Evening star., 1898-12-19
SCHLEYS DELAY EXPLAINED
Why he Remained Off Oienfuegos While
Cervera Was at Santiago.
Report on Operations of the Flying
Squadron Made Public-Difi-
Guilty in COaling.

off Santiago de Cuba, May 80, covering the
movements of the flying squadron from
the time it left Key West, Nav 10. under
orders from Admiral Sampson to blockade
the port of Cienfuegos, until it bottled I'D
Ceveras fleet in the harbor at Santiago.
May -. The report was made before
the destruction of the Spanish fleet. but
for some reason was not made public when
the reports of Admiral Sampson and other
officers were given out several weeks ago
This report is interesting in exclamation of
Admiral Schley's apparent delay at Glen
iuegos when the Spanish fleet was hiding
in Santiago
1he report in part is as follows:
On the morning of the 22d instant the
squadron stood in for the entrance of
Cienfuegos harbor to reconnoiter and later
IN the DAY passed the entrance twice close
IN AS l 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 believe that the Spanish squadron might
nave arrived there. That day the Dupont
joined me with dispatches from Admiral
sampson, directing that the blockade of
zen oiienIuegos L be preserved and that the scor>
pioh pe sent to communicate with the Min
neapo!is and Harvard of Santiago Also
on this day the Iowa Joined the squadron
a line of blockade was established about
Ipul ililltS OH SlOre. ana at night in
shore line was maintained. consisting va
llously of the Scorpion, Dupont and Cas-
tine. the last named vessel arriving on the
| I'D conveying the Merrimac.
Orders From Sampson
"On the 23d instant the Hawk arrived
with dispatches from Admiral Sampson di-
recting me to move eastward with the
squadron to Santiago if satisfied that the
enemy's vessels We're not in Cienfuegos
Not being satisfied at this time that they
We're not there, l held my position, being
further strengthened in my opinion by the
fact that | was informed by the captain of
the British steamer Adula that when he
left Kingston a cablegram had been re-
ceiVed on the Thursday preceding my ar
rival off Cicnfuegos stating that the Span
lsh squadron had sailed from Santiago.
"On the 9th instant the Marbehead and
Eagle We're sent to communicate with the
insurgents to the westward of Cienfuegos
ard to furnish them with ammunition,
clothing and dynamite. Upon Commander
McCallaS return, in the course of the af-
ternoon. he reported to me that he had
obtained information that the Spanish
squadron was not in Cienfuegos. Dis
patches were at once sent by the Dupont
to Admiral Sampson and to Commodore
Remey for the department indicating that
this squadron would move toward San
tiagO de Cuba"
Admiral Schey then describes the voy-
age of his squadron to Santiago and the
rough weather which prevailed
Arrival Of Santiago.
"On arriving off Santiago" he continues,
the collier Merrmac 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 source of consider
able anxiety, as. with the weather condi-
tions that had prevailed since leaving Glen
fuegos, it appeared absolutely necessary to
abandon the position off Santiago and seek
place where the vessels could be coaled
and the GOLFERS machinery repaired
"Off Santiago the ST. Paul. Yale and
Minneapolis were sighted and commune
Gated with. The Minneapolis reported that
she had only 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 We're at once made whereby
the Yale was to tow the collier, and as
the prospect did not seem favorable for
1eplenishing tie meager coal supply of the
other vessels, the squadron stood to the
westward, towing the collier.
The operation of taking the collier in
tow proved to be quite difficult, owing to
the size and weight of the two ships and
the repeated parting of the tow lines. FL
nallE, however. after twenty-four hours
unremtting eXertiOns the GOLFERS chain
cable was gotten to the Yale and the SQUAD
ron proceeded. 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 twenty-five
miles, the condition became less favorable
and the squadron stopped. The Texas and
Marblehead were sent alongside the collier,
whose injury had been temporarily repaired,
and coaled during the night.
Why SchIey Went West.
"Inasmuch it was known that, in case
Admiral Sampson was able to block any
movement of the enemy through the Ba-
hama channel, my intention in standing to
the westward was, should it become neces-
! sary. to bar any effort of the enemy to
reach Havana by a dash through the
| Yucatan passage
''On the 2sth instant continued coaling
| the Texas and Marblehead and later the
| Vixen. In the afternoon, having managed
| to get sufficient coal into these vessels to
| enable them to remain with the squadron,
| shaped course for Santiago, off which port
| we arrived about dusk. The next morn
| ing, the 18th instant, steamed In to examine
| the entrance to the harbOr and sighted the
| Cristobal Colon, apparently moored, head
| and stern, across the westward channel
| around Cay Smith; also one of the vessels
| of the NiZcaya or 1nfanta Maria Teresa
class mOored in the eastern channel, and
| two small torpedo boats. Later in the day
| made out the military tops of a third vessel
"A close blockade of the harbor has been
| maintained, and no vessels have entered or
| left since our arrival. Yesterday morning
| II. NJ. S. Indefatigable came up to the line
! of blockade and made signal, Request per-
| mission to communicate with the commO-
| dore," which was, of course. granted
| boarding officer came on board the flagship
| with letter from the commanding officer,
| Capt. l.. \. Primrose, requesting permission
| for his vessel to pass the line of blockade
| in order to communicate with H. NJ con
| sui at this port. My reply was that there
| would not be the slightest objection to his
| doing so. Instead. however, of avaling
| himself of the permission, the interchangeable
| at once steamed off in the direction
| whence she came, signaling, mo harm
done for courtesy" 1t may have been that
| his learning that the Spanish fleet was in
| this port of more Importance that H.
! NJ consul and he may have desired first
/ to communicate with his government from
Jamaica.
| ION the Both instant the New Orleans ar
| rived, conveying the collier Sterling.
AT present We are coaling all favor
| able occasions in plain sight of the enemy's
fleet"
| Death of william E. Thompson.
| Mr.. William f. Thompson, a member of
| Columbia Typographical Union, died yes
| terday at his residence Jos 9th street