The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-26
REPORT Of
SECRETARY LONG
Naval incidents Of the Late
War Reviewed.
DEWEYs G!= Jus VICTORY
Story of thg s tile of Manila De-
scribed - raphic Manner.
g
CAPT. SIGSBEe'S FAMOUS TELEGRAM
Did Much to Secure Dispassionate
View Of the Maine Disaster.
Did Much to Secure a Dispassionate
View of the Maine Disaster.
ORDERS SENT TO COMMANDERS
Resist the Temptation to Belittle
the Democratic Commodore
and Laud Sampson.

Washington, November 25.-The annual
report of the secretary of the navy is much
longer than the usual annual report. The
first sentence explains this as follows:
For the first time since its rehabilitation
the navy has been put to the supreme test
of war. Years of patient, persistent train
ing and development have brought it to a
p5int of high efficiency which resulted in the
unparalleled victories at Manila and San
tiago-victories which have given the name
of our naval commanders worldwide fame
and added an additional page to the glori-
Gus naval history of our country"
The report describes In rapid order the
steps that were taken to consolidate the
squadrons and put the navy in readiness
for hostilities. Sigsbees famous telegram
asking for a suspension of public opinion
in connection with the blowing up of the
Maine Is quoted, and the secretary says:
This judicious telegram did much TO SEE
! cure in the public mind the disea-etsiate
rie-S S-ef- the disaster" ~--------.se~'
The, story of Deweys victory at Manila
is told, and of il the secretary says:
aside from the mere fact Of having won
without the loss of single life. such
brilliant and electrifying victory al the very
outect VI the war, WITH all the commence
which 1t infused throughout the country
and into the personnel of every branch Of
the service, 1t removed apprehension from
the Pacific coast. The pecuniary advant-
ages to the United States in the way of
saving an increase of insurance rates and
In assuring the country of freedom of at
tack on that coast is incalculable.''
schley's Flying Squadron
The report shows that the flying SQUAD
ron under Schley was ordered to Cienfuegos
upon notice that Cervera's squadron had
been seen off Curacao, but on May 20 the
department having heard that Cervera was
at Santiago advised Sampson to order
Sohley to proceed off that port. By the
Mar5lehead, Schley was instructed to pro-
ceed to Santiago if he was satisfied that
the Spanish squadron was not at Cien-
fuegos. On May % Sampson had dispatches
stating first that Cervera was in Santiago
on the 21st and also that he was expected
to visit San Juan and that Schley should
follow him. This sent Sampson into the
from that direction. On the 18th Samp-
son received from Schley, letter dated the
% stating that he was not satisfied that the
and that he would therefore remain off that
point with his squadron. The next day
Schley was informed that Cervera had been
in Santiago from the 18th to the 18th, and
ne was directed to proceed with all
despatch to that port. AT this time he
telegraphed Sampson under1 date of tie
24th that coaling off Cienfuegos was very
uncertain; that the Spanish fleet was not
in Cienfuegos; that he would go eastward
on the 25th, but that on account of short
coal supply he could not blockade. and that
Cervera was in Santiago but would go to
Nicholas to communicate. Upon receiving
this information Sampson decided to go to
Key West for coal at once, and ask for
authority to proceed to Santiago in person.
Schley left Cienfuegos on the 2th and
stopped on the following day thirty miles
south of Santiago to repair the collier
Merrimac. AT 1850 p. m. he signaled to the
squadron
Destination Key West, via south side
of Cuba and Yacatan channel as soon as
collier is ready; speed nine knots" After
steaming to the westward until 11:20 D. m.
the squadron again stopped to make re-
pairs to the Yale. On the morning of the
9th the Harvard from Mote st. Nicholas.
delivered to Commodore Schley the follow
ing dispatch:
Dispatch of the Commodore
Wash ngton May rs, 1898.
" Harvard, st Nicholas Mole:
'Prceed at once and inform Schley and
also the senior officer present off Santiago
as follows:
All departments information indicates
Spanish division is still at Santiago. The
department looks to you to ascertain facts.
and that the enemy. If therein. does not
leave with decisive action. Cubans famil-
ar with Santiago say that there are landing
places five or six nautical miles west from
the mouth of the harbor, and that there In
surgerts probably will be found and not
the Spanish. From the surrounding heights
tCont,nued on Eighth Page)
Oil and Gas Stoves at Cost.