The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-19
ONE OF SCHLEY'S REPORTS
THE ADMIRAL'S REASONS FOR
 STAYING AT CIENFUEGUS.

Facts-The Sailing for Santiago and the Discovery of the Colon and Other Vessels of the Spanish Fleet Coaling at Sea.
 Washington, Dec. 16.-The navy de- partment to-day make public a report from Admiral Schley covering that part of the operation and movements of the flying squadron from it's sailing from Key West to Cienfuegos up to but not including the first bombardment. The report is substantially as follows: Flying Squadron, U. S. Flagship Brook
 lyn:
 Off Santiago de Cuba, May 30, 1898.
 Sir: I have the honor to report that the squadron sailed from Key West on the morning of the 18th inst. for Cien- +uegos, Cuba, in obedience to orders from Rear Admiral Sampson. In com pany with the flagship were the Massa- chusetts, Texas and Scorpion. En route passed the Marblehead, Nashville and Wasp.
 Nilli ltlC l'ol iebiilSu vessel. Off Cape Antonio communicat- ed with the Cincinnati and Vesuvius scouting. On the morning of the 22d inst, the squadron stood in for the en- trance of Cienfuegos harbor to recon hotter, and late in the day passed the entrance twice, close in. As I had heard the firing of guns on the previous af- ternoon in the direction of the port and as there was considerable smoke ob- served in the harbor I was led to be- lieve that the Spanish squadron might have arrived there That day the Du- pont joined me with dispatches from Admiral Sampson, directing that the blockade of Cienfuegos be observed and that the Scorpion be sent to communi- cate with the Minneapolis and Harvard off Santiago. Also on this day the Iowa joined the squadron.
 A line of blockade was established about four miles off shore, and at night an inshore line was maintain ed, consisting variously of the Scorpion, Dupont and Castine, the last named vessel arriving on the 23d, conveying the Merrimac.
 On the 29d inst. the Hawk arrived with dispatches from Admiral Sampson directing me to move eastward with the squadron to Santiago, if satisfied that the enemy's vessels were not in Cien- fuegos. Not being satisfied at this time that they were not there, I held my position, being further strengthen ed in my opinion by the fact that was informed by the captain of the British A Iy,19 1,ot 1x,t,o 1o1 1aft ston a cabegram had been received, ,.on the Thursday preceding my arrival off Cienfuegos, stating that the Spanish squadron had sailed from Santiago.
 On the 24th inst. the Marblehead, Vix- en and Eagle joined the squadron, and the Marblehead and Eagle were imme- diately sent to communicate with the insurgents to the westward of Cienfue- go, and to furnish them with ammuni- tion, clothing and dynamite. Upon Con- mander McCalla's return he reported to me that he had obtained information that the Spanish squadron was not in Cenfuegos. Dispatches were at once sent by the Dupont to Admiral Samp- son and to Commodore Remey for the department, indicating that this
  go de Cuba.
 After dark on the evening of the 18th the squadron stood to sea, to the east ward, with the Brooklyn, Massachu- setts Iowa and the Texas in column natural order; the Marblehead Vixen and Eagle on the outer flank, and the collier inshore of the battleships. The Castine was left at Cienfuegos to noti- fly the Scorpion on her return, should she not be sighted by us, to proceed to Key West in company.
 The run to Santiago was marked by rain and rough water to such an extent that the Eagle was unable to keep up a speed of 7.5 to S.5 knots, and she was sent to Port Antonio, Jamaica, for coal with direction to make the best of her way back to Key West.
 On arriving off Santiago de Cuba, the collier Merrimac was disabled by the breaking of her intermediate pressure valve stem and the cracking of the snufing box This served as a further embarrassment to the squadron and caused considerable anxiety, as with the weather conditions that had prevailed since leaving Cinefuegos, it appeared absolutely necessary to abandon the po- sition off Santiago and seek place where the vessels could be coaled and the collier's machinery repaired
 Off Santiago the St. Paul, Yale and Minneapolis were sighted and communi- cated with. The Minneapolis reported that she only had sufficient coal to reach Key West and that her machin- cry was in bad condition. The coal supply of the other two scouts was also much reduced Arrangements were at once made whereby the Yale was to tow the collier and, as the prospect did not seem favorable for replenishing the meagre coal supply of the other vessels the squadron stood to the westward towing the collier. 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 conditions became less fa- vorable and the squadron stopped. The Texas and Marblehead were sent along side the collier, whose injury had been temporarily repaired, and coaled during the night
 Inasmuch as it was known that in o.a +be Snanish squadron had reached