The times., 1898-11-26

destined for the defense of Havana, and
was under imperative orders to reach Ha-
vana Cienfuegos, or port connected
with Havana by rail; and that as Glen
fuegos appeared to he the only port full
filling the conditions, the Flying Squadron
would be instructed upon arrival at Key
West to proceed to Cienfuegos. Instruc-
tions were at the same time given to Ad-
mral Sampson to increase the Flying
Squadron by such armored ships as he
might deem desirable.
CienfuegOs and Santiago.
On May 10 the Flying Squadron, COM
posed of the Brooklyn, Texas, Massachu-
sets, and Scorpion, sailed from Key West
| for Cienfuegos, with instructions to estab-
| lish a blockade at that place as soon as
possible
On May 20 the Iowa. Castine, and the
| collier Merrimac sailed to join Commo
dore Schley's squadron off Cienfuesos on
| this day the department informed Admir-
| al Sampson of report that CerVera
! squadron was at Santiago de Cuba, and
advised him to order Commodore Scniey
to proceed off that port with the ves-
sells under his command
| Admiral Sampson left Key West for |
| the Havana blockade on the 2lst having
previously sent the Dupont with Dispatch
| es to Commodore Schley and ordered the
! MarD!eheau ana Eagle TO JOIN tHe risifS
| Squadron. By the Marblehead orders |
! were sent to Commodore Schley advising |
him that the Spanish squadron was prob |
| ably at Santiago de Cuba and directing |
| him, If he satisfied that 1t was not |
| at Cienfuegos to proceed with all dis
| patch to Santiago de Cuba, and upon |
arrival there to establish communication |
with some of the inhabitants and asccr- |
tain definitely whether the ships were IN |
port or not The Hawk followed with du- |
| plicate dispatches. which We're delivered |
| to Commodore Schley on the 23d.
On the 26th Admiral Sampson received
from Commodore Schley a letter dated |
May g. stating that he was by no means
satisfied that the Spanish squadron was
not at Cienfuegos and that he would.
therefore remain off that port with his
| squadron
The Wasp was sent on May q to carry
| advices to Commodore Schley, informing
| him that daily confidential reports re-
| ceived at Key West from Havana stated
that the Spanish squadron had been in
Santiago de Cuba from the 18th to the
25th inclusive. and directing him to pro-
ceed with all possible dispatch to that
port. At this time two kilograms, dated
| Cienfuegos, May "a, We're received by Ad-
mira! Sampson from Commodore Schley,
stating that coaling off that port was very
uncertain; that ne had ascertained that
and would go eastward on the next day,
the 25th, but that on account of short coal
supply in ships he could not blockade If
the Spanish squadron was in Santiago,
but would proceed to the vicinity of Mich
olas Mole, from which point he would
communicate.
News of Cervera.
Commodore Schley left Clenfuegos on
tie evening of the 2ith. and at go p. m.
on the 26th reached point twenty miles
or more to the southwark and eastward
of Santiago. where the squadron stopped
while repairs were made to the collier
Merrimac At $50 p. m. he signaled to
the squadron, Destination Key West via
! south side of Cuba and Yucatan Channel.
as soon as collier is ready. Speed,
knots" About p. m. the squadron got
under way and after steamng to the
westward until l1:2o D. m. stopped to
make repairs to the Yale.
on the morning of the 9th the Harvard,
from Mole St. Nicholas delivered to Com
modore Sch!ey the following dispatch:
Warrington May 25, 1898.
Harvard St Nicholas Mole, Haiti:
Proceed at once and inform ScE'ey and also
the senior Office present off Santiago follows:
All departments information indicates Spanish
division is still at Santiago. Tne department
looks TO you TO ascertain facts and that the
enemy IL therein does not leave without a de-
csive action Cubsns familiar with Santiago
say that there landing places five six
nautical miles west fram the mouth Of the hs bOr,
and that there insurgents probably will he found
and the Spanish. -F:om the surrounding
heights he seen every vessel IN port. A.
soon Is asceitaincd notify the department whether
enemy is there. Could not squadron and. also the
Harvard coal from Merrimac leeward OF Cape
Cruz GOnaves Channel, or Mole, Haiti? The de-
par;ment will send coal Immediately to Mole.
Report without delay situation al Santiago de
Cuba. LONG.
Al II a. M. two hours after receiving
this dispatch from tine department. Com
modore Schley signaled to the squadron,
Can YOU fetch into the port of Key
West with coal remainingy Report by
signal At noon the Harvard left. carry
ing his reply to the departments dispatch,
as follows:
Kingston, May IS, 1898
secnsv. Washington:
Merrnac engines disabled is heavy;
am obliged 10 have towed TO Key West. Have
been unable absolutely 10 coal the Texas, Marble
head, Vixen, Brooklyn from collier, all owing 10
very rough Bad weather since leaving Key
West. The Brooklyn alone has more than sufi-
eient coal to proceed 10 Key Wet; cannot re,
main off Santiago present state squadron coal
account. Impossible to coal leeward Cape Cruz
in the Summer, all owing 10 southwesterly winds.
Much to be regretted, cannot obey orders
of department Have striyen earnestly; forced
to proceed fcr coal to Key West by way of
Yucatan Passage. Cannot ascertain anything res
pecting enemy positive. Very difficult
To tow collier to get cable to hold.
| Later in the day. the squadron mean
| time having moved westward, the signal
stop was made to the Flying Squadron,
after which the Texas and Marblehead
went alongside the Merrimac and coaled.
The squadron was at that time distant
about 10 miles to the southwark and
westward of Santiago.
The Flying Squadron remained here
until 1:i2 p m. of the 2Sth, when signal
was made to return in the direction of
Santiago This course was kept until
little after dark, when the squadron
stopped for the night about 10 miles to
| the southwark of Santiago. with the Mar
blehead scouting miles inside the squad
ron.
Early on the morning of the 23th a
Spanish man-of-war, the Cristobal Colon
was seen lying at anchor inside the har-
| Dor entrance and later a second man
of-war and two smaller vessels At 10
a. m. Commodore Schiey cabled that Ger
vera's squadron was at Santiago. On the
| morning of the 31st with the Massachu-
sets. Iowa aand New Orleans he ex-
changed fire with the ships inside the
harbor and the forts at a range of about
1900 yards.
SanpSon's ScnrchiiEbts.
| On June l Admiral Sampson arrived off
squadron and found Commodore Schley's
Squadron in column to the westward of
the mouth of the harbor: Immediately
upon the concentration of these two