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World of 1898: International Perspectives on the Spanish American War

Ramón Auñón y Villalón

La Ilustración española y americana, 22 May 1898, p. 293. Download an uncompressed TIFF (.tif) version of this image.

1844-1925

Following Admiral George Dewey's defeat of the Spanish fleet in Manila harbor, Captain Ramón Auñón y Villalón was selected to replace Segismundo Bermejo as Minister of the Navy. Auñón y Villalón quickly was forced to decide whether Admiral Pascual Cervera, commander of the Spanish squadron in Cuba, should attempt to defend Santiago although vastly out-numbered as Captain General Ramón Blanco advocated or scuttle the fleet and save lives as Cervera himself argued. Ultimately Auñón y Villalón agreed with Blanco and on June 23 ordered Cervera to sail out of Santiago de Cuba. On June 15 he commanded Manuel de la Cámara y Libermoore to sail to Manila to relieve Spanish troops there.