The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-21
SCHLEY MAKES ANSWER
Clearly Rciutes The Charges Made Against
Him by Sampson.
QUOTES THE ORDERS GIVEN BY SAMPSON
no Acted Adyiscd,y and Did His Full
Duty--Thc Destruction or 'er
vcra's Fleet Described

permission TO answer tne Sh"i So
Gently made against him in a communi'
cation recently sent to the senate, TO-DAY
handed to the committee on naval ahairs
i his statement. in which - disclaims any
purpose of controversy with the navy de-
! partment. The letter of the department
he says, SO far as 1t relates to him. can
be summarized under the following
| heads
The delay at Cienfuceos the alleged
! slow progress toward Santiago de Cuba,
from Cienfuegcs; the retrogradc move
nents of the 2eth aud 27th
of May; the battle of Santiago and the
destruction of Ceryera's fleet.
The admiral says his orders from Ad-
miral Sampson on May 10 were to block
AIDE Cienfuegos, which he proceeded to do.
He had no knowledge that there were
any insurgents about Cienfuegos VINO
we're friendly until the Marblehead ar
rived on the 1ith.
Even had lie had this knowledge on
the 23rd of May the surf would have pre-
vented communication. On his arrival he
head ashore to establish relations with
the insurgents, the result of which was
made known to him at $40 on May "a.
Then for the first time he learned def
nltely that the Spanish fleet was not at
Cienfuegos. Within two hours he started
for Santiago.
What possible ground of criticism he
Iii
said 'averse to me there can be In all
this do not see / was on the spot act
ing under orders which gave me entire
discretion and yet clothed me with the re-
sponsibility of going to Santiago only af-
ter | was told that the fleet was not at
Cienfuegos.'
He quotes from the dispatch from Adj
miral Sampson May 20, in which the latter
says Schley should hold his fleet OIL Glen
fuegos If the Spanish ships have put into
Santiago, they must come either to Ha-
vana or to Cienfuegos to deliver the nlu-
nitions of war which they are said to
bring for use in Cuba.
Il am therefore of the opinion that the
best chance 10 capture these ships will be
TO hold the two points-Cienfuego and Ha-
vana-with all the force we can muster.
If later it should develop that these yes
sells are at Santiago we can then assemble
off that point the ships best suited for the
purpose and completely blockade it. Until
We then receive more positive information
we shall continue to hold Havana ana
Cienfuegos -
Admiral SchIey adds:
This letter is not printed either in the
appendix or executive documents, but l
received 1t on the 23d and it shows that
was expected to hold my squadron Off
Cienfuegos'
AS to the slow progress toward Santiago
on the Eagle he states that she was a part
of the force which Admiral Sampson had
seen fit to send him and he had no right
to abandon her. The weather also was
rough and not much better speed could
have been kept up. He had been ordered
to proceed cautiously. IF | had known
that tho Spanish fleet was at Santiago no
consideration for tho Eagle or anything
else would have prevented me from get
ting there at the earliest possible moment
with the larger vessels, but tho weather
and sea made it impossible to do better
than [ did
Speaking Of the retrograde movements
which tho secretary, adapting the language
OF Admiral Sampson, characterizes as ere
prehensible conduct" Admiral Schley says
that never in all his service was such lam
guage used to characterize conduct of
mine and see no reason for 1t now"
He adds; Acting in accordance with my
best Judgment in view of the circum-
stances, with certain knowledge of The
whereabouts OF the Spanish aeet after
having been Informed by the scouts com
manded by such officers as Sigsbee Jewell
and Wise, that they had been off Santiago
Tor week, and had seen nothing of it and
knew nothing Of its movements or ita
whereabouts since it had left Curacao; he
mad been assured by Sigsbee that ne did
net believe II was in Santiago and by en-
~ u ~ ffF, 80 a.
knowing that as the sea and weather we're
bad II would be impossible to coal nv
squadron on the port, | deemed it best to
take the action | did the final result of
WHEN WAS the location OF the enemy's fleet
in Santiago harbor.'
ADMIRAL Sehley speaks of the difficulty
OF doing anything with the insurgents and
refers 10 the manner in which Lieutenant
blue took three days to secure informa-
ton.
As to the battle of Santiago Admiro,
sehley say3 the facts of that contest snna,
lor themselves, He quoses from his of.
nclai report TO Sampson in which he CON
sra'uiated the commander OF the SQUADRON
anu sald: The victory seems big enough
lor an Oh US He asks the committees 10
s su ms reports and those of Sampson
tohtaihihg reference to himself, and cou-
lihues, AS TO all the criticism Of my
Nurse prior to the discovery by me OF,
May ~ OF Cervera's aeet, whether from
Aanlral sampson or the department none
ol u mas ever been made by either 10 me.
lhu ! never heard u word OF II from auv
,ne until after tho battle with the fleet:
lilhough more than five wesks had nasaei
.lnss the alleged repreheusible conduct' |
lsa occurred. Although Admiral Samnson
'ssu inns language to The secretary con |
'erhlng me on the 10th day of JULY dust |
me week after the hsttle), he has never |
Q this day, In any manner or TO any ey.
Sh., in.'mated TO me any disapprobation,
!. naae 10 me any criticism of my con-
'uet OF the Flying squadron"
Aainlral sohley then submits a long de-
ileo statement OF the f.cts he s,,mna.
l@su IN the foregoing. which Is In reniy
question by Chairman Hale OF ne
'aIal committee. II gives the dispatches
gag orders received by Schley and de-
'riDes the conditions in which the china
ad 70 coal as Well as the sailing for SAN
$50 ne also refers 10 IN. doubts which
rose as 10 the presence of The Spanish
eet IN Santiago after be had arrived Of
M por,. Captain Sigsbee stated yorha,.
mat he had been close into port Sow
RAJ Times and there was no indioatIo,,
nat the enemy was present and he donh,-
d lis arrival there. "o1o''
The commanding officer of the lJ.r.
ara reported that he did not have cna,
nongh TO reach any home base and ce,,,l
OF steam beyond twenty fonr 10 tbir,,,
OUTS, whlen The admiral says forced him