The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-24

they take, vi = e'oi
The admiral off Havana gives comic,
u on1ers of battle which were Ia h,
aoiioWed IN the event that Cervera lef
santiago on the approach of Sch,ev',
meet from Cienfuegos and attemDted n
cruise around the coast to Havana II
Mnlch case the Havana squadron would
aisee.llp6 20 intercept him by going cas-
about 100 miles beyond the junction III
Santaren and Nicholas channels
SlIlct olc,ers We're given for screening
HSntS- and to see that none were ac-
cluentaily shown. The SQUADRON was
70 cruise generally to the eastward in
the DAY and westward during the night
IN one OF his dispatches the admiral
complains that his movements are
greatly hampered by monitors consti-
totlng the principal force under his
command. On May %, as shown by the
report, Commodore Schley expresses
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 San
tago, because Of information received
that the Spaniards were there. The
same time or ders were sent to have the
collier Sterling dispatched to Santiago
with an expression of opinion that the
commodore should use it to obstruct
the channel az its .narrowest part lead
AhS iilAO Int Inc QeIallS OF Ine
plan were left to the commodore's
judgment. as he (Sampson) had the VI
most confidence in his ability to carry
TINS plan to q successful conclusion,
and earnestly wished him good luck
Sampson apparently felt certain of the
presence of the Spaniards at Santiago
and urged that the harbor must be
blockaded at all hazards. Schiey mean
time had proceeded to Santiago, al
though it appears not the same day
Admit al Sampson expected. At one
time Commodore Schley contemplated
going to Key West with the squadron,
but this was abandoned, the repairs to
his collier having been temporarily re-
paired and the necessity for a trip to
Key West being obviated- Santiago
was then blockaded. The admiral con-
graduated the commodore on his sue
cess, and directed him 20 maintain
close blockade at all hazards, and es-
pecially al night.
SCHLEY RECOGNIZED CERVERA.
Then follows kilograms from Schley,
showing that he had recognized the
enemy in port, and from Secretary
Long to Schley, pointing out that the
most absolutely urgent thing was TO
know positively whether the Spanish
squadron was in the harbor If they
were, an Immediate army and navy
movement was to be made. In one dis
patch the secretary said it would be
discreditable to the navy If the pres
ence of the Spanish fleet were not as
certained Immediately. The commo-
dore's dispatch evidently had not been
received at the department when Sec
rotary Longs kilograms were sent.
Meantime Admiral Sampson had made
arrangements to proceed to Santiago
with a number of his vessels. He ar
rived there on June l.
Then follows a historical resume of
the doings of the fleet while off San
tiago; of the bombardment OF the
forts; Of the taking of the lower bay
at Guantanamo by the Marblehead and
the Yankee; copies of memorandum
regarding methods of blockades; tele-
grams bearing on the proposed army
movement at Santiago, etc, and prac-
ticalIy all of which is told in official
kilograms.
On June s the admiral urged upon
the department as he had previously
DONE to expedite the arrival of the
troops for Santiago. the difficulty of
blockading the Spanish ships daily in
creasing. On June 10 a dispatch was
received, showing that the army ex-
petition was temporarily stopped be-
cause of the reported observation of
additional Spanish vessels in American
waters. In memorandum dated June
10 the admiral says:
DIRECTIONS TO FLEET.
''The commander in chief desires to
call the attention of commanding Of
fcers to the positions occupied by the
blockading fleet, especially during the
daytime, and it is now directed that all
ships keep within a distance of the en-
trance to Santiago of four miles, and
this distance must noNbe exceeded.
If the vessel is coaling or Is other |
wise restricted in her movements, she |
must, nevertheless, keep within this
distance. If at any time the flagship 1
makes a signal which is not visible to
any vessel such vessel must at once /
approach the flagship or the repeat !
ing vessel to a point where she can /
reSd the signal.
Disregard of these directions. which /
have already been given under this /
head, has led to endless confusion. |
Many times during the day the fleet |
is so scattered that il would be per
fectly possible for the enemy to come |
out of the harbor and meet with very
little opposition.
THE commander in chief hopes that
strict attention will be given to this
order"
The admiral reproduces the order of
battle incidental to the landing Of
order the following occurs:
1.-THE attention of the commanding
officers of all vessels engaged in block
aiding Santiago &c Cuba is earnestly
called TO the necessity for the utmost
vigilance from this time forward, both
as TO maintaining stations and readi-
ness for action, and to keeping a close
watch upon the harbOr mouth. If the
admiral ever intends to at
tempt to escape that attempt will be
made soon.
TRANSPORTS WANDERED.
The admiral here remarks that much
trouble was expected in landing on ac-
count of the wandering proclivities of
some of the transports. which had TO
be looked up. The progress of disem-
barkation was rendered somewhat diff
fcuit by d heavy sea, the heaviest dur
l.g the three weeks the fleet had been
there, owing to stiff blow
off the coast of Jamaica. 1t appears
hat, according to a dispatch to Secre- {
AIRY Long, dated June &c, the channel
AZ Santiago not having been INSTRUCTED
Dy the sinking Of the Merrimac, Adj !
riral Sampson was preparing for a ]
orpedo attack to hasten the destruc- {
ion Of the Spanish vessels, although
,e regretted resorting to this method l
because of difficulties and small chance I
# success. He would not do this, he I
;ays. were the present force to be kept
here. as it insured a capture, which Y
- believed would terminate the war
rhe above telegram was sent, the adj I
niral explains, with reference to the &
,roDosed- detachment of some of our {
,eavy ships for service abroad (the
,roposed expedition to the Spanish
-.