The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-27

ordered to return at once to Cienfuegos.
sehley persisted in the belief that Cen
fuegos being in communication with Ha-
vaua must certainly be the destination OF
the Spaniards.
Admiral Sampson was greatly disturbed
by the evident purpose TO ignore the m
formation which he believed trustworthy
and had sent to Schley, to the effect that
the Spanish squadron was at Santiago.
Sampson sent the Wasp to find Schley and
give him this dispatch, dated May q:
"Sir-Every report and particularly daily
confidential reports received az Key West
from Havana states Spanish squadron
has been at Santiago de Cuba from the
18th to the 18th inst, inclusive, 25th being
the date of the last report received. You
will please proceed with all possible dis-
patch 20 Santiago to blockade that port.
If on arrival there you receive POSITIVE
information of the Spanish ships having
left. you will follow them in pursuit.
Sampson"
Then Sampson received the following
from Schley, dated May "a:
oHave ascertained that the Spanish
squadron is not here, and l will move
eastward tomorrow communicating WIN
you at Nicholas Mole. On account OF
short coal, supply ships cannot blockade
IL in Santiago. l shall proceed tomorrow,
25th, off Santiago, being embarrassed,
however by the Texas short coal sup
ply and her inability to coal in the open
sea shall not be able TO remain OH
that port on account of general short coal
supplv of squadron, SO will proceed TO
the vicinity of Nicholas Mole, where the
water is smooth, and l can coal Texas
and other ships with what may remain in
collier"
Sampson thereupon ordered the New
Orleans under his command, 10 go at once
to Santiago, proceeding himself TO Key
.1t.,s.
ders from the department. To the cap
tain of the New Orleans he gave the fol-
lowing orders:
you will communicate with Commo-
dore Schley and direct him to remain on
the blockade Of Santiago at all hazards,
assuming that The Spanish vessels are IN
that port. Tell him that l desire that he
should use the collier Sterling to obstruct
the channel al its narrowest part leading
into this harbor. Inform him that l be-
leve it would be perfectly practicable to
steam this vessel into position and drop
all her anchors, allow her TO swing across
the channel, then sink her, either by open
ing the valves or whatever means may be
best in his Judgment.
Inform Commodore Schley that the de-
tails of this plan are left to his Judgment.
In The meantime, he must exercise the ut
most care that none of the vessels al
ready in the port are allowed to escape,
and say 10 the COUlilONOlS tiat ia
the utmost confidence in his ability to
carry this plan to a successful conclusion,
and earnestly wish him good luck"
On the next day. May %, Admiral Samp-
son reached Key West and sent this cipher
dispatch to Schley:
The Spanish squadron must be block
AIDED at all hazards. Immediate communi-
cation with persons on shore must be en-
tered upon. You must be sure of the Span
sh squadron being in port II Spanish
squadron has left Santiago immediate pur-
suit must be made"
In a dispatch to the navy department on
May 2S Admiral Sampson said;
THE importance of absolutely prevent
ing the escape OF the Spanish squadron is
SO paramount that the promptest and most
efficient use of every means is demanded
AT midnight Sampson received a telegram
from the department at Washington cay
ing Schley was going from Santiago to Key
West for coal. This information came the
day before Schley advised him that his col
lier had been repaired and he would coal
in The channel off the Mole.
The continued failure to get Schley TO
Santiago caused the department to teie-
graph TO him at Mole st. Nicholas on May
q as follows;
1.-THE most absolutely urgent thing now
is to know positively whether the Spanish
division is in Santiago de Cuba harbor ,as
If So immediate movement against 1t and
the town will be made by the navy and
division of about 10000 men of the Amer
lean troops which are ready to embark.
You must surmount difficulty regarding
coahug by your ingenuity and persever-
anee. This is a crucial time, and the de-
pertinent relies upon you to give Informal
ton quickly as TO the presence of CerVera,
to be ready for concerted action with the
army Two Golfers have been ordered to
Mole. Hayti. Your vessels may coal singly
there or in Gonalves, HayH channel, or
Leeward Cape Cruz, Cuba, Sampson COM
ing around Windward Passage. Cervera
must not be allowed 70 escape. II is your
duty TO ascertain Immediately the Spanish
fleet. il they be at Santiago de Cuba, and
report. Would be discreditable to the navy
if chat fact was not ascertained immedi-
ately All naval and military movements
depend on that point"
On May 20 the department wired Samp-
son as follows:
"Schiey has not ascertained whether the
Spanish division is at Santiago All infor-
nation here seems to show that it is
there"
Sampson replied TO other dispatches that
he could reach Santiago in three DAYS and
could blockade that harbor indefinitely
He also on May 20. advised the depart
ment that 1.-THE failure of Schley 70 con-
tinue the blockade mus, 0e remedied at
once If possible"