Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-11-01
PROCEEDINGS DURING The PAST WEEK.

The rear admiral disclaimed that he
was guilty of disobedience of orders, as
the order which reached him did not say
the Spanish fleet was in Santiago, but
directed Schley to find out if it was there,
and not to permit it to leave without a
decisive action"
'.That part of the order was fully exc
cllted.' remarked Admiral Schley, and
| there was a peal of laughter on the part
of the spectators.
Schley then told of the conference he
had with Rear Admiral Sampson on
board the New York at Key West, dur
ing which he had assured Sampson of
! his loyalty. Captain Chadwick, on this
occasion. remarked that any one who
knew Commodore Schley was sure of his
loyalty to the commander-in-chief.
During this conference it was developed
that both Sampson and Schley agreed the
objective point of Cervera's fleet was
either Havana or Cienfuegos, as the lat
ter port was connected with Havana by
rail. Neither had any idea that the Span
iards would go to Santiago, which is in
the end of the island, the lines of COM
munication being absolutely controlled by
the insurgents.
During another part of his narrative
Admiral Schley said if n n made a
mistake during the Santiago campaign
it was in supposing the Spaniards would
do the right thing at the right time. He
was often surprised that Cervera did not
leave Santiago when Schiey left Cicnfue-
gos. During the conference with Samp-
son information was given to Schley that
Cienfuegos was heavily fortified, and he
was directed not to jeopardize his ships
by taking them near the shore batteries
until the Spanish fleet was disposed of.
Rear Admiral Schlcy said it was impos-
sible to make plans of battles to meet all
contingencies. but in comforting with his
officers at Newport News a general plan
was outlined which contemplated attack
ing the flagship of the enemy when it
should be met. This plan was to be pur-
sued for the moral effect it might have,
as the men would be thrown into contu-
sion and none of the vessels would es-
cape, as mad been the case when vessels
in the middle of a column had been fred
upon in previous. engagements.
Rear Admiral Schlcy said that the de-
day at Cicnfuegos was due to the fact
that Captain McCalla had not commune
Gated the code of signals arranged with
the insurgents, and that Lieut.. Souther-
land had not communicated information
which he had been directed to give.
The witness said that inasmuch as he
was responsible for the action of the
fleet he was always on the lookout. and
he tiXed the position of the squadron at
Cienfuegos every morning and night. The
squadron steamed in closer at night, and
while it never abandoned it's position it
did steam away from the harbor in the
hope of inviting the Spaniards out into
the open, as Rear Admiral Schley was
confident they were in Cienfuegos.
Difficulty in Coa1ing.
Speaking of the difficulty of coaling in
the open sea, the admiral said the Merri-
mac had several holes punched in it's ef-
forts to coal. He used every endeavor
to coal, but the problem presented to him
in this connection was one that had vexed
the navies of the world for fifty years.
He asserted that whenever it was posi-
Bile to coal the ships he had done so, but
there We're times when he would not as
sumo the responsibility, as the vessels
Of his squadron would have been placed
in jeopardy in attempting to coal in the
open sea.
According to Rear Admiral Schley's
testimony the flying squadron left Glen
fuegos within four hours after he was
certain the Spanish squadron was not in
that harbor. He did not mask his move
ments, as it would have been to the liking
of his men and himself to meet the Span
ish squadron.
Great stress has been laid upon the fact
that Rear Admira Schley did not mask
his movements at night, but Rear Ad-
miral Schley said experience had taught
him that the signals of a ship could not
be seen more than four miles during the
day, and that the ardois lights could not
be seen at a greater distance than six
and a half miles at night.
When the flying squadron left Cienfue.
COS they were fourteen miles from the
shore and it was impossible for the Span.
iards to be advised of the movements OF
the Americans.
Rear Admiral Schley described the for.
nation of the squadron on it's way to
Santiago and referred to the Importance
of keeping his squadron formation intact.
He said it would have been unwise and
unmilitary to leave behind the auxiliary
vessels md the collier which caused the
delay Of his movement, and said the
smaller craft should not have been aban.
doned except as a last and strict mill
tary necessity. which he did not consider
existed.
AS to the course laid by the flying
squadron on its "a to Santiago, Rea,
Admiral Schley explained that he had
kept n great distance from the shore SO
as to have a wider horizon in which tn
see the Spanish vessels if they should ap-
proach. "That course would have taken
us to China if no island were in the way
said the admiral in replying to the charge
that he was not bound for Santiago, but
was evidently seeking to avoid meeting
] the enemy.