The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-24
San Juan and stood westward for Ha-


Vana."
Several kilograms are produced, bas-
ed on reports that Cervera's squadron
had returned to Cadiz, and they had
in view Ito return and capture San
Juan, having leisure to do so and oc-
cupy the place, being assured, in the
the event of Admiral Cerveras failure
to cross the Atlantic"
Shortly after, news was received
that the Spanish fleet had appeared off
Curacao, West Indies. and the squad
ron, under orders from the depart
ment proceeded to Key West, to which
place the flying squadron, under Com
modore (now AdmiraD Schley, had al
ready been ordered.
Arrangements were then made, and
the flying squadron, augmented by the
other vessels, under Commodore
Schley, was sent off Cienfuegos, where
1t was believed the enemy would go, in
which event an effort was to be made
to engage and capture him. Sampson
was given the choice either Of the
| command of the blockading squadron
off Havana or at Cienfuegos, Schley
in either case to remain with his own
squadron.
SQUADRON SIGHTED.
From messages received by the ad
miral from the department about May
20, it appears that reports had reached
the United States that the Spanish
fleet was at Santiago, so the depart
ment advised Sampson to send imme-
diateIy word to Schley to proceed to
that place, leaving one small vessel off
Cienfuegos.
On May q instructions were written
by Sampson for Commodore Schley and
sent to him via the Marblehead, re-
garding the possibility Of the Spanish
fleet being at Santiago. They are in
part as follows:
Flagship New York, Key West, Fla, May
H-Sir: Spanish squadron Is probably at
Santiago de Cuba-four ships and three tor
pedo boat destroyers. If you are satisfied
that they are not at Cienfuegos proceed with
all dispatch, but cautiously, to Santiago de
Cuba, and If the enemy is there blockade him
in port. You will probably find it necessary
to establish communication with some Of the
Inhabitants, fishermen or others, to learn
definitely that the ships are in port, it being
impossible TO see into 1t from the outside.
The admiral says he felt much con-
ders and sent duplicate by the Hawk
with an additional memorandum The
admiral suggested that, If the informa-
ton did not reach Commodore Schley
before daylight Of May %, to mask the
real direction he should take as much
as possible. He added: Follow the
Spanish squadron whichever direction
they take
On May %, as shown by the report,
Commodore Schley expressed the be-
lief that the Spaniards were at Glen
fuegos On May 81 the admiral sent
word to Schley directing him to pro-
coed with all possible speed to Santi-
ago, because Of information received
that the Spaniards were there. At the
same time, orders were sent to have the
collier Sterling dispatched to Santiago,
with an expression Of opinion that
the commodore should use it to OBJ
struct the channel at It's narrowest part
leading into the harbor. The details
Of the plan were left to the commo-
dore's judgment, as he (Sampson) had
the utmost confidence in his ability
to carry this plan to a successful con-
clusion and earnestly wished him good
luck"
CLOSE BLOCKADE.
Sampson apparently felt certain of
the presence of the Spaniards at San
tiago and urged that the harbor must
be blockaded at all hazards Schley
in the meantime had proceeded to
Santiago, although, 1t appears, not on
the same day Admiral Sampson ex-
pected. At one time Commodore
Schley contemplated going to Key
West with the squadron for coal, but
this was abandoned, the damages to
his collier having been temporarily re-
paired and the necessity of the trip
! having been avoided, Santiago was
fblockaded. The admiral congratulated
the commodore on his success and d.
rected him to maintain a close block
ade at all hazards, especially at night.
Then follow kilograms from Schley
| showing that he had recognized the
enemy in the port and from Secretary
Long to Schley pointing out that the
most absolutely useful thing was to
ascertain positively whether the Span
tsh division was in the harbor. If they
were, an immediate army and navy
movement was to be made. In one
message the secretary said it would
be discreditable to the navy If the
presence of the Spanish fleet were not
ascertained Immediately. The commo-
dCre's dispatch evidently had not been
| received at the department when the
| secretary's kilograms were sent
Meanwhile, Admiral Sampson made
arrangements to proceed to Santiago