The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-11-26
his reply to the departments dispatch
as follows:
KINGSTON. May %, 1895.
"Hsecretary Navy, Washington.


80 "K1NGsToN. May 2S, 1895.
"'secretary Navy, Washington.
Merr!mac engines disabled; IS
heavy; arl obliged to have towed TO
Key West. HIVE been unable absolute
la 10 coal the Texas, Marblehead, Vixen,
Brooklyn from collier, all owing to very
rough sea. Bad weather since leaving
Kew West. The Brooklyn alone has
more than sufficient coal to proceed to
Key West; cannot remain Off Santiago
present state squadron coal account.
Impossible 10 coal leeward Cape Cruise
in the summer, all owing to southwest
erlv winds. sSse . Much to be re-
GREETED, cannot obey orders Of depart-
meut. Have strIven earnestly forced
to proceed for coal to Key West by way
OF Yucatan passage. Cannot ascertain
anything respecting enemy positive.
Very difficult to tow collier to get cable
to hold. sCHLEY.
Later In the day, the squadron mean
time having again moved westward, the
signal stop was made to the flying
squadron, after which the Texas and
Marblehead went alongside the Merri-
mac and coaied. The squadron was at
that time distant about forty miles to
the southwark and westward OF SantI-
ago."
ALsrrlmNo Incident
On the 2Sth, signal was made to re-
turn in the direction of Santiago and
the squadron stopped for the night ten
miles on shore, with the Marblehead
scouting two miles inside. on the next
morning, the Spanish squadron was
sighted inside. on June 3, the Merri-
mac was sunk and OF this tho secre-
tary says:
'pThls attempt, although unsuccessful
in It's object, was daringly executed. It
is now one Of the well known historic
marvels Of naval adventure and enter
prise in which Naval Constructor Hob
son and his men won undying fame"
The report deals with the seizure OF
the harbor OF Guantanamo and the
gallant three days fight Of the marines;
with the conveying OF the Shafter eX-
pedltlon from Tampa to Santiago and
with the conferences that took place
between Shafter and Sampson in the
effort to secure cooperation OF the
army and navy In reducing Santiago.
The story OF the operations at this
stage involves the recital Of the de-
struction of the Spanish fleet, which is
told however, in the most concise Off
cIal form.
one fact disclosed BIZ the history Of
the days before the surrender Of San
tiago, is that Sampson asked to be rep
resented in any conference held to ar
range the terms Of surrender OF Santi-
ago by virtue OF the fact that he had
engaged In the joint operations. Shafter
replied that he should be glad to have
Sampson represented, but the surren-
der took place before his representative
could reach the camp. Admiral Samn-
sons chief Of stan did arrive before the
final articles were signed, but Shafter
declined 10 permit him TO be one OF the
slgnatories.
A brief chapter in the report tells of
the operations of the blockade. 1t is
said that this was OF an extremely ar
duous character generally unrelieved by
the excitement OF combat. Many de-
voted officers aud crews from the be-
ginning OF the war until the end rem
dered most valuable and conscientious
service without opportunity, for winning
distinction In battle. Hlgh praise is
awarded TO the marine corps for their
work throughout the campaign. In view
of the prospective increase OF the navy
and the necessity of guarding the naval
stations which will be needed in the
newly-acqulred territory OF the United
States and especially In view OF the
general efficiency displayed by this
corps, the secretary says that 1t should
be Increased to 5000 and the necessary
officers
Auxiliary Naval Force.
Praise is accorded to the officers and
men connected with the auxiliary naval
force and the coast signal service. Sec
retary Long gives complete list Of all
the merchant vessels and yachts that
were acquired by lease or purchase for
the navy and in each case shows the
purchase price. There were 10 OF these
vessels including the warshlps bought
abroad.
The secretary in summing up the
work imposed the department In its
vastness, says that the country as well
as the service has cause for congratula-
tions in the results which have followed
and which have been so generally ap-
proved and in the further fact that no
personal feeling has arisen to mar the
glorious Victories and magnificent work
of the service. The secretary compli-
ments the equipment bureau for satis-
factory manner in which, notwithstand-
ing the many difficulties which develop
ed in providing coal for the fleets. The
largest single item OF expenditure was
for the purchase OF coal-452,55l tons
being bought at cost of S2,122.0O0.
The secretary includes in his report a
short and concise statement under sep
arate heads OF the operations OF each OF
the bureaus OF the department and sub
mlts estimates for the next fiscal year
augregatlng S47,O9S.251, which is an in
crease OF $9,SG9.l7S over the appropria-
tons for 1899 and contains new items
aggregatIng $7.027,S34. OF these new
Items, the most important is SAFES, ,s99
for yards and docks. There Is also an
item OF S1,620,0OO on account of the pa
val academy.