The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-01


miral Schley says the facts of that
contest speak for themselves. He
quotes from his official report to-
sampson, in which he congratulated
the commander of the squadron, and
said the .sictery. seems: big enough.
for, siL of ns, - &<sss .
he asks the committee to contrast
his reports with those cf Sampson
coneaining references SO himself aud
continues 5: < As 10 all This fiiticism
Of my course prior Cd she discovery
by me on Nay 90 Of CerYera 8 Heet,
whether from Admiral Sampson or
the department, none of 81: has ever
been made by either TO me-; and I
never heard 8 word Of il, from any
one until. after the battle with. that
feet. although I've weeks had passed
since the. alleged reptehensible con
siucts had occurred"
Adnisaf fSchley then snbmits long
detailed statement of the facts he
summarized in the foregoing, which
is in reply to request BY Chairman
Hale, Of the naval committee. The
commanding officer of the Harvard
reported that he did not have coal
enoagn to reach any home base, and
could not steam beyond twenty four
or thift hours, which, the Admiral
saye, forced himto send the Harvard
to Kingston !; the Yale and Mime
apolis could reach Key West. aud the
Sc. Paul could remain at mostIof the
port for but two days The Brook
Iyn, Iowa and Massachusetts were
fairly well off with coal, but the
Texas, Marblehead aud Vixen, we're
considerably reduced. The project
ing spoonsoons Of the Texas and
Maeblehead made it dangerous to
coal them alongside the collier with
any swell on the open sea eft was
this situation,'' . says the statement,
coupled with the conclusion that
the Spanish squadron might have
touched and then moved west, as
reported at Cieafnegos, and, rein
forced BY the fact that Sigsbee had
not seen them and that the pilot.
Nnnez. was strongly impressed with
the doubt that this squadron could
enter the port, which occasioned my
telegram Of Nay 27
Capt. Sigsbee is quoted as con
ffmiDg che opinion as to the diff
cuity of coaling Off Santiago. Re
gives the details Of the absolute locs
ton Of the Spanish squadron inside
the harbor on May 20, which discov-
ery vas. the Admiral says, the result
Of determination to satisfy himself
fully before leaving for the west
On the STss he made d reconnois
sance .eto develop the enemy's posi-
btiop, and Incidentally, 30 sinjure or
destroy if possible, the Colon, moor
ed MalIupIE the haEbor,
Admiral SchIey quotes she depart
mens's dispatoh Of May 2s IN these
words: "Tbe department looks, to
you socascertains tie fact of 5the5pres5
ence of the enemy, and that the enc
my, if in the harbor at Santiago, does
not leave without decisive action !"
Commenting on this the Admira!
says: '.In obedience to the above
order, and without any further order
or instruction from any one, / did
ascertain the fact that the enemy was
at Santiago, end the enemy did not
leave without decisive conflict y
Detailing the events connected
With the battle Of July 8, he says
that at 8 As of that day Admiral
Sampson made signal from his flag
ship Disregard movements of the
commander-in Chief" and steamed
eastward to siboney "This," says
Admiral Scbley, cleft me the senoir
officer present, and necessarily cloth
ed me with the responsibility of the
command "
Continuing, lie declares. sha, when
the epemy's vessels came out of the
harbor signal was made from the
Brooklyn (his fagship) to the feet to
'sclear ship for action " Then fol-
lowed she signal "close actioD." and
this by the signal "the enemy escap-
ing to westward.
Following the appearance of the
Spanish feet there was a general in
ward movement of the American
vessels, closing in and engaging it
Explaining the movements of toe
vessels of both fleets, he says the
Spanish feet vas coming westward
under high speed. and, changing
course more to pessward. brought the
Brooklyn, heading essward to meet it.
into a position where sae would have
blankesed sbe FIRE Of the eastern vessels