Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-12-05
SEARCH FOR cERvERA.
A Correspondents Story of
What Schley Really Did.
ALLEGED DELAY AT OIENFUEGOS.

ceiyinE SIMPSONS OrdeT-His Cause
For That Much Delay Fully en-
plained--His strange Order to Sail
SIMPSONS Report Versus n Core
spOndcnt's observations.
The navy department has made pub
lie parts Of Admiral SIMPSONS report
upon last springs naval operations in
West Indian waters. Although Samp-
son makes no direct criticism of ADM
raj Schley, the official correspondence
between Sampson, Schley and the de-.
partment at Washington would seem to
show that Schley was derelict in his
duty on certain occasions prior to the
time he was relieved from the command
Oft Santiago by Sampson. Sampson new
er criticised Schley officially, and the
correspondence would never have been
made public had it not been for the i'll
advised efforts of the jealous friends of
Schley to give him the entire glory of
the campaign ending in the destruction
Of the Spanish squadron, to the belittle-
ment of Sampson.
The main charges-if that word may
be used-against Schley are;
First. That he remained at Cientuegos a
much longer time than was necessary without
discovering that the Spanish fleet was not in
that harbor.
Second.-That he did not go TO Santiago at
once when orders to do SO reached him at Glen
fuegos.
Third. THAT after arriving off Santiago he
turned about and started back for Key West
without having discovered the presence of Ger
vera.
The following recapitulation Of events
and dates in the cruise Of the flying
squadron by a disinterested observer
who accompanied the fleet is necessary
for a clear understanding of these
charges:
Friday, May l3.-Schley left Hamp-
ton Roads with the Brooklyn, Massachu-
setts, Texas, Scorpion and collier Ster-
ling.
Sunday, May 15.-The squadron stop
ped engines off Charleston bar, where
Schley was intercepted by a lighthouse
tender with orders from Washington to
proceed to Key West.
Wednesday, May 1S.-The squadron
stopped off Sand Key light, eight miles
from Key West Schley went into Key
West on the Scorpion to get further Or
ders from Washington. He protested Of
ficially against being placed under
SIMPSONS command. He was ordered
to await the arrival of Sampson, who
was then Oh his way back from San
Juan. Late that afternoon the New
York came in, followed by the Iowa
and Dupont. An amusing incident show.
ed at once the latent friction between
Sampson and Schley The New York,
wishing to signal the Brooklyn, wig
wagged, using the Brooklyn's old indi-
vidual call letter to attract her atten-
ton. No attention whatever was paid
by the Brooklyn to the signal, After 10
or 10 minutes fruitless work the New
York's signalman changed his call,
using the letter f (for flagship, where
upon the Brooklyn answered at once.
Sampson sent for Schley to 60 aboard
the New York, and Schley went. Samp-
son showed Schley the following dis
patch from the navy department., which
he had received off Cape Haitian by the
Dupont:
It has Just been heard that the Spanish fleet
have munitions of war essential to the defense
Of Havana and that the order of the Spanish
fleet is imperative to reach Havana or Cienfu
egos, a railroad port connected with Havana,
at all hazards, and as Cienfuegos appears to
be the only port fulfilling the conditions,
Schley. with the Brooklyn, Massachusetts, and
Texas. to arrive at Key West on the morning
Of the 18th, will be sent to Cienfuegos as soon
as possible.
Sampson told Schley that the depart
ment had ordered him to send Schley to
Cienfuegos with an additional armored
vessel from his OWL command. Schley
thereupon gave orders to the flying
squadron to prepare to sail at once for
Cienfuegos. Sampson agreed that the
Iowa should follow Immediately.
Thursday, May 19.-This is the day
Cervera entered Santiago harbor, At
daylight Schley sailed with the flying
squadron from Key West for Cienfuegos,
having these instructions from Samp-
son:
1t is unnecessary for me to say that you
should establish a blockade at Cienfuegos with
the least possible delay and that it should be
maintained as close as possible. Should the
Spanish vessels show themselves in That vicin
tty and. finding you on the lookout, attompt
to come around the island, the east or west
please send me notice by the best vessel you
have for that purpose as to their direction
that l may be prepared for them at Havana.
Schley sailed through the Yucatan
channel with all possible speed. The
squadron proceeded with guns loaded
and lights out at night, every man on
the ships half expecting to meet the
S~paniards at any moment. All the time
Cervera was comfortably behind the
Moro Notifications in Santiago harbor.
Saturday, May 21.-Course altered
at noon to run direct for Cienfuegos. The
squadron was off the harbor about mid
night.
Sunday, May 22.-At daylight the
squadron steamed slowly toward the en-.
trance to the harbor, with decks cleared
ready for anything that might turn up.
The Brooklyn, leading, suddenly sheered
of seward, having discovered what
was apparently q masked battery.
Smoke was seen rising from behind the
hills inclosing the harbor At 8 a. m
the squadron made a circle in front Of
the harbor entrance at a distance of
about a mile and a half. for the purpose
drawing the fire Of any batteries, but
there was no sign from land. Schley
sent the Scorpion eastward toward San
tiago for news from u scouting vessels
there, The Dupont and Iowa joined the
squadron at oon Another parade was
made before the entrance. but no Span
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