The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-28
sAMpsoN,s INSTRUCTIONS.
Orders Issued for the Guidance of the
BIoekading SQuadrOns.

Orders Issued for the Guidance OF the
BIockading sQuadrOns.
WASHINGTON. July H.-Amongr the pa
pers included in Admiral Simpsons official
report were the order of battle to be fol-
lowed in the event of an engagement and
various regulations to be observed in main
tanning the blockade. as follows:
United States Flagship New York,
''On Santiago de Cuba, June l.
1.-THE fleet off Santiago de Cuba will be
that port and the Spanish squadron as fol-
First squadron. under the personal CONF
mand of the commander-in-chief- New
York Iowa, Oregon, New Orleans, May
flower. Porter.
Second squadron under command of
Commodore Schley = Brooklyn. Massachu-
sets. Texas, Marblehead Vixen.
Vessels joining subsequently will be as
signed by the commander-in-chief. The YES
sells will blockade Santiago de Cuba closely,
keeping about six miles from the Moro in
p 9 usse, anu we'll in shore me rst
squadron will blockade on the east side
of the port and the second squadron on the
west side. If the enemy tries to escape the
ships must close and engage as soon as
possible and endeavor to sink his Vesseis
or force him to run ashore in the channel.
1t is not considered that the shore batteries
are of sufficient power to do any material in
jury to battle ships. In smooth weather
ing to coal elsewhere or for other duty, the
blockading vessels on either side will cover
the angle thus left vacant. Sos
Memorandum No. H.
after careful consideration of the various
schemes of maintaining an effective block
ade off Santiago de Cuba at night which
have been advanced ! have decided upon the
following. which will be maintained until
further orders: ~~
'The weather permitting, three picket
launches. detailed from the ships of the
squadron each evening, will occupy posi-
tons one mile from the MORO, one to the
eastward. one to the westward and one
- Ia Horl fror nrfo afr-l0
drawn within radius of two miles from
the MORO will be stationed three vessels.
mile to one mile from the shore, 1.-THE Suwa-
nee south of Moro and the Dolphin to the
eastward between one-haf mile and one
sells will retain the positions already occti-
pied, but they will take especial care to
keep within a four mile circle.
IAN vessels may turn their engines when
ever desirable to keep them in readiness Tor
immediate use. and while so doing may turn
in small circle, but without losing proper
bearing or distance.
THE signal for an enemy will be two red
lights fired In rapid succession; II the .ss, EN-
will be followed by a green light.
II again call attention to the absolute
necessity of close blockade of this port,
especially at night and in bad weather. In
the daytime if clear, the distance shall not
be greater than six miles; at night. or in
thick weather not more than four The end
to be attained justif1es the risk of torpedo
attack, and that risk must be taken. The
ture would be a serious blow to our prestige
ard a speedy end to the war
Attention is called to the provisional sig
nails established by general order NO. '.
Memorandum No. IA
During the dark hours of the night
searchlights will be used as follows: The
Iowa, Oregon and ssachusetts will take
turns of two hours each-from dark to p.
m and from 3 p. m. to 10 p. M, etc.-in,
keeping one searchlight directly in the har-
Dor entrance maIntaining carefully curing
a vessels light fail the next in order will at
once take up the duty
THE picket launch and vidette stationed
south of the Moro will move to one side or
the other sufficiently to set clear of the
beam of light.
1.-The vessels on each fiank--The Brooklyn
and Texas on the western side the New
York and the New Orleans on the eastern
side-will take two hours in turns in using
one searchlight from time to time on the
coast line, swinging it toward the MORO
but avoiding the illumina ton of the flank
ing videttes on the inside line. The light
should never be tt rned off MORO more than
five minutes at a time. From time to time
the horizon will be swept.
Attention is called to bad and careless
handling of searchlights. Last night some
of the lights were kept high in the air and
again were swept rapidly from side to side.
Under such circumstances a search light is
worse tran useless The beam must be di-
rected to the horizon, and must be moved
very steadily and slowly. not less than
three minutes should be employed in sweep
ing through an of nine degrees. The best
way to discover a torpedo boat is by it's
smoke and even then this will not be seen
unless the light is very well handled.
Memorandum No. H.
when on the blockade vessels will. nm
less for some special temporary reason for
the contrary, habitually head toward the
land instead of away from it,
Memorandum No. 49,
while blockading the Spanish feet in
Santiago de Cuba vessels will hereafter
maintain blockading distance of four miles
during the day time This distance will not
be exceeded except by permission or under
Memorandum No. 90 SC ~
The commander-in-chief desires again to
call the attention of commanding officers
to the position occupied by the blockading
is now directed that all ships keep within
a distance Of the entrance of Santiago OF
Tour miles and this distance must not be
%. If the vessel is coaling or is other
wise restricted In her movements, she must
nevertheless keep within this distance.
3. If at any time the flagship makes q
sign which is not visible 10 any vessel
s s vessel1nus at once approach the flag
ship or repeating vessel to point whera
she can read the signal
"A Disregard of the directions which have
already been given on this head has led to
endless confusion. Many times during the
day the feet is SO scattered that 1t would be
perfectly possible for the enemy to come
out of the harbor and meet with very little
opposition. sGs.n-l
IS. The commander-in-chief hopes that
strict attention will be given this Order" +;
Name for the Great Naval Fight.
WASHINGTON. July o. "A name has
been found at last for the remarkable naval
battle between the American and Spanish
fleets that resulted in the destruction of
Cervera's squadron. The absence Of a
name has been felt in the clumsy attempts
n &c 10 s-afo
gagement. Lieutenant Whitiesey Of the
Navigation Bureau, has evolved a name
that is likely to be formally adopted for the
engagement. 1t is the Battle of July a.
He does this for the reason that some of
the most famous battles that the world has