SOME STORIES OF CERVERA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3783, 4 July 1899, Page 3

SOME STORIES OF CERVERA.

The American magazines are filled up month after month, to an oppressive extent for English and Australian readers, with accounts of the little wars with Spaih. Scarcely a single, incident has been left unrecorded. In the "Century” for May the captains of the fleet that destroyed Cervera’s ships each tell the part they played, all except Captain Clark, of the Oregon, who criticises Cervera’s strategy. Captain Clark thinks that the Spanish admiral ‘‘might have stood a better chance of saving one or two or even more of his ships by scattering, with an ultimate rendezvous, only three of our ships were superior in speed to his vessels, namely, the New York, the Brooklyn and the Oregon—possibly the Texas. Even if each of the.se could have selected and pursued a Spanish ship, it is possible that not every one of them would have been equal to the task of destroying her chosen antagonist. The armoured cruisers, the Brooklyn and the New York, might have found that they had “caught tartars.” They could not. have pierced the, armour of the Spanish vessels, while the Spanish guns could readily have pierced theirs. There were no orders to our vessels for such separate action, for neither Admiral Sampson nor anyone else could have anticipated such tactics. It is a matter of pure conjecture, but I am inclined to think that the confusion resulting from such a movement would have strongly favoured Cervera.” Admiral Cervera and his officers were resched from the wreck of the Maria Theresa by the lowa. When ho stepped on deck, writes Captain Evans, in the “Century,” “the crew of the lowa broke out into cheers, and for fully a minute Admiral Cervera stod bowing his thanks. Though he was scantily clad, bare-head-ed and without shoes, he was an admiral, every inch of him. With perfect composure and a manner of quiet dignity he received the plaudits of his late enemies and the silent sympathy of his conquered companions. After the reception was over I gave the admiral a seat under a small boat-awning aft, and a cigar, and for several hours discussed with him in a friendly way the incidents of the never-to-be-forgotten battle. After receiving the salutations of his own officers, Admiral Cervera’s first thought seemed to be for the dead and wounded men of his squadron. As soon as the wounded from the Vizcaya had been treated by the surgeons, he asked permission to visit them v and it was touching to nine the reverence with which those unhappy men greeted him as he passed through the sick-bay, speaking a word of encouragement to each”’

After the fight with Cerverar fleet, the U.S. warship Indiana was noardo.l .).v an Austrian lieutenant, who i :uv not heard the news. “He was in iud uniform, with a brilliant display of epaulets and gold lace, white waistcoat and trousers,” writes Captain Taylor. “He found us covered with smoke and .dust of battle, groups of half-naked men lining up to salute him as he passed, their faces streaked with powder-smoke" and coaldust. He reached me on the bridge, finally, in a state of polite bewilderment, and presented his captain’s request for permision to pass in through our blockading lines and bring out from Santiago Austrian refugees desiring to leave that besieged town. I told him we had just come out of action with Cervera’s squadron. He showed grcat\ surprise, and said—- “ Then there has been a battle?” “Yes,” I replied. “ ‘And the result,’ he asked eagerly ‘“We have defeated them.’ “ ‘But whore is Cervera’s fleet now ?’ ho inciuired. “ ‘His flagship, the Maria Theresa, is there, lieutenant,’ I answered, pointing to the beach a few miles distant. I '“‘But I see nothing there but some smoke, captain!’ ! “ ‘lt is the smoko of the Theresa burn- ; ing.’ ' I He was silent, and I continued. i “ ‘Close to her on the beach' you will see another column of smoke; that is the Oquendo burning. Look a few miles westward, and you will see another column of smoke; that is the Vizcaya. As to the Colon, she is still further to the westward, out of sight from us here, but you will see her presently as your captain steers in that direction to find Admiral Sampson, who is at that end of our line.’ “‘Mein Gott!’ he exclaimed. ‘Then you have destroyed the whole of that splendid squadron! I did not think it possible.’ After a moment more of silent astonishment, he said, with a polite sympathy which concealed eager professional curiosity, “‘And ypur injuries, captain? What losses has the American squadron sustained ?’ “None,’ I replied. “ ‘But, captain, you. do not understand ;, it is what casualties—what ships lost or disabled—that I ask.’ “ ‘None, lieutenant,’ I said. “ ‘The Indiana was struck twice, suffered no ; injury, no Joss. The other ships are virtually in the same condition. We are all of us perfectly ready for another battle—as much so. as before Cervera came out this morning.’ 1 His astonishment was now complete. “‘Mein Gott!” he exclaimed again. “ ‘Admiral Sampson’s fleet has destroyed these great Spanish ships, and without injury to his own squadron! Sir, it is unheard of. 1 must go to inform my captain.’ ”