The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-12-01
-0NG'S REPORT FILED.
The Secretary Of the Navy
Reviews the War.
HIS STORY OF NAVAL VICTORY

HIS STORY OF NAVAL VICTORY
Official Detail of the Great Sea Fight
on SRntiaxO-RecOm O m = Ids to Con.
gress the Building Of More Ships
and EnIisting More Men.
Washington. Nov. 2s.-The annual re-
port to the president Of the secretary
Of the navy. John ID. Long. was made
public last night. The report contains
a compact narrative of the operations
of the navy during the war with Spain.
abstracts of the reports Of bureau
chiefs and the secretary's recommend
tions for the increase and the improve
ment of the navy. MIR. Long begins:
Since my last annual report the navy
has, for the first time since iss rehabiii
tation. been put to the supreme test
Of war. Years Of patient, persistent
training and development had brought
it to a point of high efficiency, which re-
suited in the unparalleled victories at
Manila and Santiago-victories which
have given the names of our naval
commanders worldwide fame and add
ed an additional page to the glorious
naval history of our country"
Speaking of the sinking of the Maine
in Havana harbor, Secretary Long
says:
After an exhaustive examination of
the wreck and after taking the testi-
mony Of witnesses and of experts the
board reported on the 21st Of March
that the Maine had been destroyed by
the explosion of a submarine mine, but
that it was unable to fix the RESPONSE
bility upon any person or persons. 1t
was evident that the cause OF the dis
aster must have been from the out
side"
After referring at length to the prep
aratiOns for the war with Spain, the
victory of Admiral Dewey at Manila.
the blockading of Cuban ports, the voy-
age of the Oregon and other now his
toric naval incidents, Secretary Long
gives in detail the naval movements
which resulted in the destruction of
Admiral Cervera's fleet:
''On May 10 the flying squadron. COM
posed Of the Brooklyn, Texas, Massa-
chusetts and Scorpion, under command
Of Commodore Schley, sailed from Key
West for Cienfuegos with instructions
to establish a blockade at that place as
SON as possible.
"On May 20 the Iowa. Castine and the
collier Merrimac sailed to join Commo-
dore Schley's squadron off Cienfuegos.
On this day the department Informed
Admiral Sampson Of a report that Ger
vera's squadron was at Santiago de Gu
ba and advised him to order Commo-
dore Schley to proceed off that port with
the vessels under his command.
Sampson Leaves Key West.
Admiral Sampson left Key West for
the Havana blockade on the 21st, hav-
ing previously sent the Dupont with dis
patches to Commodore Schley and or
dered the Marblehead and Eagle to join
the flying squadron. BY the Marblehead
orders were sent to Commodore Schley
advising him that the Spanish squadron
was probably at Santiago de Cuba and
directing him, If he was satisfied that
1t was not at Cienfuegos, to proceed
with all dispatch to Santiago de Cuba
and upon arrival there to establish COM
munication with some of the inhabit-
ants and ascertain definitely whether
the ships were in port or not. The Hawl,
followed with duplicate dispatches
which were delivered to Commodore
Schley On the Esd.
"On May % Admiral Sampson receiv-
ed a dispatch from Key West stating
that Cervera's squadron was in the har-
Dor Of Santiago de Cuba on the morning
Of the 21st and also telegram from the
department that it was expected to visit
San Juan, Porto Rico, and If Commo-
dore Schley found that 1t had left San
tiago he should follow it.
''At s a. m. on the morning OF the 23G
Admiral Sampson left off Havana, sail.
ing eastward, with a view to occupying
Nicholas channel in such manner as tt
prevent the approach of the Spanish
squadron In that direction. The Mont.
gomery joined him on the 24th with
dispatches stating that information
had been received to the effect thai
Cervera's squadron had not left San
tiago.
"On the 26th Admiral Sampson re
ceived from Commodore Schley letter
dated May %, stating that he was b,
no means satisfied that the Spanish
| squadron was not at Cienfuegos ant
! that he would, therefore, remain of
| that port with his squadron"
Mr.. Long makes reference to the re
ports of secret intelligence agents IL
| Havana as follows:
|
carry advices to Commodore Schley, in
forming him that daily confidential re
ports received at Key West from Ha
vana stated that the Spanish squadron
had been in Santiago de Cuba from tn
10th to the 25th, inclusive. and direct
ing him to proceed with all possible
dispatch to that port"
| The report continues:
"At this time two kilograms date,
Cienfuegos, May "a, were received b,
Admiral Sampson from Commodor
Schley, stating that coaling off tina
port was very uncertain; that he ha,
ascertained that the Spanish fleet wa
not in Cienfuegos and would go east
ward on the next day. the 25th, but tha
on account of short coal supply in ship
he could not blockade If the Spanisl
squadron was in Santiago, but woul
proceed to the vicinity Of Nichola
Mole, from which point he would com
municate.
lkchley Orde red to Blockade Santiago
Upon the receipt of this informa tio
Admiral Sampson at once decided to e
to Key West for coal and if authorize
by the department to proceed to San
tiago in person. The New Orleans wa
instructed on this same day, May a, t
proceed as rapidly as possible to tha
port. in company with the collier Ster
linz and with orders to Commodor
&IO0 Reward &I00