The times., 1899-02-28
SAMPSON, LONG, AND sCHLEY.
from the Chicaro Tribune.l

From the Chicago Tribune.)
The Tribune today prints the follow
ing copies OF the kilograms which passed
between Secretary Long Admiral Samp
son, and Admiral Schley in connection with
the question as to whether Schley obeyed
orders.
Sampson to Schley, May 10. 1898:
1T is unnecessary for me &c say that
you should establish a blockade at Glen
fuegcs with the least possible delay, AMI
that it should be maintained as clos as
possible
On the same day Secretary Long tele-
graphed Sampson the following message,
which was received by Sampson on May
90:
Washington. May 10. 1S9S.-Sampson.
Naval Station Key West, Fla: The report
of the Spanish fleet being at Santiago de
Cuba might well be correct. and the de-
partment strongly advises that you send
word Immediately by the Iowa to sen ey
to proceed at once of Santiago de Cuba
with his whole command. leaving one
small vessel off Cienfuegos. Cuba, and
meanwhile the department will send tie
Minneapolis now at St. Thomas, and Har-
ward to proceed at once off Santiago de
Cuba to join Schley, who should keep up
communication via Nicholas Moe, or Cape
Haitien. If Iowa has gone, send orders
to Schley by your fastest dispatch vessel
That Long considered this mandatory,
says the correspondent, is shown by the
following kilograms of the same dates:
Minneapolis: Proceed at once off San
tiago de Cuba; the Spanish fleet reported
III. 81 ~
yale: Inform every vessel off Santiago
de Cuba Flying Squadron is off Cienfu gos.
and that orders have been sent TO it TO
proceed with all possible dispalca of San
tiago de Cuba. LONG"
But Sampson, instead of carrying out
the Instructions of the Secretary of the
Navy. sent Long the following dispatch:
Key West, May 20. lS9S-Secretary of
Navy, Washington: Referring to the de-
partment's telegram of May 49, fifty eight
cipher words, beginning Verb berabOrn," {"
after considering information contained
therein. have decided in favor of plan al
ready adopted to hold position. Cienfue-
gos, with Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Iowa,
Marblehead. Castine. Dupont, and tso
auxiliary vessels. SAMPSON"
And thereupon Sampson prepared and
forwarded to Schley the suppressed mes
sage. which reads as follows:
Hold your fleet off Cienfuegos-if the
| Spanish ships have put into Santiago they
must come either to Havana or Cienfuegos
/ TO deliver the munitions OF war, which they
/ are said to bring for use in Cuba. | am,
| therefore, of the opinion that the best
/ chance to capture these ships will be to
| hold the two points. Cienfuegos and Ha-
! vana, with all the force We can muster. II
! later it should develop that these vessels
are at Santiago, we can then assemble OFF
| that point the ships best suited for the pur-
| pose and completely blockade it. Until,
| then, we receive more positive information
We Will continue to hold Havana and
| Cienfuegos."
| Up to this point Sampson, writes the dis
closer of the kilograms, was clearly respon-
| sible for Schleys movements. To assume
responsibility was wholly contrary to
! SIMPSONS mental makeup. II 1t was a
bear, he wanted TO hit. but if it turned out
to be calf, he wanted to miss, and sc
within three hours he had prepared and
sent to Schley the message dated May 81
1898. though the message was probably
written at the same time with the one
last above quoted. sampson uOeS not dIiSB'
it was written May 81 He says it was de-
livered to the Marblehead at a. m. of th'
2lst, to be forwarded to Schley, and tha
the one dated May 90 to Long was sent tn,
night OF the goth. The message in par
| follows, and if 1t is intended as a per
emptory command to Schley to go to Santi
| ago it must have emanated from curiou!
mind:
May q. 1SsS-Spanish squadron prob.
ably at Santiago de Cuba, four ships ant
three torpedo boat destroyers. If you are
satisfied they are not at Cienfuegos proceed
! with all dispatch. but cautiously. to Santi-
ago de Cuba, and if the enemy is ther,
blockade him in port.
w. T. SAMPSON
And after sending this nondescript order
Sampson telegraphed to the Secretary O
the Navy tpage 39D:
"Schley has been ordered to Santiago d,
Cuba. SAMPSON"
To the telegram from Sampson to Schley
second above, Schley promptly replied;
May %. 1S9s-In reply to your lettel
number eight. | would state that | am b!
no means satisfied that the Spanish squad
ron is not at CienfuegOs. | shall. there
fore remain off this point with this squad
ron.