The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-07
LONG MAKES HIS REPLY
The Last Chapter in McKinley's
War on Schley.
TO COMPLETE THE RECORD
The Secretary Insists That His First Re-
Fort Was Correct in All Essential
Particulars and That Schley
Erred.

Washington, March 6.-The senate
committee on naval affairs to-day made
public Secretary Longs second letter
in the Sampson-Schle controversy this
morning, being in reply to Admiral
| Schleys letter. The first matter which
the secretary takes up is Admiral
Schley's mention of Admiral Sampson s
letter of May 20, which the secretary
says seems to have given certain SEN
ators the impression that the depart
ment has withheld that letter. On
this point he says:
First-That this letter was not in the
possession of the department on Feb.
6, nor was its existence known to the
department at that time.
Second-That it was in the possession
of Admiral Schley until the 9Th of Feb
! ruary, when it was sent to the depart
ment upon its request to be furnished
with all official records relating to his
duty as commander-in-chief of the
flying squadron and as flag officer in
the North Atlantic fleet.
Third-In it's instructions with regard
to maintaining the blockade of Cienfue-
gos, 1t was not more explicit than the
letter of Admiral Sampson of May 10,
which accompanied the communica-
ton of Feb. and which is published
in the appendix to the report of the
bureau of navigation on page AGA.
Fourth-That on May 81, the day it
was written, Admiral Sampson sent or
ders to Commodore Schley in duplicate
by the Hawk and Marblehead, which
orders were received by Commodore
Schley during the early forenoon of
the sd and Gath, respectively, direct
ing Commodore Schley to proceed with
all dispatch, but cautiously, to Santi-
ago If satisfied that the Spanish squad
ron was not at Cienfuegos. The set of
these orders as sent back by the Hawk
was received on the same day as the
letter Of the Goth, and, bearing the
later date, May Dist, of course revoked
the instructions to blockade Clenfue
gos, contained in the letters of the 18th
and Goth.
Fifth-That in obedience to these in
structions the flying squadron left Glen
fuegos on the afternoon of the Gath, but
did not reach the immediate vicinity
of the port of Santiago until the morn
ing of the Goth of May.
The secretary quotes the admirals
reference to the departments order re-
ceived by him on the 9th of May di-
Cervera's fleet was In Santiago harbor
anti not to allow him to leave Santiago
if found certainly to be there, without
a decisive action" gives the admiral's
reply in full, and says:
1T will be seen that Rear Admiral
Schleys statement to the senator does
not show that he did not return to
Key West and it might be inferred that
he Immediately oheyed that order and
ascertained the presence Of the enemy
at Santiago. On the contrary, his tel
egram above. dated May g. and writ
ten May 81, shows that though having
just received the telegram of the de-
partment, and having on hand a suf-
ficent supply Of coal to return to Key
West, he reported that he could not
obey the order, and continued to pro-
coed toward Key West. However, it
later became evident to him that this
was unnecessary, and he resumed the
movement toward Santiago"
Another point in Admiral Schley's let
ter is touched upon in the following
manner:
Admiral Schley's mention of the sig
nal by Admiral Sampson at S:45 a. M,
July 8, Disregard movements of the
COMMUNICATIVE chief and his mention
of the COMMUNICATIVE chief moving to-
ward Siboney, is followed by an incor-
rect inference. tc-wit: This left me
senior officer present and necessarily
clothed me with the responsibility of
the command The signal above men
toned is one which is frequently made
in squadron and is never held as in any
sense REIMBURSEMENT of command. 1t
is made when for any reason the flag
ship leaves its assigned position, as
was the case when the New York left
her usual blockading station the morn
ing of July 3. Without further signal
no ~.;I, Of
not be shifted until the senior officer
had gone out of signal distance.
The statement concludes with the
following:
The department furnishes the fore
going statement only to complete the
record in compliance with the request
of the senate of Jan. o. Desiring to
do Admirals Sampson and Schley full
justice for service rendered. 1t ha-,
after full consideration of all the cir
cumstances, recommended to the presi-
dent their promotion to the grade of
rear admiral and begs to express the
hope that his recommendations as to
the same may be confirmed by the sem
ate"
Annexed to the letter from the score
tary is one from Captain Sigsbee in re-
ply to Admiral Schley's reference to
him as commander OF the scout steamer
st. Paul, quoting him as authority for
the opinion that Cervera's fleet was
not in Santiago harbor. On this point
Sigsbee says:
What I actually said to the admiral
was that Pilot Nunez had first ex-
pressed the belief that such large YES
sells as Cervera's cruisers could not get
into Santiago because of their length,
but he afterward admitted that they
might get in with the aid of tugs Ev-
cry officer on board the St. Paul knew
that l believed Cervera to be at San
tiago; nevertheless l considered Nunez's
opinion"
He says that he first saw the fleet in
the harbor May 90 and signaed Ad-
miral Schley, and adds:
While | had not known, from pre-
Vious observation, that Cervera's fleet
was in Santiago. | believed that it was
there, because l had been so informed
by the navy department. And during
the eight days the st. Paul remained off
Santiago the different vessels touching
there and communicating with me had
brought no counter report from the