The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-10-29
THE REPORT OF SAMPSON.
ONLY PART MADE PUBLIC.
The AdmirnI Tells 81 the Operations
which Preeedea tis sinking %
ceFvern's vieet-The BsmbaFa-
msnt ~ san Juan and sehley,s
Instrnefions.

ment ~ saa Juan ana seAley's
Instructions.
Washington, Oct. 24.-The navy de-
psrtment has made public that portion 81
Admiral Simpsons report covering the
conduct Of the feet under his command
in It's operations in the West Indies for
abDut two months prior TO the destruction
Of CerTera's SHIPS on July Sit consists
largely Of official dispatches and the move
naeuts of the feet, with explanations and
comment by the admiral.
The report is dated August ,, on the
flagship New York, and begins with =
statement Of the determination reached
By the navy department to send q squad
ron to the Windward passage for the pHr-
pose Of observation, because Of infogInA-
ticn received Of the sailing on April 20 of
Admiral Cerverais squadron from the
Cape Verde islands. On the voyage east
ward from the naval base at Key West,
winch began May 4, Admiral sampson ne
ports there we're experienced endless
trouble and delay because of the ineiH-
eienoy OF the two monitors accompanying
The other ships and which had to be taken
in tow. Their coal supply was 50 small
that it was evident that they must either
frequently coal or be tOwed. The admiral
says
Had the sea been rough, or had the
eilemy appeared at this juneture, the
sqUsdron would have been in a much bet
ter position for an engagement had the
monitors been elsewhere. Subsequently,
when engaging the batteries Of San Juan,
it vas evident that their shooting was
sery bad. Owing to the quick motion of
these vessels, even in a moderate sea,
they were unable 70 fire with any degree
of accuracy"
Among the kilograms received by the
admiral from the department at Wash
ington when of Cape HAitien was the
following:
Washington, D. C., May o, 1895 Do
not risk or cripple your vessels against
civilizations 50 as TO prevent from soon
afterward successfully fighting the Span
ish feet, composed Of the Pelnyo, CsrIoe
v, oquendo. vizcaya, Maria Terea, Girls
total Colon, four deepSeA torpedo boats,
If they should appear ON this side.
LONG
Reimbursement OF San JaaB.
A consultation was held on board the
Aagship, and the admiral says that he
decided to stand on toward the east as far
as San Juan, Puerto Rico, on the chance
Of finding the Spanish squadron in that
port, where. If they were not successful
in destroying ii, il could be at least
blockaded and held. The squadron arrived
of San Juan on the morning Of the 18th.
and the bOmbardment of the place en-
sued. Regarding his action at this place,
the admiral says
1T was clear to my mind that the
squadron would not have any great diff
Guilty in forcing the surrender Of the
place, but the fact that We should be held
several days in completing Arrangements
for holding It; that part of our force
would have to be left to await the arrival
Of troops to garrison it; that the move
melIts of the Spanish squadron, our main
objective, were still unknown; that the
flying squadron was still north and not in
a position &c, render any aid; that Ha-
vana, CeTyera's natural objective, Was
thus open to entry by such force as his,
while we were lOO0 miles distant. made
our immediate movement toward Havana
imperative. l thus reluctantly gave up
the project against San Juan aud stood
westward for Havana"
sent seAley to Santiago.
On may 2l instructions we've gotten by
Sampson for Commodore Schley and sent
him via the Marblehead regarding the
possibility of the Spanish feet being at
Santiago. They are in part as follows:
Il. s Flagship New York first rStel,
Key West, Fla, May -, lS9S.-Sir:
Spanish squadron probably at Santiago de
Cuta; four ships and three torpedo boat
de- troyers- If you are satisfied they are
not at CienfuegOs, proceed with all dis
patch, but cautiously, to Santiago de
Cuba, and il the enemy is there blockade
him in port. You will probably find it
necessary 10 establish communication
with some of the nhabitants-fiShermen
or Others-tO learn definitely that the
sldIs are in port, it being impossible 10
see into It from the outside"
The admiral said he felt much concerned
as to the delivery of these orders. and
sent duplicate by the Hawk with an adj
ditional memorandum. The admiral sng-
gested that If the information did not
reach Commodore Schley before daylight
OF May % to mask the real direction he
should take as much as possible. He adds:
And then follow the Spanish squad.
rin, whichever direction they take"
The admiral of Havana gives copies Of
orders Of battle which were 10 be follow
ed in the event that Cerver left Santi.
ago on the approach of Schley's feet from
Cicnfuegos and attempted to cruise
around the coast to Havana, in which
case the Havana squadron would attempt
TO intercept him by going east 100 miles
beyond the junction Of Santaren and
Nicholas channels. Strict orders were
given for screening lights and 10 see that
none were accidentally shown. The
squadron was TO cruise generally TO the
eastward in the day and westward dur
ing the night In one Of his dispatches
the admiral complains that his movements
are greatly hampered by monitors con-
shutting the principal force under his
command.