Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-09
SECRETARY LONG
REPLIES TO sCHLEY
Another Chapter in the Controversy
Between the Two Rear
Admirals.
GIVEN OUT BY SENATE COMMITTEE
Letter From the Secretary of the
Navy Controverting Claims Re-
Gently Made by Schley--.
Sigsbce's Statement.

| Washington, March S.-Thc senate
committee on naval affairs has made
public Secretary Longs second letter
in the Sanpson-Schley controversy
this communication being in reply tc
Admiral Sshley's letter The first mat.
ter which the secretary takes up is Adj
mfTaa Sehley's mention of Admiral
SIMPSONS letter of May 20, which the
secretary says seems to have given
certain senators the impression that
the department has withheld that let
ter. On this point he says:
"That this letter was not in the pos
session OF the department on February
6, nor was its existence known to the
department at that time.
THAT 1t was in the possession of Adj
miral Schley until the 9th of February
when it was sent to the department
upon its request to be furnished with
all official records relating to his duty
as commander in chief of the flying
squadron, and as a flag officer in the
North Atlantic feet.
''In its instruction with regard to
maintaining the blockade of Cienfue-
gos it was not more explicit than the
letter of Admiral Sampson of May 10,
which accompanied the communica-
ton of the department of February 6.
"That on May 2l, the day after it was
written, Sampson sent orders to Schley
in duplicate, by the Hawk and Marble
head, which orders were received by
Schley during the early forenoon of
the 23rd and oath respectively, dircct-
ing Schley to proceed with all dis
patch, but cautiously, to Santiago, if
satisfied that the Spanish squadron
was not at Cienfuegos. The set of these
orders sent by the Hawk was received
on the same day as the letter of the
goth, and bearing the later date, May
21, of course revoked the Instructions
to blockade Cienfuegos contained in
the letter of the 10Th and goth.
"That in obedience to those instruc-
tons the flying squadron left Cienfuc-
gos on the afternoon of the gath, but
did not reach the immediate vicinity
of the port of Santiago until the morn
ing of the Goth of May"
The secretary quotes the admiral's
reference to the departments orde-
received by him on the 9th of May,
directing him to positively ascertain II
Cervera's fleet was in Santiago harbor,
and not to allow him to leave Santiago
II found certainly to be there. with
out decisive action gives the adj
miral's reply in full, and SAYS:
''It will be seen that Schley's state
ment to the senate does not show that
he started to return to Key West and
signalled to the squadron to that eff
feet and so informed the department,
and 1t might be inferred that he inn
mediately obeyed that order and as
certained the presence of the enemy
Mt Santiago. On the contrary, his
telegram above, dated May 20. and
written May 81, shows that. though
having just received the telegram of
the department, and having on hand a
sufficient supply OF coal to return to
Key West, he reported that he could
not obey the order, and continued to
proceed towards Key West. However.
it later became evident to him that
this was unnecessary and he resumed
the movement toward Santiago"
Another point in Schley's letter is
touched upon in the the following
manner:
"Schley's mention of the signal by
Sampson at s:45 a. IN. July ;'-"Dsre-
gard movement of the COMMANDMENTS
chief'-and his mention of the move
ment of the commanler-in-chie
toward Siboney, is followed by an in
senior officer present, and necessarily
clothed me with the responsibility of
command The signal above mem
toned is one which is frequently made
in squadron, and is never held as i'm
any sense a REIMBURSEMENT of com
mand. 1t is made where, for any rea-
son, the flagship leaves its assigned
position in formation, as was the ease
when the New York left her habitual
bloclsading station the morning of
July 3. At such times it is made to
avoid confusion which would result if
other vessels fixing their positions by
reference to the flagship were to move
with her. Without further signal the
responsibility of command would not
be shifted until the senior officer had
gone out of signal distance
The statement concludes with the
following:
"rhe department furnishes the fore
going statement only to complete the
record in compliance with the request
of the senate of January %. Desiring
to do Admirals Sampson and Schley
full justice for services rendered. it
has, after full consideration of all the
circumstances. recommended to the
president their promotion to the
grade of rear admiral, and begs to ex-
press the hope that his recommends
tions to the same effect to the senate
may be confirmed"
Statement by sigsbce.
Annexed, TO the letter of the secre-
tary is Die from Captain sigsbec in
reply to Admiral Schley's reference
to himself as commander of the scout
steamer st. Paul, quoting him as au-
thority for the opinion that Cervcra' 5
feet was not in Santiago harbor. On
this point Sigsbee says:
What actually said to the admiral
was that Pilot Nunez had first en-
pressed II belief that such large YES
sells as Cervera's cruisers could not
get into Santiago because of their
length, but he afterwards admitted
that they might get i'm with the aid
of'tugs. = = < Every officer on
board the st. Paul knew j believed
Cervera to be at Santiago; neverthe-
less l considered Nunez's opinion"
He says that he first saw the fleet in
the hhrbor May 30 and signaled Ad-
miral Schley, and adds: =