Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-10-26
SAMPSON HAD A DIARY.
The Admiral Makes His Official
Report on the Campaign.
STORY OF THE BATTLE.
Quotes Dispatches to Sustain His
Position-The Appeal He Re-
ceived from Shafter.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 24.-The navy
department has made public that portion
of Admiral SIMPSONS report covering the
conduct of the feet under his command i'll
its operations in the West Indies for
about two months prior to the destruction
of Admiral Ceryeras' ships on July 3. 1t
is made up largely of official dispatches
n the movements of the fleet, with eX-
plantations and comments by the admiral
The report is dated August 3, on the flag
ship New York, and Dtsins with a state
ment of the determination reached by the
navy department TO send a squadron to
the Windward passage tor the purpose of
observation, because of information re-
ceived of the sailing. April. 20. of Admiral
Cervera's squadron from the Cape Verde
islands.
On the voyage eastward from the naval
base at Kew West, which began May 4,
Admiral Sampson reports there was eX-
perienced endless trouble and delay be-
cause of the inefficiency of the two moni-
tors accompanying the other ships and
which had to be taken in tow. Their
coal supply was so small that it was at
once evident that they must either fire
quently coal or be towed. The admiral
says:
Had the sea been rough, or had the enemy
appeared at this juncture, the squadron
OuA IL DSCh III d OClIOI pOSllAO
for an engagement had the monitors been
elsewhere. subsequently when engaging the
batteries of San Juan 1t was evident that
their shooting was very bad. Owing to the
quick rolling Of these vessels. even in q very
moderate sea, they were unable to fire with
any degree OF accuracy.
Among the kilograms received by the
admiral from the department at Washing
ton when off Cape Haitien was the fol-
lowing:
Washington, D. c.. May 6.-Do not risk or
cripple your vessels against Notifications SO
as to prevent from soon afterward success
fully lighting the Spanish fleet, composed Of
Pelayo, Carlos v, Oquendo, ViZcaya, Maria
Teresa, Christobal Colon and four deep-sea
torpedo boats, if they should appear on this
side. LONG.
Bombardment of San Juan.
On May s there was a consultation on
board the flagship, and the admiral said
he decided to stand on the eastward as
far as San Juan, Porto Rico, on the
chance of finding the Spanish squadron in
that port, where, if they were not sue
least blockaded and held. The squadron
arrived off San Juan on the morning of
May y and the bombardment of the
place ensued. Regarding his action at
this place the admiral says:
1t is clear to my own mind that the squad
ron would not have any great difficulty IN
forcing the surrender of the place, but the
fact that we should be held several days in
completing arrangements for holding it; that
part of our force would have to be left to
await the arrival of troops to garrison it; that
the movements of the Spanish squadron
our main ObjectiYe-were still unknown; that
the flying squadron was still north and not in
a position TO render any aid; that Havana,
Cervera's natural objective, was thus open to
entry by such a force as his. while we were
a thousand miles distant, made our immedi-
ate movement toward Havana imperative.
| thus reluctantly gave up the project
against San Juan and stood westward for
Havana.
Several telegrame are here presented
based OIL reports that Cervara's squadron
had returned to Cadiz, and they had in
view 'tO return and capture San Juan,
the leisure to do SO and occupy the place
being assured in the event of Admiral
| Cervera'S failure to cross the Atlantic"
Shortly after news was received that the
Spanish fleet had appeared off Curacao,
West Indies, and the squadron, under or
ders from the department. proceeded TO
Key West, TO which place the flying
squadron under Commodore {now Adj
miraD Schley had already been ordered.
Sch1ey Sent to Cienfuegos.
Arrangements were then hurriedly
made and the flying squadron, augmented
by the other vessels under Commodore
Schley, was sent off Cienfuegos, where it
was believed the enemy would go, in
which case an effort was to be made to
engage and capture him. Sampson was
given the choice either of the command
of the blockading squadron off Havana
or at Cienfuegos, Schley in either case to
remain with his own squadron.
From messages received by the admiral
from the department about May 20 it ap-
pears that reports had reached the United
States that the Spanish feet was at San
tiago; so the department advised Samp-
son to send Immediately word to Schley
to proceed to that place, leaving one small
vessel off Cienfuegos.
On May q Instructions were written
by Sampson for Commodore Schley and
sent to him via the Marblehead regarding
the possibility of the Spanish fleet being
at Santiago. They are in part as fol-
lows:
Rate, Key West. Fla, May q, 1s9s.-Sir:
Spanish squadron is probably at Santiago de
Cuba-four ships and three torpedo-boat de-
s~troyers. II you are satisfied that they are
not at Cienfuegos, proceed with all dispatch,
but cautiously, to Santiago de Cuba, and #
the enemy is there blockade him in port.
You will probably find 1t necessary to es-
tabIish communication with some of the in
Observation-Disclosures or others-to learn def
nitely that the ships are in port, it being i'm
possible to see into it from the outside.
The admiral said he felt much con-
cerned as to the delivery of these orders
and sent a duplicate by the Hawk with
an additional memorandum. The admir-
al suggested that if the information did
not reach Commodore Schley before day
light of May % to mask the real direc-
ton he should take as much as possible.
He adds: "FOllow the Spanish squadron
whichever direction they take"
The admiral off Hanava gives copies Of
orders of battle which were to be fol-
lowed in the event that Cervera left San
tiagO on the approach of Schley's fleet
from Cienfuegos aod attempted to cruise
around the coast to Havana, in which
case the Havana squadron would at
tempt to intercept him by going east
about 200 miles beyond the junction of
Santiren and Nicholas channels. Strict
orders were given for screening lights
and to see that none was accidentally
shown. The squadron was to cruise gen
orally 10 the eastward in the day and
westward during the night.
Ordered Sch1ey to Santiago.
On May %, as shown by the report,
Commodore Schley expressed the belief
that the Spaniards were at Cienfuegos.
On the 9th the admiral sent word to
Schley directing him to proceed with all
possible speed to Santiago because of in
/ fa--, 49, 1nS-o H. " c.