The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-07

WASHINGTON, March s.-Tae senate
Committee On naval affairs today made
public Secretary Longs second letter in
the Sampson-Schley controversy. this
communication being In reply TO Admiral
Schley's letter. The first matter which the
secretary takes UP Is Admiral Schley >
mention OF Admiral SIMPSONS letter Of
May %. which the secretary says seems TO
have given certain senators the impression
taat the Department; had withheld that let
ter. On this point he says:
First. thai this letter was no. In the
possession OF the department on February
6. nor was its existence known to the de-
parrment az that time
Second. iha, II was in the possession OF
Admiral Sch.ey until the loth OF February.
when IL was sent to the department upon its
request to be furnished with all officia, ree-
ords relating To his duty IA commander-in-
chief Of the flying squadron and as a nag
officer ia the Atlantic fleet.
Third in it's Instructions with regard 10
maintaining the blockade Of Cienfurgos. It
was not mere explicit than the letter OF Ad-
miral Sampson of May 1s which accom-
panied the communication OF Febraayy s.
ard which Is published i'm the appendix TO
the report of the bureau of navigation on
page 4si
Fourth. that on May q, the day after 1t
WAS written. Admiral Sampson sent orders
to Commodore Schiey in duplicate by the
Hawk and Marbiehead. which orders wer-
Received by Commodore Schley during the
early forenoon OF the sd and e4,h respect
lively. directing Commodore Sch.ey 10 pro-
coed with all dispatch, but cautiously, 10
santiago. IL satisfied the Spanish squadron
was not al Cienfuegos. The set OF these
orders az sent back by the Hawk was re-,
ceived on the same day the letter Of the
esth, and bearing the later date MAY ais,.
ede Cieafuegus contained In the letters OF
the 10Th and Goth.
Fifth, that In obedience to these tn-
s.ruc.sonS the flying squadron left Csenfue-
gos on the afternoon OF the asth. but d.i
net reach the immediate vicinity OF the
port ~ Santiago unui the morning OF the
.st', af May -
Hts start Toward Key West.
The secretary quotes the admirars ref
erencs TO the department. order received
by him May =. directing him 10 positively
ascertain II cervera's fleet was in Ssans!-
ago barber. aud the order not to allow
him tn leave Santiago II found certainly
20 ire there. "wlthou, "a decisive action"
The secretary gives the admrars reply In
fali. and says:
"it will be seen that Rear AsnIrars
Schiey's statement 10 the senate does not
chow that he started 20 return 10 Kew
West. and signaled 10 the squadron to
that effect, and ~ informed the depart
snent. and IL might be inferred thar he
imne diatels oo-yed that order and ascer
tanned The presence Of tsa enemy al Sanfi-
ago. On the contrary, his Telegram.
above dated May = and written Nav q
shows that though having just received
the ts.sSrars OF tha department and hav-
ing on hand a sufficient supply o. coal 10
return to- Key West. ne reported that he
cca1 not obey the order and continued
10 proceed toward Key West However.
ii later became evident "a him ths: this
was unnecessary. and he resumed the
movement toward Santiago"
M Retinaui.hm~as OF Command.
Auether polns in Admiral schiey's let.
ter IS touched raen in ,ae following man
nsr:
Admiral Sehtey's mention os the sxnal
ny Aimira. Sa uApsae az S.ss a IN Iulv B.
DISREGARD movements Of tha com nsarssser-
in-ch.sF and hts mention OF Ire SOM
sNanier~sr-ehef movement tewara s.
rect inference te VII THIS LETT
me senior esfcer present and nsces
sar.iy clothed He MIA the rexpou@s halt;y
ef The command The signal above men
toned is one which is frequently made
.a squadron. ana - never hela as IN anv
~sn~e a refuQatslsnsent ef command II
gs made aaare for any re&saa shs sax-
snip leaves lts as$ gned position. as was
the sase when the New Ycrk left her
ha&sEusl hseckaaEug station tire usssstssnr
ef Imly B. WITHOUT sarthsr ~xras ssa
responsibility es command wcaia sA,s -
sssifgets uns.i tsse sssseg cfscer hsa gone
esss II ssgnal distance.
TIE statement eomcissies wsh tae FOL
lessr~:
TIE .teE4rf sssas furnishes shr fegexesrS
stAtwTmaas sss.v 70 sss-rfa@se tha record
isz compliance ~gsh the request - fha
senate ssf IansaAry - r@sysns 80 Sc Aa-
ssssraGS s~axwgspssn and SeAsey gasi ssszfsee
fsr Ssrytesss rwfssser%s. II hA< eiSh full
soass5era tsozs ~ Al sae circumstance.
recnrn n-ssens8e4 Is sAs pssssaeri snetr prs
szsssss,sa 20 sse grade q rear admiral afsf
Asss 20 express tse hop~ that aAs Tsco-se
gssszl&gls>Ess as Is ts@ same nsay - cee
3rnssa Sy shs seu2se.
>sx.s~~'s Reply to sehs~y.
Annexess 81 tae lester from she secretary
IL uae fre=s CAPT S&@sa-rA in reg1x 20
\ s,frsssT&l seAseys reference sa hisz as soga-
svs&rassex ~ tne sg~saf steamer - gssus
sssssiss Asns as authority to- tss ogla aion
saAt e5srSsrsss sost ~AS nss Ia santiago
aArSeg sss shss po2at sixsae esxss
pAsf actually S&ts 20 ,se admiral
A.Ssat4ssss~s 81 IAxe xarsA