Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-11-26
Mr. LONGS REPORT
Naval Operations In the War
With Spain.
THE HUNT FOR CERyERAS FLEET.
Dispatches Between the Command
ers and the Department-Revi. nj
of the Grades OF Admiral and
Vice Admiral II Recommended.


report to the president Of the secretary
of the navy, John ID. Long, was made
public last night. The report contains
compact narrative OF the operations
Of the navy during the war with SPAIN
abstracts OF the reports of bureau
chiefs and the secretarys recommended
lions for the increase and the improve
ment Of the navy. Mr.. Long begins:
Since my last annual report the navy
has. for the first time since its rehabili-
tatlon, been put to the supreme test
of war. Years of patient, persistent
training and development had brought
Il to q point of high efficiency, which re-
suited IN the unparalleled victories at
Manila and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which
have given the names OF our naval
commanders worldwide fame and add
ed an additional page TO the glorious
naval history Of our country"
Mr.. Long reoites the naval DISPOSE
lions in the carly part OF the year, the
interception on Jan. II OF the gunboat
Helena, under orders 10 join the Asiatc
squadron; the bringing of the Cincin-
natl and the Castine from Montevideo
to Para, on the north coast OF Brazil,
and the blowing up Of the Maine in
Havana harbor. The "judicious tele-
that public opinion should be suspend
ed Is given. and the appointment Of
the board of inquiry Is recorded. Con-
corning the report Of that board the
secretary says:
After an exhaustive examination OF
the wreck and after taking the testi-
mony OF witnesses and of experts the
board reported on the 21st of March
that the Maine had been destroyed by
the explosion OF a submarine mine, but
that II was unable to fix the RESPONSE
bilty upon any person or persons. II
was evident that the cause of the dis
aster must have been from the out
side"
Mr.. Long then refers to the purchase
Of the Albany and New Orleans and TO
the assembling OF the various fleets
Continuing. he says;
ION the 9Th OF March congress pass
ed the emergency bill, appropriating
$50 900. 900 for national defense, and the
department at once took steps to SEE
cure auxiliary vessels. on the 18th OF
March a board was appointed and di-
rected TO make a thorough examination
OF such vessels as might be desirable
for purchase. Purchases were made up
on the recommendation Of the board.
The vessels bought We're at once sent
90 the different navy yards and pri-
vate yards. The changes necessary to
ut them for naval purposes were push
ed forward with the utmost dispatch
and the purchase Of ammunition guns
and all classes Of naval war material
went rapidly on.
THE commander I'm chief OF the Ash
attic station and the commander in chief
% ht go
engaged IN thoroughly preparing the
units OF their commands for the test ~
war The squadrons. ships. officers and
crews were IN admirable condition and
training had been for months engaged
In tactical maneuvers and gunnery prac-
tice and were strengthened by the ad-
ditlon Of the auxiliary vessels as rap
idly as converted"
The secretary discusses at length the
voyage OF the Oregon and Marietta and
the establishing Of the north Atlantic
patrol squadron.
ION April 21," the report says. "con-
gress declared war. Admiral Sampson.
In command Of the north Atlantic fleet,
which had been engaged during the
five or six preceding months in gunnery
and tactical practice off Florida. was
at once ordered TO blockade that part of
the northern coast OF Cuba extending
from Cardenas 20 Bahia Honda. At 6:3O
a. m. on April % the admiral sailed on
that errand"
The secretary gives the telegram to
Admiral Dewey April q, previously
published, directing him TO proceed from
Hongkong to the Philippines and de-
stroy the Spanish feet
After the battle of May / Il was at
al 20,
attic squadron and to send troops to
take and occupy the city OF Manila.
The secretary then comes to the oper-
atons of the north Atlantic fleet ION
April 90" says the secretary, Admiral
Ceryeras fleet, composed of the ar
mored cruisers Cristobal Colon. Viz
oaya, Almirante Oquendo and Infanta
Maria Teresa and the torpedo gunboats
Juror. Terror and Pluton, sailed from
the Cape de Verde islands. AS its des-
tinatlon was uncertain. Admiral Samp-
son sailed east with a portion of the
fleet under his command for the pur.
pose OF observation"
The secretary. continuing says:
ION the morning Of May II the flag.
ship left the squadron in the Bahama
channel and proceeded to Key West
That afternoon the Dupont was me-
with a dispatch from the department
stating that the Spanish fleet had mu
nitions Of war destined for the defens,
Of Havana and was under imperativ,
orders to reach Havana. Cienfuegos o.
port connected with Havana by rail
ION May 10 the flying squadron com
posed of the Brooklyn. Texas. Niassa
chusetts and Scorpion. sailed from Ke,
West for Cienfuegos with instruction
70 establish a blockade at that place a
goon as possible.
ION May 20 the Iowa, Castine and tn
collier Merrimac sailed to join Commo
dore Schley's squadron off Cienfuegos
on this day the department informc
Admiral Sampson Of a report that Ger
vera's squadron was at Santiago d
cuba and advised him to order Com
modore Schley 70 proceed on that por
with the vessels under his command.
Admiral Sampson left Key West 10
the Havana blockade ON the 2lst has
ing previously sent the Dupont Wit
dispatches TO Commodore Schley an
ordered the AIafblehsad and Eagle {
Join the 1ying squadron. By the MAJ
blehead orders were sent TO CommodoI
schley advising him that the SPANS