The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-29

Navy Department was informed that Ger son to so instruct Schley. The Marble head was sent to Schley, advising him that the Spanish squadron was probably -at Santiago. and directing him. if he were satisfied that 1t was not at Cienfuegos, to proceed with all dispatch to Santiago and, upon arrival there, to establish com munication with some of the inha bttants and ascertain definitely whe ther the ships were in port or not Schley received these dispatches May g.
 According to the official records at Washington on May 2, Sampson received at Santiago on May A. Sampson. there- fore. on May B. left off his Havana blockade and sailed for St. Nicholas channel, intending to occupy that in such the Spanish squadron in that direction. There he received information on the 24th that Cervera was still at Santiago.
 On May 26 he heard from Schley to the effect that the latter was not satisfied that Cervera was not in Cienfuegos har- bor. and that he would, therefore, remain 27th to schley from Sampson, advising him that daily confidential reports stated that Cervera had been in Santiago from May 19 to May 25. He was ordered to proceed to that port at once.
 Before Schley could reply to these or ders two dispatches from him to Samp- son. dated May g. were received by the latter. schley stated in these that coal ing off Cienfuegos, owing to high seas was uncertain; that he was satisfied that Ccrvera was not there, and that 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, hut before doing so he sent a dispatch to Schley to A. l. IL As,,.ua all hazards, assuming that the Spanish vessels are at that port" Sampson ar. rived at Key West on May 2S and then cabled Schley to ascertain definitely if Cervera was at Santiago.
 In the meantime Schley left Cienfuegos on the evening of the 24th. and on the 18th was within twenty miles of Santiago where the squadron stopped for repairs 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 9 o'clock and steamed two hours, when it was compelled to stop and make repairs was met by a dispatch boat. and given this dispatch from the Secretary of the Navy:
 "An departments information indicates Spanish division is still at Santiago. The Department looks to you to ascertain the facts and that the enemy, If therein, does not leave without a decisive action. Gu. I bans familiar with Santiago say that | there are landing places five or six nau- tical miles west from the mouth of the | harbor. and that there insurgents will be | found and not Spaniards. From the sur rounding heights one can see every yes sel in port. As soon as ascertained noti- fly Department whether enemy Is there. Could not squadron. and also the Har- yard coal from the Merrimac lleeward of Cape Cruz. Gonaives channel, or Mole Hayti? The Department will send coal im- l mediately to Mole. Report without de- lay situation at Santiago de Cuba" Here arises the first great query of the opponents of Admiral Schley as to the wisdom of his course after the receipt 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 contends that the safety of his squadron was his first con- sideration. and that a commander at sea n ust necessarily know better what he ought to do than a bureau chief on dry land at Washington.
 However this may be, he sent this mes
 'sMerrimac engines disabled; sea is heavy; am obliged to have lowed to Key West. Have been absolutely unable to the apS T1e asr a oMnf to Tery rough sea. Bad weather since leaving Key West. The Brooklyn alone has more than sufficient coal to proceed to Key west. can not remain OH oaHtldS0 pTes- ent state squadron coal account. 1mpos- sible to coal leeward Cape Cruz in the summer. all owing to southwesterly winds. Much to be regretted can not obey orders of Department. Have striven earnestly, forced to proceed for coal to Key West, by way of Yucatan rassage Can not ascertain anything respecting collier to get cable to hold
 Schley steamed westward that day to- ward Key West, until, calm sea being reached, he signaled the flying squadron to stop, and the Texas and Marblehead SNere coaled from the Merrimac. At this time Sohley was forty miles sOuthward and westward from Sa liago. On tho morning of the 18th he sighted the Cris- tobal Colon in the mouth of Santiago har- hor. and oabled Washington that Ger vera was bottled up" On May 3l he exchanged fire with the ships ipside the ral Sampson, and the blockade of the port commenced, and did not end until the destruction, of the Spanish fleet, on July 3.
 The charge that Admiral schley diso- beyed orders, after leaving Cienfuegos in not going direct to Santiago. has been hotly pressed by his opponets. His off, cial report as to his actions at that time states:
 "on the 23d the Hawk arrived with dis patches from Admiral Sampson, directing to Santiago, if satisfied that the enemy s vessels were not in Cienfuegos Not be- ing satisfied at that time that they were not there, I held my position, being fur ther strengthened in my opinion by the fact that I was informed by the captain of the British steamer Adula that when he left Kingston a cablegram had been received on Thursday preceding my arri- val off Cienfuegos stating that the Span ish squadron had sailed from Santiago" :"
 The Admiral then continues, after re- lating how he ascertained that Cervera was not at Cienfuegos. detailing his run to Santiago.
 ..The run to Santiago was marked by rain and rough weather. On ar irving of Santiago the collier Merrimac was dIsa bled by the breaking of her in ternediate pressure valve stem and the cracking of the stuff1ng box. This served as a further embarrassment to the squad ron and source of considerable anxiety With the weather conditions that had prevailed since leaving Cienfuegos, 1t ap- peared absolutely necessary to abandon the position off Santiago and seek place where the vessels could be coaled and the coIlier's machinery repaired.
 "On Santiago the St. Paul. Aale ana cated with !" Arrangements were at once made whereby the Yale was to tow the collier, and, as the prospect did not seem favorable for replenishing the meager coal supply of the other vessels the squadron stood to the westward tow the westward for about three hours or about twenty-five miles, the conditions became less unfavorable and the squad ron was stopped"
 He coaled after stopping. and adds:
 "Inasmuch as 1t was known that In case the Spanish squadron had reached Santiago Admiral Sampson was able to block any movement of the enemy through the Bahama channel, my inten- tion in standing to the westward was, fN