The evening times., 1899-05-19
ONE Year Since THE
PURSUIT. OF CERVERA
The Exciting Reports of Last
May Recalled.
Details of the Search for the DOdg-
ing Spanish Fleet
Naval Activity That eliminated In
the Bottling-Up Operation mt
Santiago Harbor.

the same fleet most of which now rusts at
the bottom of the sea- Certain newspapers
were having epileptic fits about the danger
| threatening the American sea-coast cities.
| The Chesapeake Bay was mined and the
| entrance between Capes Charles and
Henry closely guarded. The Potomac River
| was planted with torpedoes. the ancient and
| familiar light on Fort Washington was ex-
tinguished and the watchful eyes OF look
outs swept the river. Reports that the
fleet OF Spain had been sighted were COM
ing from many parts of the globe.
The Navy Department, on April 13, 1898.
was advised that the Vizcaya, which had
gone south after visit to New York. had
sailed from San Juan, Porto Rico. steering
east. She was accompanied by the Oquen-
do. On April go the department was ad-
vsed that the war crafts named had ar
rived at the Cape de Verde Islands. On
April 2S. the Navy Department. through
its secret agents abroad, learned that
the Spanish feet was still coaling
at the Cape Verde Islands. On April
2s the following dispatch was receiv-
ed: Secretary OF the Navy, Washington:
Two cruisers, three destroyers sailed Z
o'clock this morning from Cape Verde.
Destination unknown.
Later in the same day a dispatch was
received announcing that four cruisers and
three destroyers sailed west. Later came
another dispatch that three torpedo boats.
one transport and one collier had sailed
! north.
The receipt of these dispatches was the
signal for the scout ships. the Harvard,
Yale. st. Louis, and ST. Paul to get TO sea.
These ships were Immediately ordered
! away from the anchorages and given sealed
instructions to be opened when the land
was left behind.
The instructions issued TO Captain Cot
ton. commanding the Harvard. and practi-
cally the same as the Instructions issued
10 the commanders OF the other scout ships.
follow:
Sir: The Department intends 10 employ You to
ascertain whether the Spanish feet. which
Lately 1t Cape de Verde Islands, intends moving
upon the West Indies. and if 80, to what To-
cality.
fcr thi, purpose you will proceed. with the
|. :. :. Harvard under your command. immc-
dia;cly u the eastward Of the Windwsrd Islands,
and oruise a line extending between latitude
- degrees - minutes north, longitude 80 de-
gr-f> 10 minutes west, and latitude IL degrees -
minutes north. aud longitude 50 degrees 30 min
ui., wrsi.
Ii sou get no positive information by noon OF
N-y 10 you will proceed TO touch at the chief
pnint> ni tue i>and OF Martinique, Tor the pur-
i of obtaining INFO N ation cone erning the Span
I~l feet in case it should have passed you with
out your knowledge, and if you obtain what you
consider to le reliable information as to its
presence in the West Indies. you may, If adj
vicablc, proceed 10 that vicinity To get con
nIrnatory evidence. being careful however not 10
thus sacrifice time that might be better employed
in giving notice to the commander in chief in
Cuban waters and to the Department, men
toned in paragraph !.
Ii YOU should find the Spanish fleet is approach
fpse has rod he Most Inita
telegraph the Department and also the command
ing officer al Key West for transmission 10 the
commander i'll chief on the coast Of Cuba,
wherever he may lie at that time. lou will then
proceed, with. your ship. either to observe aud
keep touch with the Spanish fleet, or to person.
ally inform the commander in chief either of iia-
wherever he may be at the time.
The Department relies upon your discretion as
to whether it would be best to observe the Span
i-h feet, TO proceed to personally inform the
commander in chief that il has entered the West
Indies.
Ii the Spanish feet enters the West Indies. and
YOU have Informed the commander in chic: on the
station. YOU will. if he requires, proceed to act
in accordance with his instructions. in further OBJ
serving getting intelligence Of the movements
of said feet. II he does not require such service.
yuu will proceed TO poIt where there il tele-
graphic communication. inform the Department,
and wait twentyfour hours, after which, If you
get no instructions. proceed TO Hampton Roads,
Va
In case YOU should get no reliable intelligence
of the Spanish feet being bound to the West
Indies. il you Obtain reliable intelligence OF its
movements destination elsewhere. YOU will 50
telegraph the Department and the commander in
chief on the station. after which you will wait
the place twenty-fo;Ir hours for orders
from the Department, and if not received proceed
to Hampton Roads, Va.
For your information there is enclosed a copy
of the orders sent TO the commanding officer of
the T. =. = ST. Louis. who is directed 10 cruise
4 line in extension of the assigned to yoil
One Of the American liners has been detailed TO
cruise around the island of Porto Rico.
copy of Your orders has been sent to the
commander in chief OF the North Atlantic sta
tinn.
In case of capture, you will. without fail. de. |
strny sink these instructions. as well as any |
publications Of confidential nature.
Il is very important that you should, ii posi-
bic. make ssG miles per day on the passage from |
New York to your cruising ground Very respect
fully. JOHN d. LONG. Secretary.
Capt. c. s. Cotton L. 5. ".
Commanding L. ;. :. Harvard. |
Because of the suspected approach of the |
second Spanish armada, the invasion Of |
Cuba was postponed, the following dis !
patch having been sent on May to the |
commanding naval officer at Key West:
No large army movement can take place for a |
fortnight. and no small will until after we |
know the whereabouts Of the four Spanish ar
mored cruisers and destroyers. II their objective /
j Porto Rico they should arrive about May s. and |
immediate action against them and San Juan il |
then authorized In such the Flying Squad. |
ron would re-enforce you.
On May Captain Cotton, of the Har-
ward. cabled Washington that the Spanish |
torpedo boat destroyer Furor arrived at |
Fort de France, Martinique, at p. N. on |
that day and had left little later. On the |
same day Lieutenant Kne reported from |
Fort de France that another Spanish de-
stroyer had reached port and that he had |
seen five large ships hull down steaming !
westward. This called the whole American |
Navy to general quarters, and the follow 1
ing orders to Commodore Schley flashed |
over the wires:
Washington, May IL, 1S9s
Schley. Fort Monroe, Va.
Get ready for Immediately. Steam up and
unmoorcd. LONG.
Washington, May Ii, ls9s
Sohley, Fo,t Monroe, Va:
Five Spanish warships of Fort de France 4
Martinique this morning. and il for this rca-
that you wired to be ready for sea- as
some movement might be required of you.
LONG
Washington, May I3, 1885,
Schley, Fort Monroe, Va:
Direct squadron TO proceed at once off Charles
ton. s. C., taking colliers Anchor Keep In
communication with Department by vessel You
are thus moved to be near to re-enforce
either Sampsou blockade of Cuba r,oya