The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-19
ANCIENT HISTORY NOW.
But Sehley's Report. Just Made Public,
Is Interesting.
RELATES OPERATIONS AND MOVE
MENTS OF FLYING SQUADRON.

Tells How Spanish Fleet Was Discov-
| cred In Santiago TIarbor and of
| Precaution Taken To Prevent Them
Escaping From the Trap.
i Washington, December 1S.-The navy
department today made public report
| from Admiral Schley covering that part
OF the operations and movements OF the
lying squadron from it's sailing from Key
Vest for Cienfuegos, up to, but includ-
ing The first bombardment. The report is
subssan italy as follows:
Flying Squadron,
u. S. Flagship Brooklyn,
Of Santiago May 30. 1898.
Sill have the honor to report that the
squadron sailed from Key West on the
morning of the 10Th inst for Cienfuegos,
Cuba, in obedience to orders from Rear
Admiral Sampson. In company with the
flagship were the Massachusetts,, Texas,
and Scorpion. En- route passed the Mar
bIehead Nashville and Wasp commune
Gated with the last named vessel. OF
Cape Antonio communicated with the
Cincinnati and Vesuvius, scouting. On
the morning of the 22d inst, the squadron
stood in for the entrance of Cienfuegos
harbor, accommodating and later in the
day passed the entrance twice, close in.
As / had heard the firing of guns on the
previous afternoon in the direction of the
port, and as there was considerable smoke
observed In the harbor, was led to be-
4 hot he inbt
have arrived there. That day the Dupont
joined with dispatches from Admiral
Sampson directing that the blockade of
Cienfuegos be observed and that the
Scorpion be sent TO communicate with
the Minneapolis and Harvard of Santi-
ago. Also on this day, the Iowa joined
the squadron.
A line of blockade was established
about four miles off shore and at night an
inshore line was maintained, consisting
variously of the Scorpion, Dupont and
Castine, the last named arriving on the
2Sd, conveying the Merrimac. On the aSd
| inst. the Hawk arrived with dispatches
from Admiral Sampson, directing me to
move eastward with the squadron to
Santiago. if satisfied that the enemy IS
vessels were not in Cienfuegos Not be-
| ing satisfied at this time that they were
not there, held by position. being furth-
er streng thened in my opinion by the fact
the British steamer Adula that when
heleft Kingston oablegram had been
received, on the Thursday preceding my
arrival off Cienfuegos, stating that the
| Spanish squadron had sailed from Santi-
ago.
On the Gath inst, the Marblehead, Vixen
| and Eagle joined the squadron, and the
Marblehead and Eagle were Immediately
sent to communicate with the insurgents
to the Westward of Cisnfuegos and to
| furnish them with ammunition, clothing
and dynamite. Upon Commander Nc
had obtained information that the Span
ish squadron was not in Cienfuegos. De-
spatches ere at once sent by the Dupont
to Admiral Sampson and to Commodore
Remey for the department., announcing
that this squadron would move toward
Santiago de Cuba.
After dark on the evening of the Oath,
the squadron stood to sea, to the eastward
with the Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Iowa
and the Texas in column, natural order;
the Marblehead, Vixen and Eagle on the
ouUer flank, and the collier inshore Of the
battleships. The Castine was left at Glen
fuegos to notify the Scorpion on her re-
aI1, L.
proceed to Key West in company. The
| run to Santiago was marked by rain and
| rough weather to such an sxtent that the
Eagle was unable to keep up speed of
TO to So knots and she was sent to Port
Antonio, Ja., for coal, with directions to
make the best of her way back TO Key
West. On arriving of Santiago de Cnba.
the collier Merrimao WAS disabled by the
breaking of her intermediate pressure
valve stem and the cracking of the
stuffing box. This served as further
| embarrassment to the squadron and a
source of considerable anxiety, as with
| the weather conditions that had prevailed,
| since leaving Cienfuegos, it appeared
absolutely necessary to abandon the po-
sition off Santiago and seek place
where the vessels could be coaled and the
| collier's machinery repaired.
OF Santiago the st. Paul, Yale and
| Minneapolis were sighted and communi-
| Gated with. The Minneapolis reported
that she had sufficient coal to reach Key
West and that her machinery was in bad
condition. The coal supply of the other
two scouts was also much reduced Ar.
rangements were at once made wheraby
the Yale was to tow the collier. and, as
| the prospect did not seem favorable for
replenishing the meagre coal supply of the
other vessels, the squadron stood to the
westward, towing. the collier.
The St. Paul was ordered to remain off
| Santiago until her coal supply would
| no longer permit of further delay.
After standing to the westward for
about three hours or about 25 miles, the
conditions became less favorable and
the squadron stopped. The Texas and
Marblehead were sent alongside the col