Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-12-01
WORK OF OUR NAVY.
SECRETARY LONGS ANNUAL RE-
PORT MADE PUBLIC.
Work of the Department Is Reviewed
from the Beginning of Hosti!ities-
Correspondence Between Sch1ey and
Sampson.

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 it's rehabilitation
the navy has been put to the supreme TEST
of war. Years of patient persistent tram
ing and development had brought 1t TO a
noint of high efficiency which resulted in
the unparalleled victories at Manila ana
Observation-Disclosures which have given the
names of our naval commanders worldly wide
fame and added an additional page to the
glorious naval history of our country.
The report describes in rapid order the
steps that were taken to consolidate the
souadrons and put the navy in readiness
for hostilities. Sigcbees famous telegram
asking suspension of public opinion Ia
connection with the blowing up of the
Maine is quoted and the Secretary says:
''This judicious telegram did much to Sc
cure in the public mind dispasslonate
view of the disaster"
The story of Deweys victory at Manila
L. ted, and of it the Secretary says:
Aside from the mere fact of having won
without the loss of a single life such bril-
liant and electrifying victory at the very
outset of the war, with all the confidence
which it infused throughout the country ana
into the personnel of every branch or the
service, 1t removed at once all aDpreueuSlOll
for the Pacific coast. The indirect pecuniary
advantage to the United States in the way
of saving an increase of insurance rates and
In assuring the country of freedom from
attack on that coast is incalculable.
The Secretary tells how Cervera's feet,
having sailed from Cape Verde Islands,
April %, for an unknown destination,
Sampson sailed east with q portion of his
feet for the purpose of observation. At
Cape Haitien May Z, the department ad-
vised him that the Spanish squadron was
reported at st. Thomas.
The following statement explains ofl-
cially why the bonbardment of Sam Juan
was not forced to an end:
Instructions were also received that the
vessels accompanying him were not to be
risked or crippled in the bombardment of
Notifications, as it was considered unwlSe
to risk any Of the vessels of our navy until
the Spanish fleets had been met and de-
stroyed. The squadron did not
rive off San Juan until the morning Of the
18th. A bombardment Of that place fol-
lowed for two hours and half, but as
there was no land force to hold it in case of
it's surrender and as the Spanish fleet was
not there, it determined to return to
Havana, where it was possible Cervera
might have gone.
Sampson and ch1ey.
L lIc IcpOlL SlloNo LudL Euc uS ing SGudu-
ron," under Schley, was ordered to Glen
fuegos upon notice that Cervera's SQUAD
ron had been seen off Curacao. But on
May 20 the department, having heard that
Cervera was at Santiago, advised Samp-
son to order Schley to proceed off that
port. On the Goth Sampson received from
Schley letter dated the 23d stating that
he was not satisfied that the Spanish
otN +lof
he would therefore remain off that point
with his squadron. The next day Schley
was informed that Cervera had been in
Santiago from the 10Th to the Goth, and
he was directed to proceed with all dis
patch to that port. At this time he tele-
graphed Sampson, under date of the Oath,
that coaling off Cienfuegos was very I'M
certain; 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 if Cervera
was in Santiago, but would go to Nicho-
| las Mole to communicate. Upon receiving
| this information Sampson decided to go to
Key West for coaLat once, and, if author
| lied, to proceed to Santiago in person.
| Schley left Cienfuegos on the 24th and
stopped on the following day twenty miles
southeast of Santiago to repair the col
| lier Merrimac. At 1870 p. m. he slgnaled
| to the squadron: destination Key west
via south side of Cuba and Yucatan chan
mel as soon as collier is ready; speed nine
knots" After steaming to the westward
until 1920 o. m, the squadron again
stopDed to make repairs to the y ale. The
report then continues:
On the morning of the 9th the Harvard
from Mole ST. Nicholas, delivered to COM
modore Schley the following dispatch;
Washington, D. c., May 70, 1s9e.-Haf-
ward. St. Nicholas Mole, Hayti: Proceed at
once and inform Schley and also the senior
officer present off Santiago as follows: All
departments information indlcates spanish
| division is still at Santiago. Inc depart,
ment looks to you to ascertain facts ana
| that the enemy if therein does not leave
without a decisive action. Cubans famiilar
with Santiago say that there are LANDING
| places FIVE or six nautical mles west from
| fhe mouth of harbor and that there insur-
gents probably will be found and not the
| Spanish. From the surrounding heights you
| can see every vessel in port. AS soon as
| ascertained notify the department whether
the enemy is there. Could not squadron and
also Harvard coal from tie Merrimac lee
ward off Cape Cruz, Gonaives channel, or
| Mole. Haiti? The department will send coal
| Immediately to Mole. Report Wlt1out deiay
| situation at Santiago. LONd:
| At II a. M, two hours after receiving this
| dispatch from the department, Commodore
schley signaled to the squadron: Can you
| fetch into the port of Key West with coal
remaining? Report by signal.
At noon the Harvard left, carrying his
| reply to the departments dispatch, as fol-
| lows:
Kingston, May %, 1s9s-secretary Navy,
| Washington, D. c. Merrimac en-
| gines disabled; is heavy; am obliged to have
| lowed to Key West. Have been unable alb
| solutely to coal the Texas, Marblehead, Vix-
| en-, Brooklyn from collier, owing to very
| rough sea. Bad weather since leaving Key
| West. The Brooklyn alone has more than
| sufficient coal to proceed to Key West; can
| not remain off Santiago in present state
| squadron coal account. Impossible to coal
| leeward of Cape Cruz in the summer all
| owing to southwesterly winds. Much
| to be regretted, cannot obey orders of de-
| partment. Have striyen earnestly; forced
| to proceed for coal to Key West by way of
| Yucatan passage. Cannot ascertain any
| thing respecting enemy positive =
| Very difficult to tow collier, to get cable to
| hold. SCHLEY"
| Later in the day, the squadron meantime
l hov in aA WI h.