The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-27
Schley Not Given the Lavish Praise
Some OF His Admirers Probably
Expected from the Admiral.
SCHLEY'S REPORT TO SAMPSON
MANY OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE
FLEET WARMLY COMMENDED.
Accurate Shooting by the Gunners OF
the Pursuing Fleet-RepOrts of
Captains Clark and Evans.

WASHINGTON, July 26.-The Navy De-
partment to-day made public the reports Of
Admiral Sampson, Commodore Schley Capt.
Clark, of the Oregon, and Captain Evans, of
the Iowa, on the battle Of July g. which re-
suited in the destruction of Admiral Ger
vera's squadron. They are as follows:
~. s. Flagship New York, First Rate,
"Off Santiago de Cuba, July Is.
"Sir-I have the honor to make the follow
ing report upon the battle with and the de-
struction of the Spanish squadron command
ed by Admiral Cervera off Santiago de Cuba
on Sunday, July 3, 1898:
'2. The enemy's vessels came out Of the
harbor between 9:35 and 10 a. M, the head
of the column appearing around Cay Smith
at 9:S1, and emerging from the channel five
or six minutes later.
'3. The positions OF the vessels of my
command off Santiago at that moment were
as follows: The flagship New York was four
miles east of her blockadlng station and
about seven miles from the harbor entrs nee.
She had started for Siboney, where I in
tended to land, accompanied by several of
| my staff, and go to the front 20 consult with
General Shafter. A discussion of the situa-
ton and more definite understanding be-
been rendered necessary by the unexpectedly
strong resistance OF the Spanish garrison of
Santiago. / had sent my chief of staff on
shore the day before 10 arrange an inter
view with General Shafter who had been
suffering from heat -psostration. made ar
rangements to go to his headquarters, and
my flagship was in the position mentioned
above when the Spanish squadron appeared
IN he oh o;,,t,,
in or near their usual blockading positions,
distributed in semi-circle about the har-
Dor entrance, counting from the eastward
to the westward. in the following order:
The Indiana, about mile and a half from
shore; the Oregon, the New Yorks place
between the first two; the Iowa, Texas and
Brooklyn, the latter two miles from the
shore west of Santiago. The distance of the
vessels from the harbor entrance was from
two and one-half to four miles-the latter
being the limit of day blockading distance
The length of the arc formed by the ships
was about eight miles. The Massachusetts
had left at a. m. for Guantanamo for coal
Her station was between the Iowa and
Texas. The auxiIiaries, Gloucester and
Vixen, lay close to the land and nearer the
harbor entrance than the large vessels the
Gloucester to the eastward and the Vixen
to the westward. The torpedo boat Erics-
son was in company with the flagship and
remained with her during the chase until
ordered to discontinue, when size rendered
very efficient service in rescuing prisoners
from the burning Vizcaya. / inclose dia-
gram showing approximately the positions
of the vessels as described above
THE DASH OUT THE HARBOR.
"a The Spanish vessels came rapidly out
of the harbor at speed estimated at from
eight to ten knots, and in the following or
der: 1nfanta Maria Teresa (fiagship), Viz
caya, Cristobal Colon and the Almirante
Oquendo. The distance between these ships
was about eight hundred yards. which
means that from the time the first one be-
came visible in the upper reach of the chan
mel until the last one was out of the har
Dor an interval of only about twelve min
utes elapsed. Following the Ouuendo. at a
distance of about 1900 yards, came the tor
pedo boat destroyer Pluton, and after. her.
the Furor. The armored cruisers. as rapidlv
as they could bring their guns to bear
opened vigorous fire upon the blockading
vessels and emerged from the channel
shrouded in the smoke from their guns.
"5. The men OF our ships in front of the
port were at Sunday quarters for inspec-
ton. The signal was made simultaneously
from several vessels, 'Enemy's ships escap-
ing, and general quarters was sounded
The men cheered as they sprang to their
guns. and fire was opened probably within
eight minutes by the vessels whose guns
commanded the entrance. The New York
turned about and steamed for the escaping
fleet, flying the signal, Close in towards
harbor entrance and attack vessels and
gradually increasing speed until toward the
end of the chase she was making sixteen
and a half knots and was rapidly closing
on the Cristobal Colon. She was not at anv
time within the range of the heavy Spanish
ships, and her only part in the firing was
to receive the undivided fire from the forts
in passing the harbor entrance and to fire
few shots at one of the destroyers.
thought at the moment to be attempting to
escape from the Gloucester.
IS. The Spanish vessels upon clearing the
harbor turned TO the westward in column.
increasing their speed to the full power of
their engines. The heavy blockading ves-
sells. which had closed in towards the MORO
at the instant of the enemy's appearance,
and at their best speed, delivered a. rapid
fire, we'll sustained and destructive, which
speedily overwhelmed and silenced the
Spanish fire. The initial speed of the Span
iards carried them rapidly past the blockad-
ing vessels. and the battle developed into a
chase in which the Brooklyn and Texas had
at the start the advantage Of position. The
Brooklyn maintained this lead The Ore
gon, steaming with amazing speed from the
commencement Of the action, took first
place. The Iowa and the Indiana, having
done good work and not having the speed
of the other ships, were directed by me in
succession. at about the time the vizcaya
was beaehed. to drop out Of the chase and