New-York tribune., 1909-04-04

IN the Spanish navv and placed in command Of a
ship and sent Peru where war was in progress
He remained there only short time. when the
Ten Years War in Cuba broke out. and Spain
found il necessary recall her feet from Peru IN
order 10 engage in a blockade OF Cuban ports In
the course Of the Ten Years War Admiral CerTera
recalled from Cuba and made Secretary OF the
Navy in the Spanish Cabinet.
When he again entered active service in the navy
he was created admiral and placed in command
of the PeIayo first and only first class battle
ship in the Spanish navy. It's construction was un-
dertaken and carried out under his suggestions
He was at the head OF the Spanish naval commits
sion sent TO London 20 confer with similar COM
missions from other European powers regarding
ma rine affairs
For several years Spain had counted him her
foremost naval commando. as vel as leader IN
affairs Of state. and when resort was had to arms
10 settle the Spanish-American differences he was
placed IN command Of the feet which the Spanish
government intended should ravage the Atlantic
Coast Of the United States Cervera knew that 10
attempt such an undertaking would be folly He
had repeatedly warned his government that its
campaign must be defensive or IL would neces-
sariIy be disastrous. But his advice was ignored
When he sailed from Cape Nerd his orders were
simply to sail for the Antilles. calling at some
neutral port for information and then going 10
Porto Rico or Cuba. he might think best and
doing there whatever his skill. discretion and
courage might suggest
How he crossed TO Cuba and got into Santiago
Harbor unobserved. and how in the attempt to
escape therefrom his fleet destroyed is story
too fresh in the mind OF every American to need
retelling in detail here. The admiral. with his
feet of seven ships that had been bottled up in
Santiago Harbor since May H. made a bold at
tempt to escape the morning Of July 3, 1895
passing around the sunken Merrimac. but II was
a hopeless effort. The Spanish torpedo boats
Furor and Puton attacked by the improvised
American torpedo boat Gloucester formerly the
yacht CorsaiD and were destroyed by shots from
her rapid firing guns. The cruisers Infanta Maria
Teresa Almirante Oquendo and Viscaya were en-
gagged a they emerged from the harbor
by the arnored cruiser Brooklyn. under Commo-
dore Schley; the Oregon, the Iowa and the Texas
and after few shots had been exchanged the three
Spanish cruisers were forced TO for the shore
where they burned and blown up within four
miles OF the harbor entrance The cruiser Girls
tobal Colon kept on. hoping by her superior speed
escape, but the Oregon and the Brooklyn chased
and captured her about fifty miles from Santiago
Before the Americans boarded her the Spaniards
opened ell the valves. and this caused the ship
fill and sink No injury done to any of
the American ships, and only American was
killed and only three others wounded The
Spanish loss ships. 800 killed, 15O wounded
and 500 taken prisoners. Admiral Cervera was
slightly wounded and, with other Spanish officers
was cared for board the Iowa. The prisoners
were brought the United States later
In his own description of the destruction Of his
flagship and his rescue from death at that time
Admiral Cervera said:
boag fe fhe nanta Rara Teresa desoyns R
elements OF defence among others the net for pro
captain Of the ship. sehor concas. fell Wounded.
and it was necessary 10 withdraw him. taking
TO find the second commandant Immediately
afterward they reported to me that my cabin was
burning. in consequence Of an explosion. The fire
soon became very great and iGnited other parts OF
the ship. l gave orders to my aid to flood the
after magazines: but ii was impossible Dense
clouds Of smoke impeded walking I'm the passages
and practising any kind of operations In this
and did so. running aground on Punta Cabrera.
The contest impossible on our side. and there
as we could l thought To lower the flag, but that
was possible on account Of the hre which pre-
two boats came to the aid of the Maria Teresa.
into which number of us Jumpe1. Those that
Marie Teresa lowered q small boat which sank be
fore it could be Of any service. Suosequenty the
launch but this also sank after making one voy-
age 70 fbe % aid of two sailors ali Of us arriving on
board the American ship Gloucester naked
Although whipped at sea, Admiral Cervera CON
ouered his captors by his winning and gracious
personality his unaffected dignity composure and
kindness of heart and he carried back with him
to Spain the cordial respect and good wishes OF
all the American people
Admiral Cervera and other Spanish prisoners of
war arrived in Portsmouth the steamers Yale
and Harvard. formerly the ST. Louis and the ST
Paul in July. 1898. The admiral and his surviving
officers after remaining a week, sent TO An
napolis where they were quartered until arrange
ments made To send them TO Spain at the !
close of the war. The admiral returned TO Ports
who had been held there All the Spaniards with !
the exception of fifteen who died in camp and we're
buried Seavey's Island sailed the steamer |
city of Rome for their own land on September u.
Admiral Cervera made many friends while in this |
country. On one occasion. when passing through J