The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-07
The Senate Committee on Naval Al
fairs Makes Public
Secretary Longs Second Letter In the
Navy Officers Dispute.
The Cabinet Officer Says the Pres
emit Statement is Furnished Only
to Complete the Record in Com
pHance With the Request of
the Senate


WASHINGTON, March 6-The Sen
ate Committee on Naval Affairs to-day
made public Secretary Longs second
letter in the SampsonSchley controv-
ersy this communication being in re-
ply to Admiral Schley's letter. The
first matter which the Secretary takes
UP is Admiral Schleys mention of Adj
nniral SIMPSONS letter of May 20th,
which the Secretary says seems to nave
given certain Senators the impression
that the department has withheld that
letter On this point he says:
First-That this letter was not in the
possession of the department on FEB
rurary 9th, nor was it's existence known
to the department at that time.
Secondhand it was in the possession
of Admiral Schley until the 9th OF F'ep-
ruiary. when it was sent to the depart
ment upon its request to be furnlsheo
with all official records relating to MS
duty as Commanderin-Ch Chief OF the
flying squadron and as flag officer In
the North Atlantic fleet.
Third-That in its instructions with
regard to maintaining the blockade OF
Cienfuegos it was more explicit than
the letter of Admiral Sampson of May
18th. which accompanied the commu-
nication of February 9Th, and which IS
published in the appendix to the report
of the Bureau of Navigation on page
AGA
Fourth-That on May Dist, the day
after it was written, Admiral Samp-
son sent orders to Commodore Schley
in duplicate by the Hawk and Marble
cd
Commodore SchIey during the early
forenoon of the 23d and oath, respect
lively. directing Commodore Schley to
proceed with all dispatch, but eau
tiously, to Santiago, if satisfied that the
Spanish squadron was not at Cienfue-
gos. These orders, as sent by the
Hawk. were received on the same date
as the letter of the Goth, and bearing
the later data. May 21st. of course, g.
voked the instructions to blockaiia
Cienfuegos contained in the letters of
the 18th and Doth.
Fifth-That the obedience to these in
structicns the flying squadron left Glen
fuegcs ON the afternoon of the oath. but
did not reach the immediate vicinity Of
the port of Santiago until the morning
of the Doth of May.
The Secretary quotes the Admiral g
reference to the departments order re-
cedved by him on May 9th, directing
him to positively ascertain if Cervera' 5
fleet was in Santiago harbor, and not
to allow him to leave Santiago if found
certainly to. be there, without a decis-
i've action" gives the AdmiraPs reply
in full, and says: 1T will be seen
that Rear Admiral Schley's statement
to the Senate does not show that he
started to return to Key West and sig
nailed to the squadron to that effect
and 50 informed the department, and
it might be inferred that he immediately
obeyed that order and ascertained the
presence of the enemy at Santiago. On
the contrary, his telegram above, dated
May 2Sth and written May 9th, shows
that though having Just received the
telegram of the department and hav-
ing on hand sufficient supply of coal
to return to Key West, he reported thai
he could not obey the order, and con-
tinued to proceed toward Key West
However, it later became evident &c
him that this was unnecessary and he
resumed the movement toward San
tiago."
Another point in Admiral Schley'
letter is touched upon in the following
manner: Admiral Schley's mention OF
the signal of Admiral Sampson at 81.
a. m, July 3d-Disregard movements
of the commander-in -chief-and his
mention of the movement of the COM
mander-in-chief toward Siboney, is fol-
lowed by an incorrect inference, to wit:
This left me the senior officer present
and necessarily clothed me with the
responsibilities of the command. The
signal above mentioned is one which Is
frequently made in squadron and is
never held as in any sense relinquish-
nsent of command 1t is made where
for any reason, the flagship leaves its
assigned position. as was the case when
the New York left her habitual block
aiding station the morning of July Sd
At such times it is made to avoid con-
fusion. which would result in favor OF
themselves fixing their positions by
reference to the flagship, were to move
With her. Without further signal the
responsibility of command would net
be shifted until the senior officer had
gone out of signal distance"
The statement concludes with the fol-
lowing 9.The department furnishes the
FOREGOING statement only to complete
the record. in compliance with the re-
quest of the Senate of January I'D
Desiring to do Admirals Sampson ano
Schley full justice for services rem
dered, it has, after full consideration Of
all the circumstances, recommended te
the President their promotion TO tnt
grade of Rear Admiral, and begs t
express the hope that his recommends
tions to the Senate may be confirmed
by the Senate
Annexed to the letter from the Secre-
tary is one from Captain Sigsbee II
reply to Admiral Schley's reference K
him as commander Of the scout steamer
st. Paul, quoting him as authority fol
the opinion that Cerveras fleet was no
in Santiago harbor. On this point Sigs
bee says:
What / actually said to the Admira
was that pilot Nunez had first ex
pressed the belief that such large YES
sells as Cervera's cruisers could not ge
iEto Santiago because of their length
but he afterward admitted that the,
might get in with the aid of tugs
livery officer on board the ST. Pau
knew that believed Cervera to be a