The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-26

Spanish Squadron Was Sighted
and Finally Destroyed.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-The an
nua1 report Of the secretary Of the
navy is much longer than the usual
| annual report. The first sentence ex-
plains this as follows:
For the first time since It's rehabili-
tation, the navy has been put to the
supreme test Of war. Years Of patient.
persistent training and development
| had brought it to point of high eff
cheney, which resulted in the unparal-
| leled victories at Manila and Santiago
victories which have given the names
of our naval commanders worldwide
fame, and added an additional page to
the glorious naval history of our coun-
try"
The report describes in rapid order
the steps taken to consolidate the
sQuadrons and put the navy in readi-
ness for hostilities. Sigsbee's famous
telegram asking a suspension Of pub
lie opinion in connection with the blow
ing up Of the Maine is quoted, and the
secretary says:
secure. in the public mind, dis
passionate view of the disaster"
The story of Dewey's victory at Ma
Mia Is told, and of 1t the secretary
says:
Aside from the mere fact Of having
won, without the loss of single life,
such a brilliant and electrifying VIC
tory at the very outset Of the war, with
all the confidence which it infused
throughout the country and into the
personnel Of every brancn of the serv-
ice, it removed at once all apprehen-
sion for the Pacific coast. Thus the In
direct pecuniary advantage to the
United States in the way of saving an
increase of insurance rates and in as
suring the country Of freedom from
attack on that coast is incalculable.'
The secretary tells how, Cerveras
fleet having sailed from Cape Verde
islands, April 29, for an unknown des-
tination, Sampson sailed east, with
portion Of his fleet, for the purpose of
observation. At Cape Haitien, May Z,
the department advised him that the
Spanish squadron was reported at ST.
Thomas. The following statement ex-
plains officially why the bombardment
Of San Juan was not forced to an end.
instructions were also received that
the vessels accompanying him were net
to be risked or crippled in the bonn
bardment of Notifications, as it was
considered unwise to risk any of the
vessels of our navy until the Spanish
fleets had been met aT41 destroyed.
''The squadron did z arrive off San
Juan until the morning of the 18th
The bombardment Of that place follow
ed. for two hours and a half, but, as
there was no land force to hold it in
case of it's surrender, and as the Span
ish fleet was not there, it was deter
mined to return to Havana, where it
was possible Cervera might have gone"
ORDERED TO CIENFUEGOS.
squadron, under Schley, was ordered
to Cienfuegos upon notice that Ger
vera's squadron had been seen off
Curacao. But, on May TO- the depart
ment, having heard that Cervera was
| at Santiago, advised Sampson to order
Schley to proceed off that port. BY
the Marblehead Schley was instructed
| to proceed to Santiago If he was salts
fed that the Spanish squadron was not
at Cienfuegos. On May % Sampson
had dispatches stating that Cervera
was in Santiago on the 21st, and, also,
| that he was expected to visit San Juan,
and that Schley should follow him.
This sent Sampson into the Nicholas
channel to prevent an approach from
that direction. On the 18th Sampson
xyo1 fTOr, Colol Io+< 4aA ,a
23d, stating that he was not satisfied
| that the Spanish squadron was not at
| Cienfuegos, and that he would there
| fore remain off that point with his
| squadron. The next day Schley was
| informed that Cervera had been in San
! tiago from the 18th to the 18th, and
| he was directed to proceed with all
dispatch to that port. At this time he
| telegraphed Sampson, under date Of the
| oath, that coaling of Cienfuegos was
very uncertain; that the Spanish fleet
was not in Cienfuegos; that he would
| go eastward on the 25th, but On ac-
! count of short coal supply he would
! not blockade if Cervera was in San
tiago. but would go to Nicholas Mole
to communicate. Upon receiving this
! Key West for coal at once, and If au-
! thorized to proceed to Santiago in per-
! son. Schley left Cienfuegos on the oath
| and stopped on the following day
| twenty miles eastward and southwark
| of Santiago to repair the collier Mer-
rimac. At 7:50 p. m. he signaled to the
! squadron:
Destination Key West via south side
| of Cuba and Yucatan channel, as soon
as collier is ready. Speed, nine knots"
CERVERA AT SANTIAGO.
After steaming to the westward until
| 11:20 p. m. the squadron again stop
| ped to make repairs to the Yale. On
| the morning Of the 9th the Harvard,
| from Mole st. Nicholas, delivered to
| Commodore Schley the following dis
patch:
Washington, May 25, 1s9sAHarvard, st.
Nicholas Mole Haiti: Proceed at once and
| inform Schley and also the senior officer pres
ent OF Santiago, as follows; All departments
information indicates Spanish division is still
at Santiago. The depart tmsnt looks TO you
to ascertain facts and that the enemy, II
therein, does not leave without a decisive
action. Cubans. familiar with Santiago say
| that there are landing places five or six naut-
cal miles west from the mouth OF harbor
| and that there insurgents probably will be
found, and not the Spanish. From the sur
lrSofgr hni- c1 u,