The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-26


session of and its Notifications were
| DESTROYED The Admiral reported that
the CITY could be taken at any time when
| n sufficient number of troops were on
hand to hold 1T.
NORTH ATLANTIC FLEET.
This fleet was under the command of
until March rs, when 1T was found neees-
sary, on account OF his health, to relieve
him from that onerous and exactlng
duty. Captain Sampson, the senior
officer present, who was thoroughly
familiar with the personnel and material
OF the fleet. and with all the arrange
ments which .had been made preceding
he actual outbreak of hostilities, was
given command OF the fleet, with the rank
OF rear admiral
On April 80 Admiral Cervera's feet,
composed of the aPmored cruisers Crit
tobal Colon. Vizcaya, Almirante Oquen-
do, and Infanta Maria Teresa, and the
torpedo gun boats Furor, Terror. and
Plnton sailed from the Cape de Verde
| Islands.
| AS It's destination was uncertain, Adj
miral Sampson sailed east with a portion
of the fleet under his command for the
purpose OF observation. He left Key West
| on the 4th of May in the flagship New
York, and off Havana picked up the
Iowa, Indiana, ard Detroit. On the way
/ east he was afterwards Joined by the
monitors Terror and Amphitrite and the
Montgomery. Porter Wompatuok, and
collier Niagara.
At Cape Faitien on Msy z, he received
dispatches from the Department. advising
him that the Spanish squadron was
reported at St. Thomas. West Indies.
| Instructions were also received that the
vessels accompanying him were not TO be
rlsked or crippled in the boInbardment OF
/ Qualifications, as it WAS considered unwise
| to risk any OF the vessels OF our Navy
until the Spanish fleets had been met and
destroyed. Continuing eastward in the
hope of finding the snemy at San Juan,
! Porto Rico, he found it necessary, on
account of the small coal supply of the
monitors, to take them in tow, and the
squadron did not arrive off San Juan
until tho morning of the 18th. A bonn
/ bardment of that place followed for two
! hours and half, but as there was no
land force to hold it in case OF its sur
| render, and as the Spanish fleet was not
there, it was determined 20 return to
Havana, where it was possible Cervera
might have gone.
On May ~ Admiral Sampson received o
dispatch from Key West stating that
Cersera' S squadron WAS in the harbor OF
1 Santiago de Cuba on the morning of the
2lst; also telegram from the Departs
ment that 1t was expected to visit San
/ Juan, Porto Rico, and ii Commodore
| Schley found that it had left Santiago, he
should follow 1T.
Ats a. IN. on the morning of the 28d
Admiral San pson left OF Havana, sailing
eastward, with view to occupying
Nicholas Channel in such manner as to
prevent the approach of the Spanish
| squadron in thai direction. The Mont
gomsry joined him on the gath, with
dispatches stating that information had
been received TO the effect that Cervera's
squadron had not left Santiago.
/ ON the 10th Admiral Sampson received
| from Commodore Schley letter datei
| May 90, stating that he was by no means
satisfied that the Spanish squadron was
not at Cienfuegos, and that he would,
therefore, remain off that port with his
| squadron.
the Wasp was sent on May ~ to carry
advices 30 Commodore Schley. informing
him that daily confidential reports
received at Key West from Havana stated
| that the Spanish squadron had been In
Santiago de Cuba from ths 18th to the
10Th, inclusive, and directing MIN 20
proceed with all pc sible dispatch TO tna5
port At this time two kilograms dated
/ Cienfuegos, May "a, were received by
| Admiral Sampson from Commodore
Schley, stating that coaling off that port
| was very uncertain; that ne nal as
ceriained that the Spanish teet was not
| in Cienfuegos, and would go eastward on
the next Gay, the 25th, but tnat on
account of short coal supply in ships he
could not blockade if the spanish squat
ron was in Santiago, but would proceed
| to the vicinity oil Nicholas Mole. from
which point he would communicate.
| Commodore ScEley left Cienfuegos on
the evening OF the oath, and az .. 80 p. m
| ON the 10Th reached point 20 miles or
more to the southwark and eastward OF
| Co xph StOUDeQ
| while repairs were made TO the collier
| MerrImac. AT 7.50 p. III. he signaled to
| the SQUADRON, Destination Key West.
via south side of Cul a and Yucatan Chan
mel, as soon as collier is READY Spee,t,
8 knots" About 9 pm. the squadron
got underway and after steaming to
| the westward until 1i.20 p. M, stopped
| to make repairs to the Yale,
on tue morning OF the 9th the Har-
yard: from Mole ST. Nicholas, delivered
to Commodore schley the following dis
patch: :. ,ooo
| Harvard, ST Nicholas Mole, Haiti:
| Proceed at once and Inform Schiey and
also the senior officer present OF Santiago
as follows: All Departments informa-
ton indicates Spanish division is still at
Santiago The I, partment looks to you
| to ascertain facts and that the enemy 1t
| therein does not leave without a decisive
action. OllpaHS lbiuAiluI WIN tldubidgo
SAY that there are landing places or
nautical miles west from the mouth of
harbor, and that there insurgents probably
will be found and not the Spanish
From the surrounding heights can see
every vessel in port. AS soon as asoer-
tanned notify the Department. whether
enemy is there. Could not squadron and
also the Harvard coal from Merrimac lee
ward off Cape Cruz, Gonaives Channel,
or Mole, Haiti? The Department. will
| send coal Immediately to mole. Report
without delay situation at Santiago de
Cuba.
| At a. M, two hours after receiving
this dispatch frnm the Department, Com
modore Schlsy, signnallssd to the .squsdro q,
with coal remaining? Report by signal. .
At noon the Harvard lett carrying his
reply to the Departments dispatch, as
follows;
Secnav, Washington:
= Merrimac engines disabled ;
! at1 10 how