Cervera's four cruisers and two destroyers were badly prepared, but their arrival at Santiago still forced the United States to concentrate forces and guard against a sortie. The harbor's guns, mines, and narrow entrance compensated for some material weakness while the squadron remained inside. This is the fleet-in-being effect: a weaker force can influence enemy deployments simply by surviving as a possible threat. The protection disappeared once land pressure and political orders compelled Cervera to leave the harbor and fight on overwhelmingly unfavorable terms. The theory that Spain wanted a rapid, glorious defeat to protect its monarchy remains doubtful: resisting foreign pressure did not require deliberately losing the fleet.
Notable Point · 1:53:49-1:59:58
Cervera's weak squadron still becomes a fleet in being
Reaching Santiago gave Cervera strategic value even before battle because the Americans had to watch his location and intentions.