Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-20

A11QlSQ tudL HSiN lA-~ -NtA ASSh -~~~~ slower firing guns
 The damage and loss of the Amer ican vessels were trivial. The only loss suffered was aboard the Brook lyn, where one man was killed and one wounded. In damage. the cost of the repairs shows tAat the Iowa suffered most and the Oregon least. The American ships engaged pos sessed a more than two-fold superior ity over the Spanish ships, and the difference in the handling of their guns and their engines was even greater. We have Just cause te be proud of the vigilance and instant readiness our ships displayed, and the workmanlike efficiency with which they were handled. The most strik ing act was that of the Gloucester. a converted yacht, which her comman- der, Wainwright, pushed into the fight through 8 hail of projectiles, any one of which would have sunk her, in order that he might do his part in destroying the two torpedo boats, each possessing far more than his own offensive power.
 Command Not Transferred.
 From the statements of the cap- tains above. from the official reports, and from the testimony before the court of inquiry, the fight can be plotted with absolute certainty in it's important outlines, though there is conflict as to minor points. When the four Spanish cruisers came out of the harbor the New York had left her po- sition in the blockading line forty or forty-fve minutes before She had hoisted the signal. Disregard the movements of the commander-in-chief' but had not hoiSted the signal to the second in command to take charge, which, as appears by the signal book. was sometimes but not always used when the command was transferred. As soon as the engagement began the New York turned and steamed back, hoisting a signal to close in, which however, none of the squadron saw. She was in plain sight. and not very much farther from the easternmost blockading ships than the latter were from the Brooklyn, which was the westernmost of the line As soon as the Spanish ships appeared the five big American blockaders started tow ard them in accordance with the stand- ing orders of Admiral Sampson. Ar- Ter this first move each acted purely on his own initiative.
 The Brooklyn's Loop.
 For some minutes the Spanish and American vessels steadily approached one another, and the fighting was at it's hottest. Then the already dam aged Spanish ships turned to the westward. while at the same time the westernmost American vessel. inc Brooklyn. which was nearest the Spanish line, turned to the eastward. making loop or three-quarter circle. at the end of which she again headed westward. farther off from and far ther behind the Spanish vessels than before the loop had begun. but sill ahead of any of the American vessels aIthough farther outside The Texas. the next ship to the Brooklyn. either i was or conceived herself to be mi in sucn Jeopardy by the Brooklyn's tl1rn l toward her that she backed her en- l gInes, coming almost or quite to a i srandst1ll; so that both the Oregon and the Iowa, which were originally To the eastward of her. passed her. ana II was some time after she again StarIed before she regained her for mer position relatively to the Spanish I vessels. The Spanish vessels had i strengthened out in column for the l west, the Colon going inside of the others and gradually forging ahead of i them, without suffering much damage. 1 The two torpedo boats. which had followed them out of the harbor, were now destroyed by the fire of the l TcQ 0P fha hi A and of the Gloucester. which headed straight in for them, paying no more heed to their quick fire guns than to the heavy artillery of the forts, to which she was also exposed.
 In the running fight which fol lowed, until the Teresa Oquendo and Viscaya were destroyed. the Indiana gradually dropped Sehind, although she continued to fire until the last of the three vessels went ashore The 1 Brooklyn was ahead of any of the other American vessels on 8 course 1 outside theirs: she was nearly broad side on to the Spaniards. The Oregon Iowa and Texas were all close togeth- CT and actively engaged throughout this running fight. The Brooklyn and Oregon, followed at some dis tance by the Texas. then continued in chase of the Colon. which went near ly thirty miles farther before she also went ashore. During this chase oi the Colon there was practically nc l fighting These are the facts as sci forth above in the statements of the 1 captains. and elsewhere in their offic
 ial reports and testimony. They leave no room for doubt on any i'm
 portant point.
 A Technical Question.
 The question of command is in this case nominal and technical Admira Sampson's ship, the New York, wa. seen at the outset of the fight from il the other ships except the Brooklyn Four of these five ship captains have testified that they regarded him ,. present and in command. He signalet 'SClose in' to the fleet as soon as thu first Spanish ship appeared. but hi. signal was not seen by any American vessel. He was actually under firs from the forts. and himself fired a cou pie of shots, at the close of the action with the torpedo boats, in addition tt signaling the Indinana just at th, close of the action. But during the ac
 ton not a single order from him wa, received by any of the ships that wer, actively engaged.
 A dr1,f,r cya1, o4 4l-z