Reminiscences and thrilling stories of the war by returned heroes . egos forSantiago. We started to get out. The news had come too late, for Schleyhad left a couple of his ships to act as decoys before Cienfuegos, and in themeantime had come down here. On Sunday morning, May 29th, we foundSchley blocking our way. It was then Cerveras intention to come out andgive battle. But General Linares and the citizens objected, and we stayed. What about the Hobson expedition ? was asked. Well, we were very much surprised, and at the first alarm believed thata torpedo-boat attack was going on. The shore b
Reminiscences and thrilling stories of the war by returned heroes . egos forSantiago. We started to get out. The news had come too late, for Schleyhad left a couple of his ships to act as decoys before Cienfuegos, and in themeantime had come down here. On Sunday morning, May 29th, we foundSchley blocking our way. It was then Cerveras intention to come out andgive battle. But General Linares and the citizens objected, and we stayed. What about the Hobson expedition ? was asked. Well, we were very much surprised, and at the first alarm believed thata torpedo-boat attack was going on. The shore batteries opened up, and theships used their rapid-fire guns. The dynamos were not going, however, andwe had no searchlights, so that we could not find the object. We did notsink her with our batteries or our mines. She sunk herself with her owntorpedoes by blowing out her bottom. Admiral Cervera, in making a tourof the shore batteries in a steam launch a little later, found Hobson swim-ming in the entrance and trying to get out to sea. He had on a life preserver,. 134 GREAT NAVAL BATTLE NEAR SANTIAGO. and when picked up asked that they save his companions. This was done*all of the men being in the water, and not on a raft as has been Hobson and his men well? No. Mr. Hobson is all right, but all of the men are down with fever,and have been sick for some time. I believe they are well taken care of,however. Then Centrores began the most interesting part of his narrative, relatingto the movements of Cervera. He said : Admiral Cervera, after the arrival of the great American fleet, did notbelieve it wise to go out and try to fight it. He argued that the best policyfor the fleet was to hold the harbor against the enemy, and be ready, by anenfilading fire over the hilltop, to drive back the invading army. At first thepeople in Santiago believed this wise, but provisions ran short, despatch afterdespatch came from Madrid, and it was found that public sentiment demandeda naval
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