New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-19
MOVEMENTS OF THE SQUADRON OFF
CIENFUEGOs AND SANTIAGO.
THE RETURN TOWARD THE YccATAN f"Ss""H
DIFFICULTY IN COMMISSIONING
Flying Squadron,
United States Flagship BrooKlyno, e

squadron sailed from Key west on the morning
of the 10Th inst. for Ccufuegos. Cuba IN opedi-
ence TO orders from Rear-Admiral sampson In
company with the flagship were the Massachu-
setts the Texas and the Scorpion I'm route
passed the Marbehead the Nashville ana the
WASP communicating with the last-naHleu yes
sell Off Cape Antonio communicated Win the
Cincinnati and the Vesuvius. scouting
Second-On the morning OF the I'd inst the
squadron stood in for the entrance o, .ho AZ
COS Harbor to reconnoitre. and later IN ,he nay
passed the entrance twice close in AS nau
heard the firing OF guns On the previous ",'er
noon in the direction OF the por, ana a. ,nere
was considerable smoke observed in the harpor'
I was led TO believe that the Spanish squadron
might have arrived there. That day the dupont
Joined me with dispatches from Admiral s cainp
SON. directing that the blockade OF Cienfuegos
be preserved, and that the Scorpion be sent 10
communicate with the Minneapolis ana tne Iiar
ward. off Santiago. Also on this day the Iowa
Thlrd-A line of blockade was established
about four miles off shore, and at night an IN
shore line was maintained conss,ns 'at ns,,Sy
of the Scorpion. the Dupont and the ,o astihe
the ast-named vessel arriving on the -od con-
voying the Merrmac.
SIMPSONS ORDERS RECEIVED
Fourth-Also on the 23d inst. the Hawk ar
rived with dispatches from Admiral sampson
directing me to move eastward with tne squad
ron 10 Santiago n satisfied that the cnemy's
vessels were not IN Cienfuegos Not being satis-
fed at this time that they were not there
held my position, being further strengthened' IN
my opinion by the fact that was informed by
the caDtain of the British steamer Adula that
when he left Kingston n cableSram had heef TO-
ceived on the Thursday preceding my arrival on
Cienfuegos stating that the SpanlsA squadron
had sailed from Santiago.
Fifth-The Iowa. the Castine and the Dupont
took coal from the collier on that day. the iowa
particularly needing coal, az she had sailed from
Key West to join this squadron before COM
pletely coaled. and consequently was consider
apy short.
On, .bn IL, ms no Morb
Vixen and the Eagle Joined the squadron, and
the Marblehead and the Eagle were Immediately
sent to communicate with the insurgents TO the
westward of Cienfuegos. and To furnlsh them
with ammunition, clothing and dynamite. Upon
Commander McCalla's return. in the course or
the afternoon he reported to that he had
obtained information that the Spanish squadron
not In Cienfuegos. Dispatches wer" at once
sent by the Dupont 70 Admiral Sampson and
to Commodore Remey for the Department. in
dicating that this squadron would move toward
Santiago de Cuba.
DANGER IN COALING THE TEXAS.
seventh-Great difficulty has been experienced
in coaling the Texas. account Of her project
ing Sponsors in any seaway whatever. and only
under the most favorable conditions can she go
alongside a collier. In anything more unfavor-
able than absolutely smooth water there is great
danger OF injury either 10 the Texas herself or
to the collier In this connection the advantage
Of a tumblehome TO the side Is very marked. IN
surfing great freedom from accidents due to pro-
jections the ships side.
Eighth-After dark on the evening OF the
Oath the squadron stood to sea to the eastward.
with the Brooklyn. the Massachusetts,. the Iowa
and the Texas in column. natural order: the
Marblehead. the Vixen ard the Eagle on the
outer flank. and the collier nshore Of the battle
ships The Castine was left at Cienfuegos 10
notify the Scorpion her return, should she
not he sighted by US. to proceed TO Key West
in company.
Ninth-The run to Santiago was marked by
rain and rough weather to such an extent that
the Eagle unable to keep up speed OF ~
to So knots and fell behind so much to seri
ousy delay the squadron, which was forced 20
slow to speed OF from 10 knots for her
to regain and hold her position. AS this rough
head sea continued. with no apparent prospect
Of abating. and as the Eagles coal supply was
becoming dangerously low. she was sent 10 Port
Antonio Jamaica. for coal with directions to
make the best Of her way back TO Key West
THE SQUADRON STARTS WESTWARD.
Tenth-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 stufing box. This served
az a further embarrassment to the squadron
and a source Of considerable anxiety, az, with
the weather conditions that had prevailed since
leaving Cienfuegos 1t appeared absolutely
necessary TO abandon the position of Santiago
and seek place where the vessels could he
coaled and the Golfers machinery repaired.
Eleventh-Off Santiago. the 81. Paul. the Yale
ard the Minneapolis were sighted and commune
Gated with The Minneapolis reported that she
had only sufficient coal TO reach Key West and
that her machinery in bad condition The
coal supply Of the other two scouts was also
much reduced Arrangements were al once made
whereby the Yale was TO tow the collier; and.
as the prospect did not seem favorable for re-
plenishing the meagre coal supply Of the other
vessels the squadron stood TO the westward.
towing the collier The operation OF taking the
collier in tow proved to be quite difficult owing
to the size and weight of the two ships and the
repeated parting Of the two lines. Finally. how
han ttrra omit ting
ertiOns the Golfers chain cable was got 10 the
Yale and the squadron proceeded The 81. Paul
was ordered to remain off Santiago until her
coal supply would no longer permit of further
delay.
RETURNS TO SANTIAGO.
Twelfth-Afer standing to the westward for
about three hours. or about twenty-five miles.
the conditions became less favorable and the
squadron stopped The Texas and the Marble
head were sent alongside the collier, whose in
jury had been temporarily repaired. and coaled
during the night.
Thirteenth-Inasmuch it known that.
in the Spanish squadron had reached San
tiagO Admiral Sampson was able to block any
movement Of the enemy through the Bahama
Channel my intention in standing to the west
ward was should it become necessary, to bar
any effort Of the enemy TO reach Havana by a
dash through the Yucatan Passage.
Fourteenth-On the oath inst. continued coal
Ing the Texas and the Marhlehead, and later the
vixen. III me al mum "a''s iii"ios'" l"
get sufficient coal into these vessels TO enable
them TO remain with the squadron. shaped
course for Santiago. off which port arrived
about dusk. Established an inner picket line
consisting Of the Vixen and the Marblehead. the
remainder Of the squadron lying 10 off the
trance Of the port about four or five miles OUT.
SPANISH WARSHIP SIGHTED
Fifteenth-The next morning. 29th inst
steamed in to examine the entrance 10 the har-
Dor. and sighted the Cristobal Colon. appar-
entity mocred head and stern. across the west
ern channel around Cay Smith also Of the
vessels Of the Vizcaya or the lnfanta Maria
Toresa class rnoorcd N the eastern channel