Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-24
SIMPSONS REPORT
Continued from page -

opaHiSH SiuduTon PROBABLY at San
tlago de Cuba-four ships and three
torpedo boat destroyers. If YOU are
satisfied that they are not at Glen
iuegos, proceed with all dispatch hut
cautiously, to Santiago de Cuba. and If
the enemy is there blockade him in
port. You will find it necessary to
establish communication with some of
the MISUNDERSTANDING or others
TO learn definitely that the ships are in
port, 1t being impossible to see into it
from the outside
fhe admiral said he felt much con-
cerned as to the delivery of these or
ders, and sent a duplicate by the
Hawk, with an additional memoran-
uum. The admiral suggested that, if
the information did not reach Commo-
dore Sch1ey before daylight of May 23,
he mask the real direction he should
take as much as possible. He adds:
Follow the Spanish squadron which
ever direction they take
The admiral, then off Havana, gives
copies of orders of battle which We're
to be followed in the event that Ger
vera left Santiago on the approach of
Schley's fleet from Cienfuegos and at
tempted to cruise around the coast of
Havana, in which case the Havana
squadron would attempt to intercept
him by going east about 200 miles be-
yOund the junction of Santaron and
Nicholas channels. Strict orders were
given for screening all lights and to
see that none We're accidentally shown.
The squadron was to cruise gently TO
the eastward in the day and westward
during the night. In one of his dis
patches the admiral complains that his
movements are greatly hampered by
monitors constituting the principal
force under his command.
On May %, as shown by the report,
Commodore Schley expressed the be-
liefe that the Spaniards We're at Glen
fuegos. On the 9th the admiral sent
word to Schley, directing him to pro-
coed with all possible speed to Santi-
ago because of information received
that the Spaniards were there The same
time orders were sent to have the COL
lier Sterling dispatched to Santiago
with an expression of opinion that the
commodore should use it to obstruct
the channel at it's narrowest part
leading into the harbor. The details
dore's judgment as he (Sampson) had
1.-The utmost confidence in his ability
to carry this plan to a successful con-
clusion and earnestly wished him good
luck
Sampson apparently felt certain of
the presence of the Spanish fleet at
Santiago, and urged that the harbor
must be blockaded at all hazards.
Schley, in the meantime, had proceeded
to Santiago, although it appears not
the same day Admiral Sampson expec-
ted. At one time Commodore Schley
contemplated going to Key West with
the squadron for COAL but this was
abandoned, the repairs to his collier
having been temporarily made and the
necessity for a trip to Key West being
avoided, Santiago was then blOckaded.
The admiral congratulated the commo-
dore on his success and directed him
to maintain a close blockade at all
hazards, especially OF night.
Then follow kilograms from Schley,
showing that he had recognized the
enemy in the port and from Secretary
Long to Schley, pointing out that the
most absolutely urgent thing was to
know positively whether the Spanish
division was in the harbor. If they
were an immediate army and navy
movement was to be made. In one
dispatch the secretary said it would be
discreditable to the navy if the pres
ence of the Spanish fleet We're not as
dores dispatch evidently had not been
received at the department when the
secretary's kilograms were sent.
In ha Il Go,
made arrangements to proceed to San
tiago with number of his vessels. He
arrived there, June IA. Then follows a
historical resume of the doing of the
fleet while off Santiago. of the bonn
bardment of the forts of the taking of
the lower bay at Guantanamo by the
Marblehead and Yankee. copies of
memoranda regarding the method of
blockadeS, kilograms bearing on the
proposed army movement to Santiago,
etc, practically all of which is told in
official kilograms. The admiral urged
upon the department as he had previ-
ously done TO expedite the arrival of
the troops for Santiago. the difficulty
of blockading the Spanish ships daily
increasing. On June 10. a dispatch was
received showing that the army eXpe-
dition was temporarily stopped be-
cause of the reported observation of
additional Spanish vessels in Ameri-
can waters.
In a memorandum dated June Is, the
admiral says: The communicating
chief desires again to call the attention
of commanding officers to the positions
occupied by the blockading fleet, espec-
tally during the daytime, and it is now
directed that all ships keep within a
distance of the entrance to Santiago
of four miles and this distance must
not be exceeded.
IF the vessel is coaling, or is other
wise restricted in her movements she
must nevertheless keep within this dis
tance.
IF at any time the flagship makes
signal which is not visible to any YES
sci, such vessel must at once approach
the flagship or repeating vessel to a
point where she can reed the signal.
Disregard Of the directions which
have already been given on this head
has led to endless confusion. Many
times during the day the fleet is sc
scattered that it would be perfectly
possible for the enemy to come out oil
the harbor and meet with very littl:
opposition.