The record-union., 1898-06-03
THE SPANISH FLEET.
How It Was Located by Commo-
dOre Schley.


| WITH THE UNITED STATES
FLEET OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA
May %, via Port Antonio, June
2.-(Copyright, 1898, by the AS
sociated Press).-Four weeks after
the victory of Rear Admiral
Dewey at Manila, Commodore
Schley in command of the flying
squadron, had shrewdness and peril
nacity awarded by finding the Spanish
fleet in the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba. For ten days he had, in the face
! of conflicting rumOrs and some cases of
alleged verifications, insisted that the
ships of Spain We're trying to make a
landing on the southern coast of Cuba
| This was evidently not in eonsonance
with newspaper and official informa-
ton, and his opinion was not given
much public weight. In fact, it is be-
lieved that some days before he proved
the correctness of the situation he was
ordered to return to Key West How
ever, new facts gathered by him in the
meantime gave him still more ground
| for belief as to his proximity to the
| Spaniards.
| The Captain of the British steamer
Adula, who was interviewed at Glen
fleet in the vicinity of Santiago de
Cuba, evidently awaiting opportunity
to get in. Captain Sigsbee of the St
Paul related how he had captured a
Spanish coal vessel going into the har-
Dor of Santiago de Cuba, and Commo-
dore Schley argued from these two
incidents that the fleet of Spain was
awaiting in some haven near Santiago
oh, yi-if -,
it's results, should be made there by the
Americans, and on their departure the
Spanish fleet would run into the harbor.
Commodore Schley decided to make
that visit, and on Friday night he ran
within six miles of the harbor. The
ST. Paul was then detached and sent
back to keep out of sight, with instruc-
tions to be ready at a twenty-knot clip
any moment.
From the American ships the Span
ish batteries were in plain view. but
no doubt under preconcerted arrange
ment they made no attempts to fire,
and the flying squadron, after circling
around, slowly steamed away in the
direction of Key West, as it's coal sup
ply was getting short. There was
collier with the squadron, but there was
no friendly harbor with smooth water
and there was serious danger of smash
ing the collier if an attempt was made
to coal any of the battleships at sea.
Resourceful and daring, Commodore
Schley showed forth, however, and at
dark, with an original rigging to pro-
tect the ship, the Texas and the Mar
blehead began to coal. They worked
all night, and at daybreak had filled
their bunkers. BY noon on Saturday
the converted yacht Vixen had also
coaled, and at 1 o'clock, nothing hav-
ing been heard from the ST. Paul. the
warships moved again towards Santi-
ago. Standing off the coast about fif-
teen miles, the squadron afterwards
circled in front of Moro Castle, but not
close enough to get a view inside the
harbor, guarding carefully against the
possibilities of torpedo boat attack.
At night the squadron lay off point
of land.
On the morning Of Sunday the st.
Paul came along, but did not report
any knowledge of the Spanish fleets
whereabouts. Consequently Commo-
dore Schley determined to find it him.
self. and with the flagship he started
toward the harbor.
The Spanish troops at the earthworks
and batteries could be seen with glasses
preparing in haste to give the American
ships as warm a reception as possible.
When about five miles from the batter
les the lookouts reported the masts of
two ships. and Lieutenant Sears and
Ensign McCauley made the first one to
be the Cristobal Colon. Two torpedo
boats were also made out. and sec
ond vessel of the Vizcaya class was
seen.
All this time Commodore Schley was
upon the after bridge of the Brooklyn,
making good use of his binoculars. Ar
rived at the 11arbor entrance, when the
ships. were sighted from the deck. he
turned his eyes from the glasses long
enough to wink and said: Il told you
Continued on Seventh Page.l