and the Cristobal
Colon. and hit forty-one times by their
guns.
Perhaps the mos impressive feature OF
the monograph is its reference TO the con-
duct Of Captain Sampson Illegally assum-
ing to hold the position OF acting rear adj
miral''-after battle. The surrender hav-
ing been made. Sampson arrived to fad the
Cristobal Colon ashore on the sand. In his
anxiety to seize a prize Of some sort, to
cover the position in which his abst nee
during the whole fight had placed him. he
adopted course which Captain Concas
does not approve. We give the latter's
statement OF the incident in the language
Of the Navy Department translation:
"Tle Cristobal Colon was lcss fortunate than
any Of the Others, for. although going al a speed
Of thirteen knots. she rsa ashore on sand and
Il Admiral SAMPSON. with a more seImsnilke
spirit had ordered the divers 20 close tie valves
be could most ceItsiEly have saved the oaiser.
but. with iereIisii iapaiienoe, he lowed her of
with his cvn flagship. Che New huk. Hardly
had the snip been foated when she began 20
list. at which moment. with great deSicrity, be
pushed The Colon back again With The ram Of
his own ship toward ii. sandy sloa'; hut il Wis
200 iafts anu AhIIlAE over AuAt huiit ffial-"t
went to the bottom Of the sea. The fcw Nmerj-
cans aHd Spauisris who were stiil on b0aid
hastily saved thenselyCs."
II We are 10 believe an expert officer. a
line captain. in command Of one of the
finest vessels in the late navy OF Spain.
and chief Of stan to Admiral CeTvera, Cap
tain Sampson-illegally styling himself
commander in-chief" and acting rear
admiral''-not only abseuted himself from
the scene Of battle. at time when our
blockading forces were in momentary ex-
pectation that the Spanish squadron would
make run for liberty but. steaming back
after the battle was completely over he
towed out TO deen water and allowed 10
sink a splendid cruiser. which. with a
more seamanlike spirit" he might easily
have saved to this country. Surely the
Nemesis OF history and OF truth is ayeng-
ing the one victim Of SIMPSONS bow and
spear during the whole Spanish war We
refer Of course, to the Matanzas mule.