The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-03
TOOK Ten DAYS. SEARCH
FOR sCHLEY TO DISCOVER
CERvERA
HIS STRATEGY SUCCEEDED
In Spite of Misinformation Given by
Pilots Supposed to Be in SYM
pathy With Cuba
HIS STRATEGY SUCCEEDED
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WITH THE UNITED STATES FLEET
| OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, May 20, via
| Port Antonio, Jamaica, June 2.-Four
weeks after the victory of Rear-Admirai
| Dewey at Manila Commodore Schley. IN
command of the flying squadron, had his
shrewdness and pertinacity rewarded 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 were trying to make
landing on the southern coast of Cuba.
This was evidently not by consonance with
newspaper and official information, and
his opinion was not given much public
weight. In fact, 1t is believed that some
days before he proved the correctness OF
his diagnosis of the situation, he was or
dered to return to Key West. However,
new facts gathered by him In the mean
time gave him still more ground for be-
lief as to his proximity to the Spaniards.
The captain of the British steamer Adula,
who was interviewed at Cienfuegos, test
flied to seeing the Spanish fleet in the vic
unity of Santiago de Cuba, evidently await
ing an opportunity to get in.
Captain Sigsbee of the st. Paul related
how he had captured a Spanish coal YES
sci going into the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba and Commodore Schley argued from
these two incidents that the fleet of Spain
was awaiting in some haven near Santiago
until such time as visit. fruitless In its
results, should be made there by the
Americans, when, upon their departure.
the Spanish fleet would run into the har-
Dor.
Commodore Schley determined 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 instructions to be
ready at a twentyknot clip to bring news
to the Commodore at any moment.
From the Americans ships, the Spanish
batteries were in plain view, but no doubt
under preconcerted arrangement they
made no attempts to fire and the flying
squadron, after circling around, slowly
steamed away in the direction of Key
West as its coal supply was getting short.
There was collier with the squadron. but
there was no friendly harbor with smooth
water and there was serious danger of
smashing 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 protect
the ship, the Texas and Marblehead began
| to coal. They worked all night and at day.
break had filled their bunkers. By noon
on Saturday the converted yacht Vixen
had also coaled and at 1 o'clock nothing
| heard from the St. Paul, the warships
| moved again towards Santiago. Stand
| ing off the coast about Is miles the squad
| ron afterwards circled in front of Moro
Castle, but not close enough to get view
inside of the harbor, guarding carefully
against the possibilities of torpedo boat
| attack.
At night the squadron lay off a point
of land. In the morning, Sunday, the St.
Paul came along, but did not report any
knowledge Of the Spanish fleets where
abouts.
| Consequently Commodore Schley deter
mined to find it himself. and with the flag
ship he started toward the harbor.
The Spanish troops at the earthworks
and batteries could be seen through glasses,
preparing in haste to give the American
ships as warm reception as possible.
| When out five miles from the batteries
the lookouts reported the masts Of two
IL
McCauley made the first out to be the
Cristobal Colon. Two torpedo boats were
also made out and a second vessel of the
Vixcaya class was seen.
| All this time, Commodore Schey was on
the after bridge of the Brooklyn, making
good use Of his binoculars. Arrived at
the harbor entrance, when the ships were
sighted from the deck, he turned his eyes
I fro erIoc ,n1, ,;v,Jr
said: IT told you 1 would find them. They
will be long time getting home"
| The order to man the port batteries had
| been given, and the men, stripped to the
! waist, in temperature considerably over
100 degrees, awaited with impatience the
word to fire. But the Commodore decided
not tc waste ammunition on the batteries
and the men were disappointed for the time
| being. However, there was much quiet
jubilation among the men over the pros
poets of a fight.
| Commodore Schley showed his evenness
of temperament by ordering the Massa-
chusetts to take coal Of the collier within
view of the forts and warships of Spain.
On the Texas, Captain Philips went
through with the days routine, includ-
ing church services, at which the men
with a refreshing directness of suggestion
| sang Pull for the Shore"
| 1t was perfectly evident from the posi-
ton of the Spanish warships on Sunday
morning that they had either just entered
the harbor, having learned of the sup
posed final departure of the American
squadron, or had been in hiding UP the
| bay, which is about nine miles long, and
had run down to get out early Sunday