Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-03-18
Secretary Long Reviews the
Controversy.
FULLJUSTICE FOR TIE NAVAL HEROES
Though RavinE Received Orders 90
search For the Enemy at santiago
sehiey said He COuid Vet ossy
and Started FOR Key west.


ply 20 Admiral schleys letter. The nrsS
matter which the secretary takes up is
Admiral Schleys mention OF Admiral
sampsou's letter % Nay 90 which the
secretary says seems 10 have given GER
tain senators the impression that the
department has Withheld that letter.
on this point ne says;
''Ffrst.-Thas this letter was not IN
the possession OF the department on
Feb. g. nor Was It's existence known 20
the department at that time.
Second That II was in the posses
sion Of Admiral Schiey untu the sth 81
February. when % was sent 20 the de-
partment upon It's request 20 b. furnish
ed with an ofaciEl records relating 20 /
his duty as commander In chief of the /
flying squadron and as a aag ofacer in I
the north Atlantic fleet
Third That Ia It's instructions with
regard 20 maintaining the blockade ot
Cienfucgos IL was not more explicit
than the letter % Admiral Sampson of
May 1a. which accompanied the com
muuicatlon OF the department of Feb.
s and which Is published in the appen-
dix 20 the report OF the bureau or navi-
cation on page +6&.
''Fourth.-That on MAY q. the day
after it was written. Admiral Sampson
sent orders 90 Commodore Schley tn du-
plicate by the Hawk and Marblehead.
which orders were received by Commo-
dore Schiey during the early forenoon
OF the 23d and 2tth respectively. direct
ing Commodore schiey % proceed with
all dispatch. but cautiously. 20 sanu-
ago n satisfied that the spanish squad
ron was not at Cienruegos. The set OF
these orders sent By the Hawk was re
ceived on the same day as the letter OF
the 10th and bearing the later date.
May e. and OF course revoked the in
Etructi0ns 90 blockade Cienfuegos con
tained in the letters of tHe 18th and
20th.
"Fifth.-rhat In obedience 20 these In
structions the flying squadron left Glen
fuegos on the afternoon of the 2tth. bat
: did not reach the Immediate vicinity o
the port OF Santiago until the morning
: OF the 18th of May.
( The secretary quotes the admirall
reference 20 the departments order re
: celved By him on the 27th OF May a.
r rectins him 20 positively ascertain 8
Cervera's fleet was in Sau tiaKo harbo
and not 20 allow him 90 leave Santiag
10 found certainly 20 be there "withou
a decisive action" gives the admiral
reply In full and says:
1T will be seen that Rear Admira
Schley's statement 10 the senate doe
nos show that ne started 60 return Z
Key West and slgnsled TO the sQuRdro
: 20 that effect and so informed the de
partment and il might be inferred tina
he Immediately obeyed that order an
ascertained the presence OF the enem
at Santiago. on the contrary. his tel'
p gram above. Gated May aS and write
May g. shows that. though having jul
received the telegram OF the depar
ment and having on hand a sufficiei
supply OF coal 10 return 20 Key Wes
- ne reported that he could not obey a
= order and continued 10 proceed towal
Key West. However. Il later becan
y evident 20 him that this was unnece
sary. and he resumed the movsmei
toward Santiago"
IT, Another point In Admiral Schley
letter Is touched upon In the followiI
. manner:
Z Admiral s>hley's mention Of q
- signal by Admiral Sampson az s:S6
: m, July 3. Disregard movements
the commander IN chief ard his me
ton OF the movement OF the command
=, IN chief toward siboney is followed
an incorrect inference-to wit, This Il
- ms senior of1cer present and necessari
clothed me with the responsibilities
command Ths signal above mention
Is one which is frequently made
squadron ana is never held as In a
sense q rslinQuishment OF command.
=. IL made where for any reason the 3s
- ship leaves It's assigned position in {,
IS nation. as was the case when the ~
80 York left her habituai blockading 2,
en- ton the morning OF July g. Al 81
times Il Is made 20 avoid confUsi
which would result II other vessels T
=, ing their positions by reference 10
~ flagship were 20 move with her. Wi
- out further signal the responsibility
command would not be shifted ur
= the senior oficsr had gone cut og sigl
distance"
The statement concludes with the I
lowing: The department furnishes
foregoing statement only 70 compl
the record in compliance with the
Guest OF the senate OF Jan %. Desir
.,.N ," TO do Admirais Sampson and Schiey
Justice for services rendered. IL has. a
er full consideration of all the circu
stances. recommended TO the presid
,, , their promotion 70 the grade OF rear
- sniral and begs 10 express the hope q
- his recommendations 20 the same eff
= may be confirmed BY the senate"
- Annexed TO the letter from the sec
tary 10 one from Captain sigsoee in
ply 20 Admiral schlsy's reference
-, himself a. commander Of the &C
.o-, steamer ST. Paul. quoting him as
49, thority for the opinion that csrvs'
Zee, was net IN Santiago karser.
80, this paint sixseee says;
.vs what actually sale 20 the adm