The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-11-18

sufficient coal aboard with which to
keep at sea for some time. "The i'm
portance of absolutely preventing the
escape of the Spanish squadron he
stated, els so paramount that rromptest
and most efficient use of every means
is demanded. -
Sampson Asked to Go.
This is the reply received from the
department, the information of which
created sensation in Washington:
Schley teegraphs from Santiago de Cuba he
goes to Key West with his squadron for coal
though he has 1000 tons of coal with him in a
broken down collier. How soon after arrival
of Schlcy at Key West could you reach San
tiago de Cuba with the New York and the Ore
gon, the Indiana and some lighters, and how
long could you blockade there, sending your
vessels singly to coal from our cOlliers at
Gonaives (Haiti) channel, Mole, Haiti, Nipe,
Cuba, or elsewhere2 There is one collier en-
route to Mole, Haiti, from Norfolk, and one
has been ordered there from Key West, and
others will be sent Immediately. Consider if
you could seize Guantanamo and occupy as
coaling station. Schley has not ascertained
whether Spanish division is at Santiago. All
information here seems to show that it is there.
This is Admiral Simpsons reply to
the department inquiries:
Answering telegram. Answering first ques-
tion, three days. 1 can blockade indefinitely.
Think that can occupy Guantanamo. Would
like to start at once with the New York and
the Oregon, arriving in two days. Do not
quite understand as to the necessity of await
ing the arrival of Schley, but would propose
meeting and turning back the principal part
of the force under his command if he has left.
Try to hold him by telegraph. Watson will be
in charge everything afloat. Does the depart
ment approve proposed action?
Failing to receive an immediate reply,
Rear Admiral Sampson again tele-
graphed:
Referring to my telegram of this date. urge
immediate reply to my last paragraph. Fail
ure of Schley to continue blockade must be
remedied at once if possible. There can be no
doubt of presence of Spanish squadron at San
tiago.
In the meantime the cruiser Harvard should
be ordered 10 sail from Mole st. Nicholas to
overtake Rear Admiral Schley and direct him
to proceed to the mouth Of the harbor and
1 blockade it.
Movement of SchIey's Ships.
From the chart accompanying Rear
Admiral Simpsons report it appears
that the flying squadron arrived about
25 miles to the southwark of Santiago
at 8 O'Clock p. m. on May 26, turned to
the westward and slowly steamed for
20 miles ON line parallel to the Cuban
coast, then turned to the southwark
about mile and again to the westward.
being at O'Clock p. m. on May ~ a
distance of SO miles to the westward of
Santiago de Cuba and about 90 miles to
the southwark from the shore. He lay
at this point all night, and on the fol.
lowing morning steamed to the north
ward, and thence to the eastward, ap-
pearing off Santiago de Cuba at
O'Clock p. m. on May 80, where he re-
manned until relieved of supreme com
mand by Admira! Sampson.
Commodore Schley's operations are
in this cablegram, received on May rs
by the admiral, part of which could
not be deciphered:
Collier now has been repaired temporarily
and able to make six or seven knots per hour
J Shall endeavor to coal the Marblehead ant
the Texas in the open sea and retain position
| off Santiago until coal supply for larger yes
| sells has given out2 $50 Now what safe limit
Shall go, then, to Gonaives, Haiti, or coas
! near or near Port au Prince, Haiti, to coal
took a quantity Of coal at distance of abou
25 miles west of Santiago, which enables me t.
hold place until coal has been reduced. -
: force me over to Haiti to replenish - collie
well equipped to report at Gonaives, Haiti
, urgently needed to coal . = vessels whel
chance occurs. Need another auxiliary 70
, picket duty and communication. send Min
: neapolis and Yale to Key West. st. Paul OF
Santiago still. Repairs of the Merrimac'
machinery completed by the Brooklyn. ST
/ prifi oh hor1r
8 in with coal evidently for feet, collier havin
. touched San Juan and Curacao.
4 Longs Orders to schIey.
. Permission was given to Admira
t Sampson to proceed to Santiago d
Cuba. The department also sent to Com
: modore Schley this dispatch:
r The most absolutely urgent thing now is t
t know positively whether the Spanish divisio
= | is in Santiago de Cuba harbor, as, if SO, i'm
n mediate movement against it and the tow
: | will be made by the navy and division OF abou
i | 10000 men of the American troops which ar
g ready to embark. You must surmount diff
4 Guilty regarding coaling by your ingenuity an
@ | perseverance.
This is a crucial time, and the department
. | relies upon you TO give information correctl
! | as to the presence of Cervera *** to be read
n for concerted action with army. Two collier
I have been ordered, Mole. Haiti. Your vessel
= may coal singly there or in Gonaives (Haiti
e | channel or leeward Cape Cruz, Cuba. Samr
s son coming around Windward passage Order
IS have been issued to the commander OF tn
/ | Yankee to report to you, and the Minneapol
will go north. Cervera must not be allowed
escape. LONG.
4 Another cablegram was sent by tn
4 department to Commodore Schley, stat
ing that it was his duty to ascertai
:x,,oJ;otoJx, tho Cnonich foot xUp G
o Santiago de Cuba. at would be di.
!. creditable to the navy" the messag
;. continues, "if that fact were not ascel
: tanned Immediately. All naval and mi
: itary movements depend on that point.
i, Commodore Schley sent to Rear Ao
miral Sampson on May 30 and to tn
department this dispatch announcin
q the discovery Of the enemy:
% Enemy in port; recognized Cristobal Cole
y and Infanta Maria Teresa and two torpec
'e boats moored inside MORO behind poln
Doubtless the others are here. We are sho
Is of coal. Using every effort to get coal in. w
lie en- blew out manhole gasket. Have sent boil
re maker on board to repair. Golfers repaire
is Machinery being put together. Have abo'
1000 tons of coal in collier, but not easy to G
" | en- boafi here. If no engagement in next tv
IN | or three days, Simpsons squadron could +
lieve this one to coal at Gouaives or vicini
| pf Port au Prince Hasten me dispatch boa
III for picket work. Brooklyn, Iowa, Massach
4. setts, Texas, Marblehead, Vixen and COLI
l. !compose squadron here. SCHLEY.
~ Sampson COngratulates SchIey.
IN The fact that Commodore Schley W;
as blockading the port and that the en-
st my's fleet was inside was most gratif..
ling news to the admiral, as is shown
al his message of congratulation to tt
le commander in chief of the flying squa'
j. ron:
~ Congratulate you on success. Maintain clio
Id lhlockade at all hazards, especially at nigh