Cruisers carried out much of the war's commerce interdiction and recurring naval work. That makes the later American emphasis on battleships difficult to explain from the operations alone. One tentative explanation connects it with Mahan's influence and the dispute over Sampson's and Schley's credit for Santiago. Praising independent cruiser action would also require acknowledging Schley's contribution. The cause of the battleship emphasis remains unresolved.
Notable Point · 2:29:49-2:31:03
A cruiser war produces a battleship-minded navy
Cruiser operations dominated much of the campaign, but the reason for America's subsequent battleship emphasis remains uncertain.