Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1901 — SPANISH OFFICER TESTIFIES [ARTICLE]

SPANISH OFFICER TESTIFIES

What He Says Happened at the Battle Ofl Santiago in 1898. New York, Dec. 19.—Captain Diaz Moren, who commanded the Colon al the battle of Santiago, says that Ad miral Sampson could take no active part In the fight because his ship was twelve miles to the west of Santiago harbor when the Spanish squadron appeared, while Admiral Schley, with the Brooklyn flying his pennant, and the lowa, were close to the mouth of the harbor, cables the Madrid correspondent of The Journal and Advertiser. “Both warships.” said Captain Moren, “fought the Maria Teresa, which, seven minutes afterward, was afire. My ship, the Colon, appeared then, firing her larboard artillery against the lowa, which, not moving quickly enough, would have been sunk by the Colon’s pushing had not the Brooklyn fought then an hour aud a half with the Colon. “Evidently the credit of the first part of the battle, during which the Maria Teresa and the Vizcaya were placed hors de combat, belongs to Schley, as well as the second part, during which the Colon fought alone against the Brooklyn, the lowa and the Oregon. She was finally vanquished by the superior artillery of the lowa and the faster speed of the Oregon. “1 think Admiral Dewey’s praise to Schley is just. It floes not diminish Admiral Sampson’s glory, to whom, as superior commander, was due the positions of ships, held in the line of blockade, and without whose instructions the result might be seen in another light.” FAVORS SCHLEY IN 1904 Croker Say* the Admiral Would Make a Strong Presidential Candidate. Indianapolis, Dec. 19.-—At French Lick Springs yesterday Richard Croker expressed a very decided opinion that Admiral Seliley would make a strong presidential candidate in 1904, and tliat the probabilities all favor a boom for him in the eart, with a strong following both in the south and the west. He expressed the opinion that congress would not interfere in the matter in any way, and that this would be to the advantage of Schley and the Democratic party, for inaction would be tantamount to an indorsement of the majority verdict and thus commit the Republican party to it.