The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-24
WORK OF NAVY
ADMIRAL SIMPSONS LONG-AWAITED
REPORT MADE PUBLIC.
Operations of the Fleet Under His
Command Prior to the Destruction
OF Cervera's Ships on July 3.
| MONITORS AN IMPEDIMENT
DELAYED THE MOVEMENTS OF THE
OTHER WAR VESSELS,
And Rolled So Quickly Even I'm a. Mod
crate Sea that They Were Virtual
ly Useless at San Juan.
SEARCH FOR THE SPANIARDS
ORDERS TO SCHLEY AND HOW THEY
WERE CARRIED OUT.
-~
And Rolled So Quickly Even I'm az Mod
crate Sea that They Were Virtual-
ly Useless at San Juan.
SEARCH FOR THE SPANIARDS
ORDERS TO SCHLEY AND HOW THEY
WERE CARRIED OUT.
Given to Block Santiago
Correspondence with Shaftcr.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.--The Navy De-
rartment has made public that portion of
Admiral Simpsons report covering the con-
duct of the fleet under his command, in it's
operations in the West Indies for about
two months prior to the destruction of
Admiral Cervera's ships. on July g. 1t is
made up largely of official DISPATCHES and
the movements of the fleet with explaIia-
tons and comment by the admiral. The
report is dated Aug. 3. on the flagship
New York, and begins with statement of
the determination reached by the Navy De-
partment to send a squadron to the Wind
ward Passage for the purpose of observa-
ton, because of information received of
the sailing April 20 of Admiral Cervera' S
squadron from the Cape Verde islands. On
the voyage eastward from the naval base
at Key West, which began May 4, Admiral
Sampson reports there was experienced end
less trouble and delay because of the in
efficiency of the two monitors accompany
ing the other ships and which had to be
taken in tow. Their coal supply was so
small that it was at once evident that they
must either frequently coal or be towed.
The Admiral says: Had the sea been
rough, or had the enemy appeared at this
juncture, the squadron would have been
in much better position for an engage
ment had the monitors been elsewhere.
Subsequently, when engaging the batteries
of San Juan, it was evident that their
shooting was very bad. Owing to the
quick rolling of these vessels, even in a
very moderate sea, they were unable to
fire with any degree of accuracy"
Among the kilograms received by the ad-
miral from the Navy Department ut Wash
ington, when off Cape Haytien, was the
following
washington, May 6--Do not risk or
cripple your vessels against Notifications
as to prevent from soon afterwards success
fully fighting Spanish fleet composed of
Pelayo, Carlos v, Oquendo, Viscaya, Maria
Teresa, Cristobal Colon and four deep sea
torpedo boats, if they should appear on
this side
THE TRIP TO SAN JUAN.
On May there was a consultation on
board the flagship, and the admiral says
that he decided to stand on to the eastward
as far as San Juan, Porto Rico, on the
chance of finding the Spanish squadron in
that port, where, if they were not success
full in destroying it, it could be at least
blockaded and held. The squadron arrived
off San Juan on the morning of the 18th and
the bombardment of the place ensued. Re-
garding his action at this place the admiral
says: 1T was clear to my own mind that
the squadron would not have any great
difficulty in forcing the surrender of the
place, butythe fact trat we should be held
several days in completing arrangements
for holding it; that part of our force would
have to be left to await the arrival of
of the Spanish squadron, our main object
i've, were still unknown: that the flying
squadron was still north, and not in a
position to render any aid; that Havana
Cerevera's natural objective was thus open
to entry by such force as his, while we
were a thousand miles distant, made our
immediate movement towards Havana i'm
perative. 1 thus reluctantly gave up the
project against San Juan and stood west
ward for Havana
Several kilograms are here presented
based on reports that Cerveras squadron
had returned to Cadiz and they had in view
Ito return and capture San Juan, the
leisure to do SO and occupy the place being
assured in the event of Admiral Cervera )
failure to cross the Atlantic
Shortly after news was received that the
West Indies, and the squadron, under orders
from the department, proceeded to Key
West, TO which place the flying squadron,
under Commodore (now admiraD Schley,
had already been ordered Arrangements
were then hurriedly made and the flying
S Iuadron, augmented by the other vessels
Irder Commodore Schley, was sent off Glen
fuegos, where it was believed the enemy
would go, in which case an effort was to
be made to engage and capture him. Samp-
son was given the choice either of the COM
mand of the blockading squadron off Ha-
vana or at Cienfuegos, Schley in either case
to remain with his own squadron.
SCHLEY ORDERED TO SANTIAGO
From messages received by the admiral
from the department about May 20 it APP
pears that reports had reached the United
States that the Spanish fleet was at Sam
tiago so the department advised Sampson
to send Immediately word to Schey to pro-
coed TO that place. leaving one small
vessel off Cienfuegos. At Key West, on May
p, instructions were written by Sampson
for Commodore Schley and sent to him by
the Marblehead in regard TO the possibility
of the Spanish fleet being at Santiago They
are in part as follows:
''Sir-Spanish squadron probably at San
tiago de Cuba; four ships and three tor
pedo boat destroyers. If you are satisfied
that they are not at Cienfuegos proceed
with all dispatch. but cautiously, TO San
tiago de Cuba, and if the enemy is there
blockade him in port. You will probably
find it necessary to establish communication
with some of the Observation-Disclosures or
others-to learn definitely that the ships are
in port. it being impossible to see into it
from the outside.
The admiral said he felt much concerned
TO the delivery of these orders and sent
a duplicate by the Hawk with an additional
memorandum. The admiral suggested that
If the information did not reach Commo-
dore Schley before daylight of May % to
mask the real direction he should take as
much as possible. He adds: Follow the
Spanish squadron whichever direction they
take"
The admiral, off Havana, gives copies of
orders Of battle which were to be followed