The Jersey City news., 1898-06-11
BAGG|NG CERVERA.
Details by Mail Of Sampson
and Schley's Strategic
Movements.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, May, 80,
1898 (via Fortress Monroe) The detailed
history of the final discovery and boutfing
up of the Spanish squadron forms as in
teresting piece of literature as the war
will produce. When Commodore Schley
started from Key West with the Flying
Squadron, it had but two battleships, the
Texas and Massachusetts, and one small
ship. the Scorpion, in addition to the
flagship Brooklyn. With MO knowledge
but that the Spanish squadron of four
Ships and three torpedo boats were on the
Southern coast of Cuba, he elected to risk
meeting them with this Small squadron
allowing reinforcements to come later
After arriving at Cienfuegos and having
visited Santiago de Cuba without finding
any trace of the Spanish fleet, and being
assured by the Government and the news
papers that the "Will O. the wisp' was in
several far-distant localities, it would
have seemed as if it were only wise to
have retraced his steps. Difficulties of
another nature also confronted him. The
collier Merrimac broke her steam gear
and finally one of her engines.
The yacht Vixen blew out one of her
gaskets. and. finally, worse than all, the
ships began to run short of coal. This
last could be remedied if a place could
be found smooth enough to coal in a
rather difficult thing on an unfriendly
coast. The fleet now contained good
lighting strength, the battleship Iowa and
the cruiser Marblehead having been added
The arrival of the scouts Minneapolis, ST.
Paul, Yale and Harvard, with no tidings
of the Spanish fleet served still further
to demonstrate that the squadron was on
the wrong chase.
On Friday May 27. to the great sur
prise of everybody in the squadron. Com
modore Schley, after consultation and the
figuring out of possible movements Of the
Spanish, with Flag Lieutenant Sears, de-
cided to coal at sea, fix the GOLFERS ma
chinery and go back to Santiago de Cuba
where he believed he could catch the
fleet of the enemy. An entire day was
spent in preparing the squadron and az
ter sending the scouts in various direc-
tions with kilograms, towards evening
started for Santiago, then 40 miles to the
East. He arrived off thnat port after
dark. and the next morning at daybreak
ran in as closely as possible without
drawing the fire of the forts.
1t was Sunday morning and warm
clear day as the big ships moved in a
circle in towards the forts. That they
were seen was evident from the fact that
a Spanish flag was raised on Moro
Castle. Suddenly the lookout reported
from the masthead that he saw men-of-
war in the harbor. All was excitement in
a moment. the calnlest man being Com
modore Schley, who merely said to his
officers surrounding him: Il thought we'd
catch them. They're bottled and they'll
be a long time getting home"
There was no movement on the part
of the Spanish feet, although they were
presumably stronger in number than the
Americans, and, finally, the Flying Squad
ron settled down in lazy manner, effec-
tually bottling the entrance to prevent
egress.
the fleet was well inside the entrance.
the nearest perhaps half mile. 1t was
evident that not only had the harbor
been fortified strongly but was still be-
ing worked at. Men could be seen throw
ing up earthworks on the high hills.
MORO Castle guards the eastern side of
the entrance, which for a quarter of
mile is only wide enough to allow one
ship at a time to go up. Morro was
built in 1861, of brick and stone, and has
10 guns of Is and "a FOUNDER pattern and
four modern guns. Just opposite is an
other battery of six guns, giving a very
good defensive cross-fire. Further
to the west are two new earth
works the armament of which is not
known. A hundred yards up the en-
trance from MORO and strung across the
three rows of six mines each. These are
attached to buoys thirty feet apart. A
half mile still further up the harbor two
small batteries, ST. Cataline and Estrello,
from from the heights. On the curve just
north of these lay the Reina Mercedes,
partly disabled manof-war. with bait
terry on only one side. An island, Cay
Smith, occupies the centre of the harbor
where it spreads out, and on this island
could be seen, a battery mounted with
modern guns. Under the protection of
this battery lay the Almiranto Oquendo,
he starboard battery looking clear down
the narrow entrance while to the east of
her lay the Cristobal Colon with her port
battery commanding similar view. The
topmasts of what was believed to be the
vizcaya were seen little further up the
bay. Two torpedo boats were also seen
in the opening.
Sunday night a careful lookout was kept
for torpedo-boats and the Marblehead and
Vixen patrolled near the coast. At nine
o'clock the Marblehead saw one of the
black boats running out Of the harbor
There was quick using Of the searchlights
and in three minutes firing began and the
discovered boat ran back. Commodore
Echley telegraphed. via Hayti by the St.
Paul, for some small patrol boats. The
Thermometer registered 1lo on Saturday
and III on Sunday. but there Is no sick
ness to speak Of on the ships.
Monday morning the British man OF
war interchangeable came in at a rapid pace
from Jamaica. She sent an officer aboard
and asked permission 10 go fns saving
tl7st tBae cable was broken and that they
had not been able 70 communicate with