326 
BATTLE OE SANTIAGO. 
life ; but we must remember that while fully honouring this motive, it 
is not always easy to say whether loss of life at the moment may not 
save life in future. Cromwell is taxed with cruelty in his wholesale 
slaughter at Wexford of those who had scuttled a hulk full of 
prisoners whom they drowned like rats at his approach, but in 1798 
the recollection of this saved the lives of a number of Protestants in 
Wexford, who were drawn out and being massacred till the murderers 
were stopped by being reminded of CromwelTs action. Humanity has 
abolished capital punishment in Switzerland, but this was not 
humanity to the Empress of Austria; and a captain of a ship might 
surely well feel that the expectation that a Spanish captain would 
fight so long as he could do so to substantial purpose, would help 
future Spanish ships, and we believe that the 6-in. quick-firing guns 
of the Colon ought to have knocked the upper structure of the 
Brooklyn to pieces at a rate that would have made a captain who 
knew this, feel that it was right to try, even though he might be 
captured immediately afterwards. The Brooklyn’ s 8-in. slow-fire 
guns, moreover, were the only ones capable of penetrating the Colon’s 
armour, and there is some reason to think that she fired only common 
shell, which would have been kept out altogether by her armour. 
Speaking as I say, to draw out discussion, I should urge that 
Cervera should have made his fighting with the Colon. The deficiency 
of her primary guns, outrageous as it was, only prevented her making 
belt attack and still left her by far the most powerful ship in speed 
and in defensive powers, and formidable in fire energy. I suggest 
that all combustible material should have been removed from un¬ 
armoured parts. Some powder to make smoke and prevent recognition 
in emerging from the harbour should have been issued to her to use 
from small guns and she should have led the way, closely with the 
Brooklyn , and poured in her quick-fire till the other cruisers passed 
her, thus screened at all events from the Brooklyn’s fire. This seems 
to me the plan offering the best hope of escape. In the light of 
accomplished facts, I mean especially the prompt action of the United 
States ships, it may be doubted if the Teresa, Vizcaya J or Oquendo 
would have by any means escaped, but it seems as if the Colon herself 
might have done so, especially if she had not hugged the shore, and at 
all events it would have been something to have crippled the Brooklyn 
and this, I believe, she could have done certainly. 
To turn to the American fleet achievements. The special feature 
was surely the promptness with which the vessels got into motion and 
into action. With regard to the individual American ships, the Oregon 
seems to have excited most admiration, and in the way of speed to 
have done more than was expected. Unfortunately, the part played 
by the Brooklyn appears to have been magnified by correspondents; 
or, at all events, so described as to have caused offence. However 
this may be, it seems impossible to escape from the conclusion that 
she was so placed that she had the opportunity of playing the most 
prominent part, and that she did it, and, so far as we can see, did it 
