The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-07
THE LETTER OF NAY 10Th
WRITTEN BY SAMPSON, NOT
WITHHELD BY DEPARTMENT
ORDERS AS TO ClENFUEGos BLOCKADE
shat Captain Sigsbee Said Relative to the
Whereabouts Of cevefs's Fleetacd as
TO the Difficulty of Coaling
Of Santiago.

Washington. March G.-Tha Senate
Committee on Naval Affairs sc-day
made public Secretary Longs sec ,nd
letter in the Sampsou-Schley coauo-
versy, this communication being in r.
ply to Admiral Schlcys letter. The first
matter which the Secretary takes up IS
Admiral Schley's N, ntiou of Admiral
Simpsons letter of May Goth, which he
Secretary says seems to have given Ger
tain Senator's the impression 5hat the
Department has withheld that letter
On this point he says
"First-That this tier was not in
the possession of the Department en-
February 9th. nor was It's existence
known to the Department ut that time
'Second-That ii was in the possession
of Admiral Schlcy until the ninth of
February, when it was sent TO the De
partment, upon its request to &c furn-
ished with all official records relating
to his duty as commander-in-chief OF
the flying squadron. and as a flag Off
Ger in the North Atlantic fleet
"Third-That in its instructions viii
itS1 al u ~ LliIlllitliilA- illc BlUthItic VI
Cienfu, gOs it was not more explicit
than the letter Of Admiral Sampson
Of May 10Th which accompanied the
communication of the Department of
February 9th. and which is published
in the appendi& ,5atthe report OF the
Bureau of Navigation ON page 46t
'Fourth-That on May 2Ist, the day
after it was written. Admiral Sampson
sfnt orders TO Commodore Schley, in du-
plicate, by the Hawk and Marblehead,
which orders were received by Commo-
dore Schley during the early forenoon
of the 23rd and 24th respectively. dire <
ing Commodore Sclhy to proceed with
all dispatch, but cautiously, to Santiago
if satisfied that the Spanish squadron
was not at Cienfuegos. The set of these
orders sent by the Hawk was received
on the same day as the letter of the
10Th. and, bsaring the later date. May
Dist, of course revoked the Instructions
TO blockade Cienfuegos, contained in the
letters of the 10Th and 20th.
"Fifth-That in obedience to these in
structions the flying squadron left Glen
fuegos ON the afternoon Of the oath, but
did not reach the immediate vicinity Of
the port of Santiago until the morning
of the 29th of May"
The Secretary quotes the Admiral :
reference to the Departments order It
ceived by him ON the 9th of May direct
ing him to positively ascertain if Ger
vera's fleet was in Santiago harbOr and
not to allow him 70 leave Santiago,
If found certainly to be there, without
decisive action gives the Admiral $
reply in full and says:
1T will he seen that Rear Admiral
Schey's statement to the Senate does
not show that he started to return TO
Key West, and sgnalled TO the squad
ron to that effect. and SO informed the
Department and it might be inferred
that he Immediately obeyed that order,
and ascertained the presence of the
enemy ut Santiago. On the contrary,
his telegram above dated May 2Sth, and
written May 9th, shows that, though
having just received the telegram nf the
Department and having on hand n saf-
ticient supply of coal to return { . Key
West. he reported that he could rot
obey the order and continued 10 pro-
ceed toward Key West. However, it
later became evident to him that thi,
was unnecessary. and he resumed he
movement towards 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 $40 Il. m.,
| July 3rd, Disregard movem nts OF the
commander-in-chief toward Siboney,' is
| followed by an incorrect inference, to-
wit: This left me senior officer pres
! ent. and necessarily clothed me with
/ the RESPONSIBILITIES of command The
| signal above mentioned is one which
is frequently made in squadron. and
! is never held rs in any sense re
/ Iinduishment of command. 1t is made
where for any reason, the flagship
leaves it's assigned position in forma-
! ton. MS was the case when the New
York left her habitual blockading sta
ton the morning Of July 3rd. At such
time il is made to avoid confusion.
Without further signal the responsibility
of command would not he shifted until
the senior officer had gone out of signal
distance
! The statement concludes with the fol
! lowing:
The Department furnished the fore
going statement only to complete the
record in compliance with the request OF
the Senate of January %. Desiring
/ to do Admirals Sampson and Schiey full
Justice for service rendered IT has, after
/ full consideration of all the circumstan.
I ces. recommended to the President their
promotion to the grade of Rear Ad-