Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-07

afternoon Of the oath. but did not rea0"
the immediate vicinity of the port OF san
tiago until the morning of the Zth Oh
May"
LOCATING CERVERA.
Tho Secretary quotes the AdmiraFs re-
ference to the departments orders re-
ceived by him on the 9th OF May direct
ing him to positively ascertain II Ger
vero,s fleet was in Santiago harbor, ana
not to allow him to leave Santiago Il
found certainly to be there, without a
decisive action gives the Admirdl re-
ply in full, and says: ,
'It will be seen that ar-Aohl
Schley's statement to the Senate ooes not
show that he started to return ~ ny
west and signalled 10 the squadron 10
49, .ysct and so informed the depart
80 and n might be inferred that re
immediatelv obeyed that order ana NJ
contained The presence Of the enemy al
Santiago. on the contrary, MS le'es.dnl
above dated May 28th, and written NAY
9th shows that though having just re-
ceived the telegram OF the department
and having on hand n SUFFICIENT sulpls
of coal 70 return 10 Key west ne ma"
NOT obeved that order, and continued 10
nroceed toward Key West. However IL
iater became evident 10 him that TINS
was unnecessary. and he resumed 'he
movement towards Santiago.
INCORRECT SCHLEY INFERENCE.
Another point in Admiral Schley's letter
is touched upon In the following manner
ADMIRAL Schley's mention of the slgnai
bv Admiral Sampson at $40 A. NJ July
81. Disregard movement Oh the COM
mand~er-in-chief toward Siboney, IS ioi-
lowed by an incorrect nference-to VII,
This left me senior officer present an"
necessarily clothed me with the response
hilities of command The signal above
mentioned is one which is frequently maze
In squadron. and is never held as IN any
SENSE a relinquishment OF command II
Is made when. for any reason. the nasshlp
leaves IT'S assigned position in formation
as WAS the case when the New YORK leit
her habitual b~lockading station the morn
inc Of Julv 81. At such times II IL nlaue
a., order TO avoid the confusion Wnlch
vyould result # other vessels, hXing their
nositlons bv reference TO the iagshlp'
we're TO move with her. without further
signal the responsibility OF command
would not be shifted until the senior ON
GER had gone out OF signal distance.
DESIRE TO DO JUSTICE.
The statement concludes with the fol-
lowing:
.The department furnishes the fore
GOING statement only 10 complete the re-
cord I'm compliance with the request or
the Senate Of January 25d. Desiring TO 90
Admirals Sampson and Schley full justice
for service rendered. IT has, AFTER iuIi
consideration Of all the circumstances
TO the President their pro-
-. - L. - aaF-rImNf and
begs 20 express the hope that MS recon-
m%endations 70 the same effect may be
confirmed by the Senate
LETTER FROM sIGSBEE.
Annexed to the letter from the Secre-
tary is one from Captain Sigsbee IN reply
IN Admiral Schley's reference TO him., as
cantain OF the steamer 81. Paul. quoting
him as authority for the opinion thai Ger
vera's fleet was not in Santiago harpor'
On this point Sigsbee says: what act
,allv said TO the Admiral was that Pllot
Nunez had first expressed a belief that
suob LARGE vessels as Cervera's cruisers
could not get into Santiago because o.
their length. but that he au-
mitted that they might get In WIN inc
oil ~ tugs 49, Every officer on board
49, 81 PauI knew that / believed Ger
vera 10 be at Santiago. NeVertheleSs' }
communicated Nunez's opinion
He SAYS he first saw the meet IN .nS
harbor on the 18th, and signalled Aunnlrdi
Schlev. and adds: WHILE had not
known from previous observations that
Cervera's fleet was in Santiago. l believed
- was there. because l had been so IN
formed bv the Navy Department ana
during the eight days the st. PAU re-
NAMED off Santiago the different vessels
touching there and communicating with
me had brought no counter-report lroHn
the Naval Department"
COALING OFF SANTIAGO.
with reference to the statement that
no had confirmed the difficulty Of coalins
off Santiago. Captain Sigsbee says;
There had been weather ~untaVoraDle
for coaling. but remember no statement
NJ mine relative TO coaling made 10 the
Admiral. excepting on the morning Wheh
we Jointly discussed the Spanish vessels.
The commanding officers were
on board the Brooklyn. On that occasion
T twice informed the Admiral that inc
weather then prevailing was sua
favorable for coaling at sea, ana re-
commanded that advantage be taken OF
II on the ground that so good an oppor-
unity could not be expected often. Az
the same time, / expressed the beher that
Guantanamo bay should be seized as Il
base not necessarily by schley'
bur as soon as the troops were avallaDle
- Ia tha nlnCp.F