The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-26

ttago. The department looks to you to as
certain facts and that the enemy, II therein,
ooeS not leave without q decisive action.
CubanS familiar with Santiago say that
there are landing places five or six nautical
miles west from the mouth OF the harbor,
and that there insurgents probably will be
found and not the Spanish. From the sur
rounding heights can see every vessel in
port. AS soon as ascertatned notify the de-
partment whether enemy is there. Could
not squadron and also the Harvard coal
from Merrimac leeward off Cape Cruz,
Gonaives channel OF Mole Haiti? The de-
partment will send coal Immediately to
Santiago LONG"
At IL a. m, two hours after receiving
this dispatch from the department. Com
mOdore Schley sgnaled to the squadron:
Can you fetch into the port of Key West
with coal remaining? Report by signal"
AT noon the Harvard left, carrying his reply
to the Navy Departments dispatch as fol-
lows:
Kingston, May 2S.
"Merrimac engines disabled; is heavy: am
obliged to have towed to Key West. Have
been unable absolutely to coal the Texas,
Marblehead, Vixen, Brooklyn from collier
owing TO rough sea- Bad weather since
leaving Key West. The Brooklyn alone
has more than sufficient coal to proceed
TO Key West Cannot remain off Santiago
IN present state OF squadron on coal ac-
count. Impossible to coal leeward of Cape
cruz in the summer, all owing to south
westerly winds Much to be regretted can
not OBEY orders of the department Have
strlYen earnestly; forced to proceed for coal
to Key West by way of Yucatan passage
e Sann9t nos ASCERTAIN anything respecting
collier to get cable to hold. SCHLEY"
Later in the day, the squadron meantime
having again moved westward, the signal
stop was made to the flying squadron
after which the Texas and Marblehead went
alongside the Merrimac and coaled. The
squadron was at that time distant about
forty miles to the southwark and west
ward OF Santiago. On the 18th signal was
made to return in the direction of Santiago
% Ncf@v
miles off shore, with the Marblehead scout
ing two miles inside.
Early on the morning of the 29th," the
report continues, "a Spanish man-of-waT
the Cristobal Colon, was seen lying at
anchor inside the harbor entrance, and later
a second man-of-war and two smaller yes
Sels. AT 10 a. m. Commodore Schley cabled
that Cerveras squadron was at Santiago
On the morning of the 31st with the Massa-
chusetts Iowa and New Orleans he ex-
changed fre with the ships inside the har-
Dor and the forts at range of about 1000
yards.
HoBsoN's FEAT.
"On June Admiral Sampson arrived off
Santiago and found Commodore Schley's
squadron in column to the westward of the
mouth of the harbor. Immediately upon the
concentration of these two forces at San
tiago close and efficient blockade was es-
tabllshed, Admiral Sampson in command.
The harbor was closely guarded day and
full searchlights were thrown upon its en-
trance during the dark. A plan of attack
by which our vessels were to close in at
once upon any of the enemys coming out
was provided for in standing orders On
June an attempt was made 20 close the
harbor by sinking across it's entrance the
collier Merrimac. This attempt though I'M
successful in its object was daringIy exc
cuted. 1t is now one of the wel-known his
toric marvels of naval adventure and enter
prise in which Naval Constructor Hobson
and his Mep. won undying fame.
On June the Marblehead and Yankee
TOOK possession of the lower bay of Guam
Janamo as q harbor of refuge for the fleet
and on June 10 the first battalion of marines
was landed there and went into camp. Foc
three days and nights these men, supported
by the Marblehead and Dolphin, fought al
most constantly. The position which they
defended was a most important one for the
fleet as 1t was necessary to have near at
name harbor in which ships could be
coaled and repaired in safety On June Is
the fort on Cayo del Toro, in Guantanamo
pay, was destroyed by the Texas, Marble
In May the department advised Admiral
Sampson OF the intention of the War De-
partment to send about thirty transports
with troops from Tampa, Fla, to Santiago,
and instructed him to provide suitable
convoy" Secretary Long then tells of the
assistance given by the navy TO Skaters
expedition and proceeds:
ON the morning of July 8, an interview
having been prearranged between General
Shafter and Admiral Sampson the latter
in the flagship New York left the fleet for
Siboney. When the flagship was about four
miles east of her blockading station and
ABOUT seven miles from the MORO the Span
iSh squadron was seen steaming out Of the
harbor entrance. This was at $50 a. M
The vessels of the blockading squadron
were, as usual, in their designated positions,
making a semi-circle about the harbor en-
trance, counting from the eastward in the
following order: Indiana, OregOn-the New
hot
Iowa, Texas and Brooklyn. The Massa-
chusetts had gone that morning to Guam
tanamo for coal The Gloucester and Vixen
lay 10 the eastward and westward of the
harbor entrance close to the land. The tor
pedo boat Ericsson was in company with
the flagship
THE BATTLE OF JULY g.
Admiral Cervera's squadron came out of
the harbor In the following order: Infanta
Maria Teresa, Vizcaya, Cristobal Colon, AL
mirante Oquendo and the torpedo boat de-
stroyers Pluton and Furor The New York
turned and steamed for the escaping fleet,
flying the signal to close in toward the har-
Dor entrance and attack vessels, but our
ships had already, in accordance with stand
ing orders, at once engaged the Spanish
ships with the utmost spirit and vigor, and
in the course of a running fight which con-
tinued until 100 D. m the latter were COM
PAONSAS destroyed ana SUNK, ana the famous
victory. with it's splendid credit to officers
and men, was won. The casualties on our
side were one man killed and ten wounded
most of them in the drum of the ear bv
the conclusion caused by the guns Our
shlps suffered no injury of any account
ADMIRAL CerVera, about seventy officers and
I.6Oo men were made prisoners while about
o9V SpanardS were killed or drowned and
100 wounded. These estimates are probably
considerably below the actual numbers
Many or the enemy were rescued from their
sinking ships by our men. The prisoners.
except the officers, who were sent to An
napoliS, were brought to Portsmouth N
H., and kept in Camp Long. on Seayev's
island, in the harbor of that city, until thew
were released. During this time they were
fed and clothed and comfortably cared for
Ihere was little sickness and the wounded
and ailing soon recovered under good treat
ment.
"On July at night the Spanish cruiser
Kelna Mercedes, which had not left San
tago with Cervera'S squadron, was seen
Steaming out of the harbOr. She was sunk
Just before reaching the narrow part OF
the entrance channel, presumably by the
nre or the Massachusetts and Texas The
object of this maneuver is still in some
doubt but ii had the effect of further OH
structing the channel"
Secretary Long next deals with the CO.
operation of the fleet with Skaters army
before Santiago, all of which is still fresh i'm
the minds OF the readers of the daily press
After the battle the Navy Department took
steps to raise the Spanish cruisers THE
Teresa was floated and repaired but was
lost on Cat island while being towed north
The contracts for raising the other Spanish
ships have been Cancelled. An effort how
ever, may be made to feat the Reina Mer-
codes Witch is sunk in the channel of SAINT
iago harbor.
BLOCKADE INCIDENTS