The record-union., 1898-12-19
SCHLEY'S REPORT
MADE PUBLIC,
What Was Done by Him at
Cienfuegos.
Thought the Spanish Squadron Might Have
Gone There.
Difficulty Experienced in Coa1ing
the Texas-A Stormy Run From
There to Santiago-Short Coal
Supply and Accidents to Ves-
sells Caused Embarrassment-
Arrival at Santiago and Block
ade of the Harbor.

Arrival at Santiago and Block
ade of the Harbor.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The Navy
Department to-day made public a re-
port from Admiral Schley covering
| that part Of the operations and move
ments of the flying squadron from it's
| sailing from Key West for CienfuegOS
up to, but not including, the first bonn
| bardment The report is as follows:
| Flying Squadron, u. S. Flagship Brook
| lyn, off Santiago de Cuba, May 80.
| 1898
Sir: / have the honor to report that
| the squadron sailed from Key West
| on the morning of the 18th inst for
! CienfuegOS, Cuba, in obedience to or
ders from Rear Admiral Sampson. In
| company with the flagship We're 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 Cincin-
natl and Vesuvius, scouting.
=. On the morning of the I'd the
| squadron stood in for the entrance of
Cienfuegos 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, 1 was led to believe that
the Spanish squadron might have ar
rived there. That day the Dupont
| joined me with dispatches from Ad-
miral Sampson, directing that the
blockade of Cienfuegos be preserved,
and the Scorpion be sent to commune
cate with the Minneapolis and Har-
ward, off Santiago. Also. on this day
the Iowa Joined the squadron.
3. A line of blockade was established
about four miles off shore and at night
an in-ShOre line was maintained, con-
sisting variously of the Scorpion, Du-
pont and Castine, the last-named YES
sci arriving on the 23d, conveying the
Merrimac.
4. Also, on the 23d the Hawk ar
rived with dispatches from Admiral
Sampson ulrecling me to move east
ward with the squadron to Santiago,
if satisfied that the enemy's vessels
were not in Cienfuegos Not being
satisfied at this time that there were
not there, l held my position, being
further strengthened in my opinion by
the fact that l was informed by the
Captain of the British steamer Adula
that when he left Kingston a cable
gram had been received on the
! Thursday preceding my arrival off
Cienfuegos, stating that the Spanish
squadron had sailed from Santiago.
D. The Iowa, Castine and Dupont
took coal from the collier on that day,
the Iowa particularly needing coal, as
she had sailed from Key West to join
this squadron before completing load
ing, and consequently was consider
ably short.
6. On the 24th inst. 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
Cienfuegos, and to furnish them with
ammunition, clothing and dynamite
Upon Commander McCalPs return in
the course of the afternoon he reported
to me that he had obtained informa-
ton that the Spanish squadron was
not in CienfuegOs. Dispatches were
at once sent by the Dupont to Admiral
Sampson and to- Commodore Remey
for the department. indicating that
tiago de Cuba.
{. Great difficulty has been expert
enced in coaling the Texas on account
of her projecting Sponsors, in any sea-
way whatever, and only under the most
favorable conditions can she go along
side a collier. In anything more un-
favorable than absolutely smooth
water there is great danger of injury
ni hny n ~,
collier. In this connection the ad-
vantage of a tumblehome to the side is
very marked, insuring greater freedom
from accidents due to projections on
the ships side.
8. After dark on the evening of the
24th 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 in-shore of the battle
ship. The Castine was left at Glen
fuegos to notify the Scorpion on her
return. should she not be sighted by
us, to proceed to Key West in COM
pany.
9. The run to Santiago was marked
by rain and rough weather to such
an extent that the Eagle was unable
to keep UP a speed of 10 to S.5 knots,
and fell behind so much as to seriously
delay the squadron, which was forced
to slow to a speed of from four to five
knots for her to regain and hold her
position. AS this rough head sea con-
tinued with no apparent prospect of
abating, and as the Ea giles coal sup
ply was becoming dangerously low.
she was sent to Port Antonio for coal,
with directions to make the best of
her way back to Key West
10. On arriving off Santiago the coll
lier Merrimac was disabled by the
breaking of her intermediate pressure
valve stem and the cracking of the
stuffing box. This served as a further
embarrassment to the squadron and a
source of considerable anxiety. as, with
the weather conditions that had pre-
vailed since leaving Cienfuegos, it ap-
peared absolutely necessary to aban-
don the position off Santiago and seek
a place where the vessels could be coal
ed and the GOLFERS machinery repaired
IL. Off Santiago the St. Paul. Yale
and Minneapolis were sighted and
communicated with The Minneapolis
reported that she only had sufficient