The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-26

or Mole. Haytii The Department will send coal
Immediately 10 Mole. Report without delay situa-
ton At Santiago de Cuba. Love"
Two hours after receiving this definite
information and these positive instruction.,
that is TO say, at IL o'clock on the morning
OF May 27, Commodore SoHLKY slgnalled
10 the ships OF his squadron [:
Can you fetch into the port of Key west with
coal remaininE1 Report by signal"
An hour later the Harvard left for ia
maica to carry scHLEY's reply to the De-
partment. II was telegraphed the next
day from Kingston, and here It Is, 30 far as
Secretary LONG now publishes It:
"KrxosroS. May ~. 1893.
"sKc. Nav, Washinoion: . " " MerrimAc en-
nines disabled; is heavy; am obliged to have towed
to Key West. Have been unable absolutely to coal
the Texas, MRrbleheAd. Vixen, Brooklyn from
collier, all owing to very rough sea. Bad
weather since leaving Key West. The Brooklyn
alone has moro than ~sufBoisnt coal to proceed
to Key West; cannot remain OF santiheo present
stats squadron coal account. Impossible TO coal
leeward Cape Cruz In the summer. all owing to
southeasterly winds. . . > Much to be regretted
cannot obey orders OF Department. Have strivon
earnestly; forced to proceed for coal to Key West by
way Of Yucatan Passage. Cannot ascertain anything
respecting enemy positive. " " " Very dinicult
" W" Coilier 70 get cRple 10 nolu. bCHLkh'
The remainder OF the story is told only
in skeleton by the Secretary. SoHLEY
moved westward or his way tdKey West
after the departure Of the Harvard with
the amazing despatch partly printed above.
Later that day, the 27th, he signalled
"Stop" to his Captains, and the Texas and
the Marblehead cosled from the Merrimac.
The Flying Squadron remained where It
had stopped to coal, about forty miles
southwest OF Santiago, until after 1 o'clock
on the afternoon Of the next day. Then the
signal was given for the flagship to return
to Santiago. At 10 o'clock In the forenoon Of
the Goth Commodore ScHIEY telegraphed
to Washington that CEBvERA's squadron
was at Santiago. On June 1 Admiral SAMP-
SON arrived "and found Commodore
SoHLEY's squadron in column to the west
ward OF the mouth OF the harbor. Imme-
diately upon the concentration Of these two
forces" continues the Secretary, "a close
and efficient blockade was established, Adj
miral SAMPSON in command"
Secretary LONG does not clear up the
mystery OF Commodore SCHLEY's per-
sistent desire and intention to go to Key
West, after repeated orders and instructions
and warnings from the Department and
from Admiral SAMPSON that his ships were
imperatiyely required at Santiago, where
CERvERA was. We do not know what lies
behind the little stars with which the Sec
rotary has sprinkled the astounding de-
spatch of May % in which the Commodore
announced his regret that he could not obey
the orders OF the Department. Nobody
doubts that Admiral ScHLEY can give an
explanation Of the mystery Of May 81, per-
fectly consistent with his reputation as a
brave and loyal officer. But what the
Secretary's report does show, adequately
and conclusively, is that there is no issue OF
justice or injustice in regard to the Admin
istration's treatment OF Admiral SAMPSON
and Admiral SCHLEY, respectively. 1t was
only a question OF wisdom, and the wise
thing was done at Washington.