The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-14
10 remain with It.
On May a the weather improved, the
wind veered to the westward and became
light. and the aaa moderated

the Eagle had sufficient coal to steam ton
knots per hour for three days
At $3.50 p. m. the squadron stopped about
twenty-five miles to the southwark of the
port of Santiago and was Joined by the
| scouts Minneapolis, Yale and st. Paul
At p. m. May 26 the engines of the
collier Merrmac were temporarily disa-
bled The engines were changed to work
| compound" and at 4:20 p. m. of May 27
she was able to make six knots with her
own steam. The broken parts Of the en-
gines were repaired on board the flagship,
all repairs being completed at midnight
OF May ~. The Yale towed the Merrimac
The comm, Ing officer Of the st. Paul
visited the 4, lip. in obedience to signal.
| took with him, 1 Cuban pilot and had q
| conversation with Commodore Schley.
Commodore Schley had no conversation
with the senior commanding officer of the
scouts and obtained no positive informa-
ton from the scouts regarding the Span
J ish squadron.
At 7:45 p. m. May 2e Commodore schley
changed the course Of the flying squadron
to the westward and signaled to his
squadron. "Destinatlon Key West via
south side Of Cuba and Yucatan channel
as soon as collier In ready; speed nine
knots" The squadron proceeded westward
eighteen miles. stopped at Ills y. m. (the
tow lines Of the collier having parted,
drlfted until $40 p. m. May 27, resumed
Its westward course for twenty y-thrse
miles, stopped again at 7:15 p m. and
drifted until p. m. of May %.
At $40 a. IN. May q the Harvard Joined
the flying squadron. and her commanding
officer delivered to Commodore Schey the
following dispatch. dated May 25 address,
ed by the department to the Harvard at
st. Nicholas Mole. Haiti:
70 CYot,I
also the senior officer present Off Santiago
de Cuba as follows: All departments in
formation indicates The Spanish division is
still at Santiago dc Cuba. The depart
ment looks to you to ascertain fact and
that the enemy. II therein. does not leave
without a decisive action"
Then follows the history of the coaling
Of the squadron.
Commodore Schey made no effort to as
certain whether the Spanish squadron
was in the harbor of Santiago. He left
said harbor entirely unguarded from p.
m. of May 26 to p m. of May 81 and
guarded only by the scout st. Paul from
) p. m. May q until about p IN. of May
The flying squadron arrived off the har-
Dor Of Santiago de Cuba. seven miles
south of the Moro, at G p. m. May % and
established a blockade.
The distance from Cienfuegos to San.
tiago IL 3l5 miles.
Commodore Schley did not proceed with
all dispatch from Cienfuegos to Santiago
de Cuba.
Early on the morning of May 20 the
Cristobal Colon and other vessels OF the
Spanish squadron were discovered at an
chor IN the harbor of Santiago about 1900
yards from the entrance
No attempt was made by Commodore
SchIey on May 20 or May 30 to capture or
destroy these Spanish vessels.
At 80 p. NJ. May 80 the cruiser New
Orleans and the collier Sterling Joined tho
flying squadron,
At lO55 a. m. May 81 Commodore schey
shifted his flag to the Massachusetts.
At LILO a. NJ. the flagship Massachu-
setts signaled: "'Fhe Massachusetts, New
Orleans and Iowa will go In after dinner
to a distance Of 1000 yards and fire at
Cristobal Colon with eight, twelve and
thirteen inch guns. Speed about ten
knots"
At ! 80 p. m. the three vessels designated
steamed in column toward the entrance to
the harbor of Santiago, heading TO tho
eastward. at about ten knots speed. The
ships passed the harbor entrance about
1000 yards distant from the Moro. firing
at the Colon and the shore batteries
with ranges varying from 1000 yards to
$500 yards. All projectiles fell short.
When the ships had passed to the east
ward of the entrance, the flagship turned
offshore, followed in succession by the
other ships repassed the entrance and
fired as before but with ranges varying
from 5000 yards to 600 yards. Some of
these projectpes fell near the Colon
The fire was returned by the ships in
the harbor And by the land batteries, but
no large guns were used by the batteries
Several projecties passed over our ves-
sail. but In xlf,tra RiIc tain
The flying squadron did not withdraw
al night from the entrance to Santiago
harbor to a distance at sea The blockade
was maintained at an average distance of
about six to seven miles from the harbor
entrance during the day and probably
somewhat nearer during the night Two
vessels performed picket duty at night
two miles inside of. the line of vessels.
The Spanish squadron was discovered to
be in the entrance to Santiago harbor
steaming out about e:S0 a. m. July 8. 1898
The Brooklyn at that time was heading
to the westward of north. about $500
yards southwest three-quarters southwest
from the Moro. which was practically
her blockading position.
Large vessels coming out of the harbor
of Santiago were obliged to head about
southwest by south, and the Spanish ves-
sells therefore In coming out until clear Of
the shoal to the westward were obliged to
head directly for the position of the
Brooklyn. When clear of this shoal. the
Spanish vessels turned In succession to
the westward and took course nearly
parallel to the land.
The Brooklyn stood toward the Spanish
vessels with varying helm, fired one shot
from her forward turret at $500 yards
range, which proved short. and then en-
gagged with her port battery When about |
1.4OO yards distant from tho leading Span
rl,i,1 tEn IJun olrl.t
to starboard with her helm hard aport. |
and continued so to turn until she headed |
to the westward, parallel to the course of |
the Spanish ships. The commanding off, |
cer OF the Brooklyn put the helm hard |
aport, and at almost the same instant
Commodore Schley gave the order Hard |
aport."
aport, the Teresa was about 400 yards to
the eastward of north from the Brook
lyn, the Viscaya was to the eastward Of
the Teresa and the Colon was to tho
eastward of the Viscaya. When the
Brooklyn completed the turn and was
heading to the westward, parallel to ths
course of the Vscaya. the Viscaya and
the Colon were about 2,4oo yards to the
northward and westward of the Brook
lyn.
The turn Of the Brooklyn was toward
tuc icAiS ltkdS stopped anu
her engines,
On July 3. 1898. about the time the
Brooklyn began her turn to starboard, a
conversation regarding the proximity OF
the Texas took place between Commodore
Schley and Lieutenant A. c.. lIOdgson.
Admiral Sch!ey caused to he published
in daily newspaper letter addressed to
him by Lieutenant Commander A. G.
dated June II, 1899 in which
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson said
1.-THE colloquy published in the New York
Sun and alleged to have taken place be-
tween you and mn on the day of the bat
tie off: Santiago July 3. 1928, never occur
red" Admiral Schley did not have pub
ishcd the other letters of Lieutenant
lIodgson in regard to this
natter.
Then follows the opinion of the court
IS announced above.
THE RESULT A SURPRISE.
The result was a complete surprise,
md it Is probable that no prophecy
ias approached the truth. Instead of