A SECRET OF THE SPANISH WAR.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9109, 31 March 1908, Page 5

A SECRET OF THE SPANISH WAR.

One of the most remarkable incidents of the Spauish-American war, never yet spoken of in . print, occurred at the outbreak of that trouble, when a couple of clever American naval officers were despatched in a hurry ( to England, to pick np at the shipyards any purchasable war vessels" available for service which might be building there for other Powers. The only important ship secured in this way was a cruiser, just completed for a South American Republic. She was immediately bought, at the seller’s own price, and named the New Orleans. It was not until the New Orleans reached America that the distressing discovery was made that they had not any ammunition which she could use. Her guns were of calibres for which they bad no projectiles, and required smokeless powder, of which they had not an ounce. To manufacture the requisite shells, and to establish a smokeless-powder plant in time to he of service in the war already declared, was out of the question. The only possible solution of the problem lay in some such daring and original expedient as was finally adopted. A fast merchant steamship was hastily loaded in England with a cargo of smokeless powder and shells for New Orleans, and departed secretly (the British authorities closing their eyes discreetly) for the United States. On arriving within thirty miles of Sandy Hook her officers and crew were seized in some unaccountable way with panic, and deserted the vessel, making their way to land in boats. It happened, by another strange accident, that one of the American revenue nutters, cruising in the neighbourhood, came upon the steamship, aud, finding her deserted, took possession of her as a derelict. She was towed into New York, aud her cargo of ammunition was formally condemned. A few days later, oddly enoiTgh, the cruiser New Orleans found herself fully provided with projectiles and gunpowder of the kind she needed in her business. It was thus that the New Orleans was enabled to take an active and conspicuous part in the subsequent maritime campaign off Santiago. She was the only one of the American warships, it will he remembered, that used smokeless powder; on which account the accuracy of her gun practice excited special attention.