The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-04

duty-one called then the Key West
SQUADRON. having for its purpose the
biockading Of Havana, and the other a
flying squadron. The first was COM
manded by Sampson and the second
by Schley. Neither squadron entered
upon active duty until after May LIST,
when Dewey's victory far east was
known.
On May End. the Ke. West squadron
sailed for Cuba under command Of Rear
Admiral Sampson Following this was
the naval fighting at Csrdenas. the bonn
bardment of San Juan by Sampson. On
May 18th, the navy department receiy-
ed word that the Spanish squadron of
Admiral Cervera was west of Martini
que, the Windward islands. Later
Sampson was advised that 1t was off
Curacao. He was ordered to proceed
to Key West at once TO which point
Schley's flying squadron had also been
ordered. Both ~squadrons reached Key
West, coaled n awaited orders.
The flying squadron. under Schley,
was the first to be ordered out. Com
posed of the Brooklyn. Texas, Massa-
chusetts and Scorpion. it was direct
ed to proceed to C~ienfuegos, a Cuban
port, near Havana. n to blockade the
same. The Spanish squadron was sup
posed to be headed for that port. and
Schley was clearly intended to inter-
cept it. So confident was Washington
that he would find Cervera at C~ienfue-
COS that the Iowa. Castine and the col
lier Merrimac We're sent to join him
there after he la set his battleships
on their course.
HUNTING FOR CERVERA.
But after he had left Key West the
navy department. was Informed that
Cervera was at Santiago, and advised
Sampson to so instruct Schley. The
Marblehead was sent to Schley, advis-
ing him that the Spanish squadron was
probably at Santiago, and directing
him, if he were satisfied that it was
not at Cienfuegos, to proceed with all
dispatch to Santiago, and. upon arrival
there, to establish communication with
some of the inhabitants n ascertain
definitely whether the ships were in
port or not. Schley received these dis
patches May 23rd.
According to the official records at
Washington on May 22nd. Sampson re-
ceived advices from Key West that Ger
vera was at Santiago on May 21st.
Sampson, therefore, on May 23rd, left OFF
his Havana blockade and sailed for st.
Nicholas channel, intending to occupy
hat in such a manner as to prevent the
approach of the Spanish squadron in
that direction. There he received infor-
nation on the oath hat Cervera was
still in Santiago.
On May 18th. he heard from Schley
to the effect that the latter was MOI sat
isfied that Cervera was not in Glen
fuegos harbor, and that he would, there
fore, remain off that port. The Wasp
was sent on the 9th to Schley, from
Sampson, advising him that daily con-
fdential reports stated hat Cervera a
beer in Santiago from May 18th to May
25th. He was ordered to proceed TO
that port at once.
Before Schley could rely to these Or
ders two dispatches from him to Samp-
son. dated May 25th. were received by
the latter. Schley stated in these that
coaling off Cienfuegos. owing to high
seas, was uncertain; that he was salts
fed hat Cervera was not there, and
hat he would at once go eastward, but
that on account of short coal supply in
his ships he could not blockade the
Spanish squadron. if it was at Santiago,
but would proceed to the vicinity of the
Mole ST. Nicholas, on The western coast
of Hayti, from which point he would
communicate.
Sampson. on learning this, put in to
Key West for coal himself. but before
doing so he sent a dispatch to SchIey
to renal on the blockade at Santiago
at all hazards, assuming that the Span.
ish vessels are at hat port Sampson
arrived at Key West on May 2Sth, n
then cabled Schley to ascertain definite
ly if Cervera was at Santiago.
In the meantime Schley left Cienfue
COS on the evening of the oath, and on
the 26th, was within twenty miles OF
Santiago, where the squadron stopped
for repairs to the Merrimac. That night
he signaled the squadron:
Destination Key West, via south
side of Cuba and Yucatan channel, as
soon as collier is ready. Speed nine
knots"
: The squadron was under way by 3
O'Clock, inc steamed two hours, when
it was compelled to stop and make re-
pairs on the Yale. The next morning
Schley was met by a dispatch boat, and
given this dispatch from the secretary
of the navy:
"An departments information indi-
Gates Spanish division is still at Santa
go. The department looks to you to
ascertain the facts, and hat the enemy,
if therein, does not leave h a
decisive action. Cubans familiar with
Santiago say that there are landing
places five or six nautical miles vest
from the mouth of the harbor, and that
there insurgents will be found and not
Spaniards. From the surrounding
heights one can see every vessel in
port. AS soon as aScertained notify
department whether enemy is there.
Could not squadron, n also the Har-
ward, coal from the Merrimac leeward
off Cape Cruz, Gonaives channel, CT
Mole Hayti? The department will send
coal Immediately to Mole. Report with
out delay situation at Santiago de Gu
ba."
Here arises the first great query of
the opponents Of Admiral Schley as tc
tie wisdom of mis- course after the re-
ceipt of this Dispatch He was in bad
shape for coal, his squadron was not
in the best of condition. His opponents
say he should have obeyed orders even
if he lost every vessel he had. He con-
tends that the safety of his squadron
vas his first consideration, and that a
commander at sea must necessarily
know better what he ought to do h a a
bureau chief on dry land at Washing
ton.
| However this may be, he sent this
message to Washington:
"Merrimac engines disabled; sea is
heavy; am obliged to have towed to
Key West. Have been absolutely un-
able to coal h Texas, Marblehead,
Vixen, Brooklyn from collier, all owing
/ to yery rough sea Rad waafbar Siuoe