The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-02-24

result of which was the location
OF the enemy's fleet in Santiago
harbOr."
Admiral SclIley speaks of the
difficulty OF doing anything with
the insurgents, and refers to the
manner in which Lieutenant Blue
took three days to secure informa-
ton.
AS to the battle of Santiago,
Admiral Schley says the facts of
that contest speak for themselves.
He quotes from his official report
to Sampson. in which he con
graduated the commander of the
squadron, and said the "Victory
seems big enough toa all of us"
He asks the committee to con-
trast his reports and those of
Sampson containing references
to himself. and continues:
GAS to all this criticism of my
course prior to the discovery by
me on May 9th of Cervera'S fleet,
whether from Admiral Sampson
or the department, none of it has
ever been made by either TO me,
andI never heard a word of it
from anyone until after the battle
with that fleet, although more
than five weeks had passed since
the alleged "reprehensible con-
duct" had occurred.
"AlthOugh Admiral Sampson
used this language to the Secre-
tary concerning me on the 10th
of July Gust one week after the
battle), he has never to this day,
i'll any manner or to any extent
intimated to me any disapproba-
ton or made to me any criticism
OF my conduct of the flying squad.
ROM
Admiral Schley then submits a
long detailed statement of the
facts he summarizes in the fore
going, which is i'll reply to a re-
quest by Chairman Hale. of the
Naval Committee. 1t gives the
dispatches and orders received by
Schley and describes the condi-
tons in which the ships had to
coal, as well as the sailing for
Santiago. He also refers 10 the
doubts that arose as to the pres
ence of the Spanish fleet in San
tlago after he had arrived off that
port. Captain SigSbee stated
verbally that lie had been close
into port several times and there
were no indications that the en-
envy was present and he doubted
their arrival there.
''lt was this situatiOn.n saws
the statement, occupied with the
conclusion that the Spanish
squadron might have touched and
then moved west, as reported at
CienfuegoS, and re-enforced by
the fact that Sigsbee had not seen
them and that the Pilot Nunez
was strongly impressed with the
doubt that this squadron could
enter the port, which OccaSioned
my telegram OF May 26."
Captain SigSbee is quoted as
confirming the opinion as to the
ditliculty0f coaling off Santiago
He gives the details of the abso.
Lutte location of the Spanish
squadron inside the harbor on
May 20, which discovery was. the
Admiral says, the result Of a de-
termination to satisfy himself
ully before leaving for the west.
On t he Glst lie made a recOnnais-
Sance "to develop the enemy's
position, and incidentally to in
iure or destroy the Col on, moored
we'll up in the harbor." The ques.
ton of the presence of the enemy
determined, he decided not to
risk serious disablememt until re.
endorsements arrived.
Admiral Schley quotes the de-
partment dispatch of May 29th in
these words: "The department
looks to you to ascertain the fact
of the presence of the enemy,
and that the enemy, if in the har-
Dor of Santiago, does not leave
without decisive action" Com.
menting on this, the Admiral
says: "In obedience to the above
order, and without any further or.
der or instruction from anyone,
did ascertain the fact that the
enemy was at Santiago and the
enemy did not leave without a de-
ciSive conflict"
Detailing events connected
with the battle of Jnly 3rd, he says
at S.45 of that day Admiral Samp.
son made signal from his flagship;
Disregard movements of the
Commander in Chief" and steam
ed eastward to Siboney. "This,"
says Admiral Schley, cleft me
the senior officer present and nec-
essarily clothed me with the re-
spOnsibilitv of the command"
Continuing, he declares that
when the enemy's vessels came
out of the harbor a signal was
made from the Brooklyn (his flag
ship) to the feet to "Clear shin