Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-01

dorc Schley's squadron off Cienfuegos. on
this day the department informed Admir-
al Sampson OF report that Cervcra $
squadron was at Santiago de cuba and add
visod him to order Commodore SChley to
proceed off that port with the vessels un-
der his command.
on May 80 Admiral Sampson received a
despatch from Key West stating that Ger
vcras squadron was in the harhor of San
tlago de cuba on the morning Of the 2lst;
also a telegram from the department that
II was expected to visit San Juan, Porto
Rico, and If Commodore Schley found that
it. had left Santiago, he should follow it,
At a. IN. on the morning Of the 2Sd
Admiral Sampson left OFF Havana, sailing
eastward with Il view to occupying Mich.
olas Channel in such manner as to pre-
vent the approach Of the Spanish squad
ron in that direction. The Montgomery
joined him on the oath. with dispatches
stating that Information had been rccciv'
ed to the effect that Ccrvcra's squadron
had not left Santiago.
On the 9Gth Admiral Samps IN received
from Commodore Schley a letter dated
May %. stating that he was by no mean.
satisfied that the Spanish squadron WIS
net at Cienfucgos, and that h would
therefore, remain off that port with his
squadron.
The Wasp was sent on May q to carry
him that daily confidential reports re
ccived ut Key West from Havana STATED
that the Spanish squadron had been IL
Santiago de Cuba from the 10Th to the 25tl
inclusive, and directing him to proceed
with all possible despatch to that port.
ON June / Admiral Sampson arrived of
Santiago and found Commodore Schley''
squadron in column To the westward .
the mouth of the harbor. Immediately
upon the concentration of these two
forces at Santiago a close ana cfllcicn
blockade was established Admiral SHmp
son In command T'hc harhor was clusol!
guarded day and night by our ships in
scmiCirClc. Powerful snarchligh,s wert
thrown upon its entrance during the dark
A plan of attack by which our vessel
wcr" to close in at once upon any of tn,
"ucmy's coming out, was provided for II
standing orders. ON June ? an uttcmp
was made to close the haIbor by sinkin;
across its entrance the collier M,rrlmuc
This attempt. though unsuccessful in il
object, was darinsly executed. 1t Is nov
ono of the well known historic marvcls q
naval adventure and enterprise, in whiCl
Naval Constructor hopson and his mel
iwon undying fame.
' In May the department advised Admirn
Sampson of the intention of the war &c
partmCtt to send about 20 transports will
troops from Tampa, Fla to SAINT ago, an
Instructed him to provide suitable con
Voy.
on June {, In RELY to "A telegram fror
the department asking If the convoy wa
ready. the commandment of the naval has
at Key West stated, vessels all ready.
on June s information was received Il
Tampa, through the naval base at Ne
West, from two different sources, indicat
ing the possible presence of Il force q
Spanish vessels in Nicholas channel, I'll
war department was Informed of thi
news, and orders were issued to Admir-;
Sampson to re-cnforcc the Convoyn
squadron by two armored vessels. ON tn
ueAt day the expedition was directed I
proceed without yrgard to this iuforma
ton, as 1t was disCyedtcd Both by Ad
miral Sampson and the department, an