The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1901-10-05
HISTORICAL
DEPARTMENT.
Admiral Cervera.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Some time ago NUMBER OF gentlemen
in New York formed what they called
a "Cervera Testimonial Association"
TO present to that grand old sailor a
loving cup in recollection of his chival-
ric treatment of Hobson and his asso-
ciates. Mr.. Arthur Bird, resident of
Sidney, N. Y, appeared at the head
of the movement. The Intermountain
Catholic will amplify here the reason
known of all Americans why a loving
cup or d memento of some kind should
go from this country to the Spanish
admiral. Scraps of Cevera's history
have been printed piecemeal, but never
in a manner to spread any adequate
knCwied dye of its remarkable character;
and after it is told we shall leave peo-
pie to seek, if they are moved by that
kind of curiosity, for a more inspiring
record of heroism. 1t is the story of
a public man in whom foresight and
courage combined to make the ideal
patriot. in a crisis of his country which
put his qualities to the last test. Who
ever reads the account of Cervera will
say: There was man." and very
likely communicate with Mr. Bird. The
story is found in various Spanish docu-
ments concerning the war, which have
been published by the American navy
department.
Pascual Cervera was one of Spain's
highest naval officers. as he was one
of her most observing and devoted
citizens. How long before 1898 he re-
allied the impossibility of SPANS weak
and waning strength to prevent the
fiercely rebellious island of Cuba, at
whose side there stood the great and
growing power of the United States,
from making herself American, we do
not know. The first evidence bearing
upon this point is that of a letter writ
ten in 1896 to his cousin, Juna Spot
torno. of Cartdgena, showing that in
Cerveras mind an idea of the catastro-
phe which subsequently overwhelmed
his country was then clear.
The previous disparity in war
strength between Spain and America
which Cervera thought thus early to
be destined for trial, he wrote to his
cousin on Jan. 30. 1898, had grown
greater. 1--WE are he said, absolute
ly penniless, and they are very rich"
American industry was prospecting at
full pressure. and Spain's was PROSTATE.
OF the few ships in SPANS possession,
not one was fit for service, and, judg-
ing from the governments poverty of
resources, adequate reparation to them
was beyond reasonable hope. MY pur-
pose is not to accuse. but to explain
why we may and must expect a disas-
ter But as it is necessary to go to
the bitter end. and as it would be
crime to say that publicly today /
hold my tongue and go forth resigned
to face the trials which God should
send to me-" This to his cousin; but
it was the prevailing note of his sub
sequent active correspondence with
Admiral Bermejo, to whom, as the
Spanish minister of marine, and to
other officials. Cervera never failed to
niPfnrn tho iIr1ha10 nf tbo Snan-
ish navy, or to record without the
slightest touch of bravado, his readi-
ness for duty.
We shall not go over in detail the
wretched condition of the Spanish
ships and their equipment, but things
being as they were. it is interesting
to note the campaign contemplated
with apparent seriousness in Spain.
Cervera having asked Bermejo three
days before the destruction of the
Maine, for the objective of the opera
tons of this squadron" the latter
wrote him:
''ln Cuba the Carlos ". Pelayo, Co
Ion, Vizcaya, Oquendo. Maria Teresa,
three destroyers and three torpedo
boats, in conjunction with the eight
larger vessels of the Havana navy
yard, would take up position to COW
err the channels between the Gulf of
Mexico and the Atlantic and try TO de-
stroy Key West. where the United
States squadron has established its
principal base of provisions, ammuni-
ton and coal.
= IF we succeed in this and the season
is favorable. the blockade could be eX-
tended to the Atlantic coast so as to
cut off communications and commerce
with Europe-all this subject - the
contingencies which may arise from
your becoming engaged in battles in
which it will be decided who is to hold
empire of the sea
Cervera grimly shook Bermejo out of
his trance, saying:
1.-THE eight principal vessels of the
Havana station to which you refer,
hive no military value whatever, and,
besides, are badly worn out; the"efore.
they can be of very little use. In say
ing this I am not moved by fault
finding spirit, but only desire to avoid
Illusions that may cost us very Gear.
Taking things as they are, however sad
it may be. it is seen that our naval
force. when compared with that of the
United States is approximately in the
proportion of one to three It. there
fore. seems to me n dream. almost
feverish fancy, to think that with this
force. attenua.ad by our long wars. we
can establish the blockade of any part
of the United States. campaign
against that country will have IT, he,
at least for the present defensive or
a disastrous one. unless we have some
alliances. in which case the tables may
be turned"
Alas" replied Bermejo, I'VE have to