The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-07-30
A REPORT BY SAMPSON.
Tells How Cervera's Fleet Went
to Destruction.
PRAISE is GIVEN ALL.
Nc Particular Naval Comm ander Sim
gled Ont for Distinction
SchIey's Report,

Washington, d. c.. July 27-Official re
ports made by Rear-Admiral Sampson,
Commodore Schey and some Of the COM
nanders IF war vessels on the destruc
ton of The Spanish feet at Santiago on
July 3 we're made public Yesterday They
tril in detail ef the work of each Ameri-
ran ship in that memorable sea fight.
Under date Of June : Acting Rear-Ad-
mral Sampson issued the first .-order of
battle for the operations against Santa
go and the squadron blockaded in that
port. The feet was divided into two
squadrons The first, under the personal
command of the commander-iu-c chief con
sisted of the armored cruiser New York
thagshrl, battlcships Iowa and Oregon.
protected cruiser New Orleans cruiser
M2yttower and torpedo-boat Porter. The
second SQUADRON, commanded by COmmo-
dJre Schlcy, was composed Of the armOred
cruiser Brooklyn flagship, hattleSnips
Massachusetts and Texas. unprotected
cruiser Marblchead and yacht Vixen.
Orders of Admiral Sampson.
The general orders directed the yes
aelS tu maintain vigorous blockade.
keeping about six miles off shore in the
daylight and closing in at night. the first
squadron establishing the ockHde 10 the
eastward and the second squadron that TO
westward Of the port
IF the enemy tries to escape" ordered
Rear Admiral Sampson THE ships must
close and cnga @e as soon as possible. and
endcavor to sink his vessels or force
thom to run ashore IL the channels"
This, after all, was the battle plan fol
lowed.
Subsequent notifications made in this
order We're issued in the shape Of memo
randa. These related to tn" disposition
Of the picket launches. To the night sig
mails for the discovery of the enemy. to
the use Of acarrhlightS to the necessity
Of keeping the ships heads habituaily to-
ward the land and 90 the vital impor-
tance Of a sharp lookout
instruction TO Ships.
One important memorandum was No.
~, which viii bear reading between the
lines, for when the history Of this vigor-
nus blockade becomes an open book many
whispered comments viii become not the
gossip Of cabins and wardrooms. but the
salient facts upon which the Judgment
Of the people must be formed This IL
the memorandum
United States Flagship New York IF
Santiago d. Guhn. Cuba June ~ Sir. Tha
commander in-rhirf desires again 10 call tho
attention Of rnmmanaing officers t. the posi-
ttons occupied hv the hlockadiug fleet. e>pc-
siallr dntihs III" daytime and il Is now d-
rectca that all ships keep within distance
~ the entrance 70 Santiago Of four miles
9nd this distance must not be exceeded. If
the vessel iS c1Hliug. or is otherwise re
strirtcl IN her movements. She must never
thrIrs> keep within this distance"
II AT any time tho ftagShip makes Si-nnl
which is not visible 10 any vessel such yp<~ci
must q once approach the flagship or repeat
thE VeN>'l . 2 point where She can read the
signal
Disregard Of the directions which have al
ready be"n given on this head has led TO
rndlU.S confusion Many times during the
day the fleet is 50 scattered that it would
bc perfectly possible. for the enemy to come
ont of tho harhor and meet vim very Iittia
ET4r t.I..ss