The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-10-24

certain of Cervera's Where
abouts-Much of the Story Told
by kilograms and Official Or
ders-Monitors Hindered Move
ments.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-The Navy
Department has made public that por-
tion of Admiral SIMPSONS report COW
ering the conduct of the fleet and his
command in it's operation in the West
Indies for about two months prior TO
the destruction of Admiral Cervera 5
ships on July Sd. 1t is made up largely
of the dispatches and the movements
of the fleet, with explanations and
comment by the Admiral. The report
is dated August Sd, on the flagship
New York, and begins with state
ment of the determination reached by
the Navy Department to send a squad :
ron to the Windward Passage for the
purpose of observation, because OF in
formation received of the sailing on
April Doth of Admiral Cervera's squad
ron from the Cape Verde Islands. On
the voyage eastward from the naval
base at Key West, which began May
4th Admiral Sampson reports that
there was experienced endless trouble
and delay because of the inefflciency
of the two monitors accompanying the
ships, and which had to be taken in
tow. Their coal supply was so small
that it was evident that they must
either frequently coal or be towed. ] lie
Admiral says:
\, aH
the enemy appeared at this juncture,
the squadron would have been in a
much better position for an engage
ment had the monitors been elsewhere.
subsequently. when engaging the bat
teries of San Juan, it was evident
that their shooting was very bad. Ow-
ing to the quick rolling of these YES
sells, even in a very moderate sea, they
were unable to fire with any degree
of accuracy"
Among other kilograms received by
the Admiral from the department at
Washington when off Cape Haytien
was the following:
Washington ID. Co., May 6.-Do not
risk or cripple your vessels against
Qualifications so as TO prevent from soon
afterwards successfully fighting the
Spanish fleet composed of the Pelayo,
Carlos V, Oquendo. Vizcaya, Maria
Theresa, Cristobal Colon, four deep-sea
torpedo boats, if they should appear on
this side. LONG.
On May Sth there was a consultation
on board the flagship and the Admiral
says that he decided to stand on to
the eastward as far as San Juan, Porto
Rico, on the chance of finding the
Spanish squadron in that port, where,
If they were not successful in destroy
ing it, it could be at least blockaded
and held. The squadron arrived off
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
difficulty in forcing the surrender o.
the place, but the fact that we should
be held several days in completing ar
rangements for holding it; that part of
our force would have to be left to
await the arrival of troops to garri-
son it; that the movements of the
Spanish squadron, our main objective,
were still unknown: that the flying
squadron was still north, and not IN =
position to render any aid; that Ha-
vana, Cervera's natural objective, was
thus open to entry by such force as
his while we were a thousand miles
distant, made our immediate movement
toward Havana imperative.
II thus reluctantly gave up the pro-
feet against San Juan and stood west
ward for Havana"
Several kilograms are here presented
based on reports that Cerveras squad
ron had returned to Cadiz, and they
had in view Ito return and capture San
Juan the leisure to do so, and occupy
the place being assured in the event 81
Admiral Cerveras failure to cross the
Atlantic"
Shortly after news was received that
the Spanish fleet had appeared of
Curacao, and the squadron, under or
ders from the department, proceeded
to Key West, to which place the flying
squadron under Commodore (now Ad-
miraD Schley had already been ordered
Arrangements were then hurried.y
made and the flying squadron. aug
mented by the other vessels under
Commodore Schley, was sent on 'Iien-
fuegos. where it was believed the en-
envy would go, in which case an ef'
fort was to be made to engage ant
capture him. Sampson was given tins
choice either of the command or .nt
blockading squadron off Havana or a
Cienfuegos, Schley in either case U
remain with his own squadron.
From messages received by the Ad'
miral from the department about May
Goth ii appears that reports had reach
ed the United States that the Spanish
feet was at Santiago, so the depart
ment advised Sampson to send imme-
diately word to Schley TO proceed tt
that place, leaving one small yesse
off Cienfuegos. On May list instruc'
tions We're gotten by Sampson for Com.
modore Schley and sent him via tht
Marblehead. regarding the possibility
of the Spanish fleet being at Santiago
They are in part as follows:
United States Flagship New Yorl
first rate). Key West, Fla, May 22d-
Sir: Spanish squadron probably a
Santiago de Cuba-four ships and three
torpedoboat destroyers If you are sat
isfied that they are not at Cienfuegos
proceed with all dispatch, but cautious
". to Santiago de Cuba, and if tn.
enemy is there blockade him in port
You will probably find it necessary t.
establish communication with some O
49, xcba hit nj S-fiShermlu or others -