The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-19
Is RevieWedbv
Schley.
REPORT PUBLISHED.
Story Of Naval Moves Be
fore the Bombardment.

Washington, Dec. IS. The navy de-
rartment today made public a report
from Admiral Schley, covering that
mart of operations and movements Of
fine flying squadron from its sailing
from Key West for Cienfuegos up to
but not including the first lombard
ment. The report is substantially as
follows:
Flying Squadron, United States Flag
ship Brooklyn.
of Santiago de Cuba, May 80, 1898.
Sir. I have the honor to report that
he squadron sailed from Key West on
The morning of the 18th instant for
cienfuegos, Cuba, in obedience to or
ders from Rear Admiral Sampson. In
company with the flagship were the
Massachusetts,, Texas and Scorpion.
En- route passed the Marblehead, Nash
vile and Wasp, communicating with
the last-named vessel. Off Cape An
tonic communicated with the Cincinnati
and the Vesuvius, scouting On the
morning OF the "a instant the squa-
dron stood in for the entrance OF Glen
fuegos harbor to reconnoiter, and later
IN the day passed the entrance twice,
close in.
AS l heard the firing of guns on the
previous afternoon IN the direction OF
the port. and as there was considerable
smoke observed in the harbor, ] was
led TO believe that the Spanish squa-
dron might have arrived there That
day The Dupont joined me, with dis
patches from Admiral Sampson direct
Ing that the blockade Of Cienfuegos
be observed and that the Scorpion be
sent to communicate with the Mime
apolts and the Harvard, off Santiago.
Also on this day the Iowa Joined the
SQUADRON.
A line blockade was established about
four miles off shore and at night an in
shore line was maintained consisting
yarousy Of the Scorpion, Dupont and
Castne the Iast-named vessel arriving
ON the 23d, conveying the Merrimac
ON the 23d instant the Hawk arrived
with dispatches from Admiral Sampson
directing me to move eastward with
the squadron to Santiago, if satisfied
that the enemy's vessels were not in
O9enfuegos, Not being satisfied at this
time that they We're not there, I held
my sition being further STRENGTHENED
IN my opinion by the fact that I was
informed by the captain Of the British
steamer Adula that when he left
Kingston cablegram had been re-
caiEed on the Thursday preceding my
arrival off Cienfuegos, stating that the
Soanish squadron had sailed from San
tsgo.
ON the oath instant the Marblehead,
Vixen and Eagle Joined the squadron
and the Marblehead and Eagle were
Immediately sent to communicate with
the insurgents to the westward Of
'tenfuegos and to furnish them with
ammunition, clothing and dynamite
/ pom Commander McCalla's return he
reported to me that he had obtained
Information that the Spanish squadron
was not in Cienfuegos Dispatches
were at once sent by the Dupont to
Admiral Sampson and to Commodore
Eemy for the department indicating
mat this squadron would move toward
Santiago de Cuba
After dar1, on +be evening of the
Path the squadron stood to sea, to the
eastward, with the Brooklyn Massa-
chusetts, Iowa and the Texas in col
umn natural order: the Marblehead
Vixen and Eagle on the outer flank
and the collier inshore of the battle
ships.
The Castine was left at Cienfuegos to
notify the Scorpion on her return,
should she not be sighted by us, to
proceed to Key West in company. The
run was marked by rain and rough
weather to such an extent that the
Eagle was unable to keen up speed
OF o to 8.5 knots, and she was sent
10 Port Antonio, Jamaica, for coal with
directions to make the best Of her way
back to Key West
On arriving off Santiago de cuba, the
collier Merrimac was disabled by the
breaking of her intermediate pressure
valve stem and the cracking Of the
surfing box This served as further
embarrassment to the squadron and a
source of considerable anxiety, as. with
me weather conditions that had pre-
vailed since leaving Cienfuegos, 1t APP
reared absolutely necessary to aban-
uoh the position off Santiago and seek
place where the vessels could ne
Voaled and the GOLFERS machinery re-
haired.
on Santiago the st. Paul Yale ana
minneapolis were sighted and commu-
hlcated with. The MINNEAPOLIS report
ed that she only had sufficient coal 10
reach Key West, and that her ma,
'hlnery was in bad condition. The coal
supply Of the other two scouts was
also much reduced. Arrangements
were at once made whereby the Yale
was to tow the collier, and. as the pros
bect did not seem favorable for repleen-