The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-03-11
The Secretary Of the Navy Says Adj
miral sampson's. Letter Of May 20
Regarding the BlockadinE of
c~ienfueeos Wa. Not in the Pos
session of His Department Until
Feb. o-Mr. Long Takes Issue
with Admiral schley ON Several
Points Made in the Latter's state
meat- schley Wa. Not In Com
mand at Santiago.

in the Sampson-Schley controversy.
this communication being in reply to
Admiral Schley's letter. The hrst
matter which the secretary takes up is
Admiral Schley's mention Of Admiral
SIMPSONS letter Of May 20. which the
secretary says seems to have given
certain senators the impression that
the department had withheld h let
ter. On this point he says:
.'First-That this letter was not in the
possession of the department on Feb. .,
nor was its existence known to the de-
partment at that time.
'.Second-That 1t was in the possession
of Admiral Schley until Feb. .. when It
was sent to the department., upon its re.
quest to be furnished with all ofhciai
records relating to his duty as com.
ma~nder-in-chief Of the flying squadon and
fleet.
''Third-In its instructions with regard
to maintaining the blockade of Cienfue-
COS 1t was not more explicit than the iet-
ter of Admiral Sampson of May ~, wnlch
accompanied the communication OF the
department Of Feb. s and which rs ND
lished in the appendix to the report OF
the bureau of navigation. on page 464.
Fourth-That on May q. the day after
1t was written. Admiral Sampson sent or
ders to Commodore Schley In duplicate
by the Hawk and Marblehead. which Or
ders were received by Commodore Schley
during the early forenoon Of the ed and
oath, respectively. directing Commodore
Schley to proceed with all dispatch. but
cautiously, to Santiago. II satisfied that
the Spanish squadron was not at Cien-
fuegos. The set Of these orders sent by
the Hawk was received on the same day
as the letter of the Goth and bearing a
0.A.~ ao<o }NHo~v ~ ~ nn,pco NAuOkoH fhA
instructions to blockade C~ienfuegos. con-
tained in the letters of the 10th n Goth.
"Fifth-That In obedience to these
instructions the flying squadron left Glen
fuegos on the afternoon of the 9th. but
aid not reach The immediate vicinity OF
the port Of Santiago until the morning
Of the 10Th Of May"
The secretary quotes the admiraTs ref
erence to the departments order. received
by him May q. directing him to positively
ascertain II Cervera's fleet wa In Santl-
ago harbor. and MOTTO allow him to leave
Santiago II found certainly to be there
without q decisive action" xtves tho
admiraIs reply in full. and says:
TT will be seen that Rear Admiral
Schley's statement to the senate does not
show that he started to return to Key
West and siEnalled to the squadron to
that effect, and so informed the depart
ment, and it might be inferred that he
1u.I1SOldkOay O<SSW AAoA
tanned the presence of the enemy at San
tiago. On the contrary. his telegram
above. dated May g, and written on May
60, shows that though having Just re-
ceived the telegram of the department
and having on hand a sufficient supply OF
coal to return to Key West. ne reP'reeo
tina he could not obey the order and con-
tinued to proceed toward Key West.
However. it later became evident to him
that this was unnecessary and he re-
sumed the movement toward Santiago"
Another point in Admiral Schley's let
ter is touched upon in the following let
ter:
.sAdu::ral Schley's mention of the signal
by Admiral Sampson at S:45 a M, July ).
Disregard movements of the commander
in-chief.' and his mention OF the move
ment of the commander-in-chief toward
Si5oney. is followed by an incorrect In
ference, to wit. This left me senior officer
present. ard necessarily clothed me with
the responsibilities Of command The
signal above mentioned is one which 10
frequently made in squadron and Is never
held as in, any sense a REIMBURSEMENT of
command It is made where, Tor Any rea-
SOC. the flagship leaves its assigned posi-
ton in formation. as was the case when
the New York left her habitcal bloakad-
station the morning of July 3 AT
such times it is made to avoid confusion.
which would result if other vessels liking
their positions by reference tn the nag
ship. were to with her. Without
would Eot be shifted Cc.n the
senior officer hzd gone cut OF signal dis
lance"
The statement coaefrces with fol-
lowing:
she department furnishes h fcreEo-
ing statement ONLY to complete TIE IeSoIa
IN compliance With the request OF
.-.r> ~ Tan Desiring to 10 A0-