Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-10-24
WHEELING, VA MONDAY. OCTOBER "a 1885,

proceed with all despatch, but cautious
! ly, to Santiago 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 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 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
as to the delivery of these orders, and
sent duplicate by the Hawk, with an
1 a011lional memorandum. The Admiral
suggested that if the information did
not reach Commodore Schley before
daylight of May 23d, 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 in the event that Cervera left
Santiago on the approach OF Schley's
feet from Cienfuegos, and attempted
to cruise around the coast to havana,
in which case the Havana squadron
/ would attempt to intercept him by go
ing East about two hundred miles be-
yond the junction OF Santaren, ana
Nicholas channels. Strict orders were
given for screening lights, and to see
that none were accidentally shown.
The squadron was to cruise generally
to the eastward in the day, and west
ward during the night. In one OF MS
dispatches the Admiral complains that
his movements are
GREATLY HAMPERED BY MONI-
TORS,
constituting the principal force under
his command On May 23d, as shown
BY the report, Commodore Schley ex-
pressed the belief that the Spaniards
were at Cienfuegos. On the 9th the
admiral sent word to Schley, directing
him to proceed with all possible speed
to Santiago because of information re-
ceived that the Spaniards were there.
The same time orders were sent to
have the collier Sterling dispatched
to Santiago with an expression OF opln-
ion that Commodore Schley should use
it to obstruct the channel at its nor
rowest part leading into the harbor.
The details of the plan were left to
the Commodore's Judgment, as he
(Sampson) had "the utmost confidence
in his ability to carry this plan to a
successful conclusion and earnestly
wish him good luck" Sampson
APPARENTLY FELT CERTAIN
of the presence of the Spaniards at
Santiago. and urged that the harbor
must be blocked at all hazards. Schley
in the meantime had proceeded to San
~: al ! hn a
day Admiral Sampson had expected.
At one time Commodore Schley con-
templated going to Key West with the
squadron for coal, but this was aban
doned, the repairs to his collier hav-
ing been temporarily made. and the
necessity for trip to Key West being
avoided, Santiago was being blocked.
The admiral ngratulated the commo-
dore on his success and directed him
to maintain close blockade at all haz-
ards, especially at night.
Then follows kilograms from Schley
showing that he had recognized the
enemy in the port, and from Secretary
Long to Schley, pointing out that the
most absolutely urgent thing was to
know positively whether the Spanish
division was in the harbor. II they
were an immediate army and navy
movement was to be made. In one
dispatch the Secretary said it would be
discreditable to the navy if the pres
ence Of the Spanish feet were not as
certained Immediately. The commo-
dore's dispatch evidently had not been
received at the department when the
secretary's kilograms were sent. Mean
while Admiral Sampson had made ar
rangements to proceed to Santiago
with number Of his vessels. He ar
rived there June 1st.
Then following
A HISTORICAL RESUME
Of the doings Of the feet while off
Santiago, of the bombardment of the
forts, of the taking of the lower bay at
Guantanamo by the Marblehead and
the Yankee, copies of memorandums
regarding methods Of blockades, tele-
grams bearing on the proposed army
movement to Santiago. etc, practically
all of which is told in official tele-
grams. On June Sth, the admiral
urged upon the department, as he had
previously done. to expedite the arrival
Of the troops from Santiago, the diff
Guilty Of blackading the Spanish ships
daily increasing. On June 10th. dis
patch was received showing that the
army expedition was temporarily
stopped because Of the reported obser-
walton Of additional Spanish vessels
in American waters. In a memoran-
dunn dated June Is. the admiral SAYS:
"The commander-in-chief desires to
call the attention of commanding off,
GERS to the position occupied by the
blockading fleet, especially during the
day time, and it is now directed that
all ships keep within a distance of
the entrance to Santiago of four miles,
and this distance
MUST NOT BE EXCEEDED.
''Tf the vessel is coaling or is other
wise restricted in her movements she
must nevertheless keep within this
distance. If at any time the flagship
makes signal which is not visible to
any vessel, such vessel must at once
approach the flagship or repeating
vessel to point where she can read
the signal.
Disregard Of the directions which
have already been given on this head,
has led to endless confusion. Many
times during the day the fleet is so
scattered that it would be perfectly
possible for the enemy to come out OF
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