New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-07
LONGS REPLY TO SCHLEY.
ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE SAMPSON
SCHLEY CONTROVERSY.
THE sECRETARY's SECOND LETTER TO THE
SENATE COMMITTEE. ON NAVAL AF-
FAIRS MADE PUBLIC

washington, Aatcn b.--lhc StEAte committee
on Naval Affairs to-day made public Secretary
Longs second letter in the Sampson Schey con-
troversy. this communication being in reply to
Admiral Schley's letter The first matter which
the Secretary takes up is Schley's mention Of
sampson's letter Of May 90 which Mr.. Long
says. seems to have 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 posses
sion Of the Department on February g. nor was
its existence known to the department at that
time
Second-That It was in the possession OF Ad-
miral Schley until February g. when II was sent
10 the Department upon It's request to be fur
nished with all official records relating TO his
duty cOmnarder-ir-chef Of the Flying
Squadron and as n flag officer in the North At
lantic feet.
Thirl-That in its instructions with regard 10
maintaining the blockade Of Cienfuegos il was
not more explicit than the letter OF Admiral
Sampson OF May 10 which accompanied the
communication Of the Department Of February
g. and which IS published In the appendix TO the
report Of the Bureau Of Navigation. page 464
Fourth-That on May p. the day after II
written. Admiral Sampson sent orders to Com
modOre Schley in duplicate. by the Hawk and
the Marblehead which orders were received by
Commodore Schloy during the early forenoon Of
the 23d and 24th. respectively, directing Com
modcre Schley 10 proceed with all dispatch. but
cautiously. to Santiago. II satisfied that the
Spanish squadron was not at CienfuegOs. The
set Of these orders sent by the Hawk
ceived on the same day as the letter of the 10Th
and bearing the later date Nav 81, Of course
revoked the instructions TO blockade CienfuegOs
contained I'm the letters OF the 10Th and 10th.
F1fth-That in obedience TO these instructions
the Flying Squadron left CienfuegOs on the
afternoon Of the 24th but did not reach the i'm
mediate vicinity OF the port Of Santiago until
the morning OF May %.
THE MOVEMENT TOWARD KEY WEST
The Secretary quotes the Admirars reference
10 the Departments order received by him on
May o. directing him TO ascertain positively II
Cervcra's feet was in Santiago Harbor. and nor
TO allow him to leave Santiago if found certainly
10 be there without decisive action" gives
the Admirars reply in full. and says:
Il win be seen that Rear-Admiral Schey's
statement 10 the Senate does not show that he
started 10 return 20 Key West and sgnalled 10
the squadron 20 that effect. and so informed the
Department. and 30 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 . and
written May p, shows that though having just
received the Tel gram OF the DeTs rtment and
having hand d sufficient supply of coal 10
return 10 Key West. he reported that he could
not obey the OrIer. and continued 70 proceed
toward Key West However 10 later became
evident - him that this was unnecessary. and
he resumed the movement toward Santiago
Another point in Admiral schley's letter Is
touched upon follows.
Admiral Schley's mention of the signal by Ad-
Tniral Sampson at : - a. M. on July ) Dsre-
gard movements OF the Commander-in-Chief"
and his mention OF the movement ~ the Com
mander-in-Chie toward SibOney, is followed by
an incorrect inference, to wit: This left me
senior officer present. and necessarily clothed
me with the responsibilities OF command" The
signal above mentioned Is one which Is fre-
quertly made in squadron. and Is never held as
in any sense REIMBURSEMENT of command II
IS made whore. for any reason, the haSsnlp
leaves its assigned position in formation, as was
the case when the New-York left her habitual
hlOckading station the morning II July 3. At
such times n s made 70 avoid confusion. which
would result = other vessels fixing their posi-
lions by reference 10 the flagship. were 10 move
with her. Without further signal. the respons-
bnity Of command would not he shifted unth
the senior officer had gone out of signal dis
tance.
TIE statement closes with tho following
The Department furnishes the foregoing state
ncnt only 90 complete the record In compliance
Desiring 10 do Admirals sampson and Schley
full justice for services rendered n mas. aItrr
fuu consideration II all the circumstances. rec
commended 10 the President thrir promotion 20
the grade of Rear-Admiral and hegs t. eX-
press the hope that his recommendations IN the
same effect may be confirmed by the Senate.
WHAT sIGsBEE SAID TO SCHLEY
Annexed 10 the letter from the Secretary Is
one from Captain sis-bee in reply 10 Admiral
Schlev's reference 10 himself as commander oi
the scout steamer -. Paul. quoting him as au-
thoritv for the opinion that Cervera's fleet was 4
not IN Santiago Harbor on this point Sigsbee /
says
What actually said to the Adm.-h was that /
Pilot Nunez had first expressed pelel 'HHt /
such large vessels Cervoras cruls'rs couiI +
not ret into Santiago because or fner lehsll' J
but he afterward admitted that they might get /
in with the aid ~ tugs. f-NtfE oHt'ei on /
board the -. Paul knew that believed Ceryera5
10 be at Santiago: nevertheless cohsuere1
Nunez's opinion.
He SAYS that he first saw the feet IN the
harbor on May % and signailed to Adn'irai
Schley. and adds'
While ! had not known from previous OBJ
servation that Cervera's fleet was In santiago. .
l.olis,.ed that II was there because ] had been .
SO informed bv the Navy Department and dur
ing the eight davs the ST. Paul remained OF
santiago the different vessels touching there
and communicating with me had prousht no
counter report from the Navy Department.
With reference 10 the statement that he had
confirmed the difficulty Of coaling off Santiago
Captain sigsbee says
There had been weather unfavorable for coal
,, h,,, 7 ren,ornber no statement OF mine rela-
,,,.. 20 coalinR made 10 the Admiral, exceptnS
on the morning when We jointly discovered the
Spanish vessels. The commanqlns s ,nr'GtS II oc
eser,hled on board the Brooklyn. on that uc-
cosicn I t,.ice Informed the Admiral that me
weather then prevailing was unusuaHy IaNotap57
for coaline at sea, and recomihehutu 'i,a' MAJ, al
,.aptoga he taken of it, on the groupd thhI 80
gond an onnortunity could not he expected otteh.
Al the same time ] expressed the pe"el mo
~nartanaro Rav should oe seized az base n"t
,eceesarilv by Admiral Schey. but as soon as
troops were available to hold 'he pace
FRANCO BRITISH RELATIONS.
l.,,.>rprrs REACH Az AMICABLE