Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-01
SEC. LONG PORTRAYS 1T IN
BRIGHT COLORS.
Y-SAMPSON MIDDLE
Secretary OF Navy Gives the Inside
Facts of the Controversy Over De-
struction of CerVera's Fleet-Inter-
esting Information, Hitherto Kept
Secret, Revealed.

the navy has been put to the supreme
test of war. Years of patient, persist
ent training and development brought
it to point of high efficiency which
reaped unparalleled victories at Man
lila and Santiago, victories which have
given the names of our naval COM
manders worldwide fame and added
an additional page to the glorious
naval history of the country
The report describes in rapid order
the steps taken to consolidate the
squadrons and put the navy in readi-
ness for hostilities. The story of
Dewey's victory is told. The secre-
tary details how Cervera's fleet sailed
known destination and how Sampson
sailed east with portion of his fleet
for observation. At Cape Haiti, on
May z, the department advised him
that the Spanish squadron was report
ed at st Thomas. The report shows
that the flying squadron under Schley
was ordered to Cienfuegos upon no.
tice that Cervera had been seen off
CuracO. But May 20, the department
having heard that Cervera was at San
tiago, advised Sampson to proceed off
that port By the Marblehead, Schley
was instructed to proceed to Santiago
il he was satisfied the Spanish squad
ron was not at Cienfuegos. May %
Sampson had dispatches stating that
Cervera was in Santiago. He was Or
dered to visit San Juan and Schley
should follow him. Tlis sent Samp-
son into the st. Nicholas channel to
prevent Cervera's approach from that
direction. On the 10th Sampson re-
ceived from Schley a letter dated the
23d, stating that he was not satisfied
that the Spanish squadron was not
at Cienfuegos and would remain off
that point with his squadron. The
next day Schley was informed that
Ceryera had been in Santiago from
the 18th to the 25th and was directed
to proceed with all dispatch to that
port. On the oath Schley wired Samp-
son, who had gone eastward, that ON
account of the shortage of coal supply
he could not blockade if Cervera was.
in Santiago, but would go to st. Mich
olas mole to communicate. Sampson
decided to go to Key West for coal at
once, and if authorized to proceed to
Santiago in person. Schley left Glen
fuegCs May oath and stopped the fol-
lowing day twenty miles southeast of
Santiago to repair the collier Merri-
mac. At 1850 p. H., he signalled the
squadron
ryya 4,
side of Cuba and Yucatan channel, as
soon as collier is ready; speed niae
knots
After Steaming westward until IL: 20
p M, the squadron again stopped to
make repairs ON the Yale. On the
morning OF the 9th, the Harvard from
Mole st. Nicholas delivered to Schley
the following dispatch:
Washington, 25th.-Harvard, St.
Nicholas Mole: Proceed at once and
inform Schley and also senior officer
at present OFT Santiago OF the follow
ing: all the departments information
indicate that Inc Spanish squadron
looks to you to ascertain the facts aud
see that the enemy, if there, does not
leave without; decisive action. Could
| not your squadron and also the Har-
ward coal from the Merrimac leeward
off Cape. Cruz, or Mole Haiti?
Will seld coal Immediately to the
Mole. 2. 60 Long"
| At IL a. MI two hours after receiving
this dispatch, Schley signalled to the
| intn oy
with coal remaining? Report by
At noon the Harvard left carrying a.
reply to the departments dispatch, az
| follows: 1.-The Merrimacs engines are
disabled; Lam obliged to have her
| towed to Key West. l have been I'M
able absolutely to coal the Texas,
Marblehead, Vixen and Brooklyn froIn
the collier, owing to the very rough
| sea. The Brooklyn alone has more
than sufficient coal to proceed to Key
| West. / cannot remain off Santiago
in the present state of the sQuadron's
coal. 1t is impossible TO coal to the
| leeward OF Cape Cruz in the summer,
owing to southwesterly winds. 1t IS
much to be regretted that cannot
obey the orders of the department,
which 1 have striven earnestly to do.
1 am forced to proceed to coal at Key
West via the Yucatan passage. tan
not ascertain anything respecting the
enemy positive. -"Schley."
Later in the day, the squadron
meantime having again moved west
ward, the signal stop" was made af-
| ter which the Texas and Marblehead
| went alongside of the Merrimac and
coaled. The squadron at the time was
about 40 miles southwark and west
ward of Santiago. On the 2Sth the sig
nal was made to return in the direc-
ton of Santiago and the squadron
was slopped for the night ten miles
off shore with the Marblehead scour-
ing two miles inside. On the next
morning the Spanish squadron was
sighted inside. June 23d the Merri-
mac was sunk, and of this the secre-
tary says:
This attempt, although unsuccess-
full in its object was daringly exc.
cuted. 1t is now one of the well
known historic marvels of naval ad
ventures and an enterprise in which
Naval Instructor Hobson realized I'M
dying fame"
: uation at Guantanamo harbor AM
J with the conferences OF Shafter AM
Sampson in an effort to secure co