Evening star., 1901-09-25

Rear Admiral G. :. Cotton.
II he found the weather did not improve
and he found it impractica BILE to coal there
he could only see one resort and that was
he would be compelled TO return to Key
West in order TO supply his ships with
coal Having that question in view he was
apprehensive especially as to one ship, the
Texas. He did not even know at that
moment whether she had on board suffi-
cient coal to enable her to return to Key
West. During my visit he gave an order
to make signal, general signal. as 1 re-
member 1t, not limited to the flying
squadron alone. to report whether the
ships had sufficient coal to reach Key
West. The signal was made, or at least,
assume II was made. AT all events dur
Ing my presence with Commodore Schley
he received a report to the effect that all
the ships, including the Texas, had suffi-
cient coal to return to Key West. l think
the commodore was very much relieved
when he received this Information. Short
ly afterward, l should say within few
minutes. he directed signal to be made
preparatory for the ships to return to Key
West. The order was given in a general
way. l cannot give the words of the or
der, but what l have stated was their pur-
port. While l was still there he received
report to the effect that the signals
were read. Before l left ship he ordered
signals to be made for ships to form pre-
paratory for steaming to Key West
ITO go back a bit. I had informed Com
modore Schley that it was utterly impos-
Z
except to Kingston. l had not sufficient
coal to get to Key West, and he verbally
authorized me to proceed at once to Kings
ton to receive such amount of coal as |
could get there sufficient to enable me to
return to the nearest United States port
| left the Brooklyn about noon, possibly
a few minutes before. Immediately after
my departure the Brooklyn commenced
steaming ahead, and | noticed that many
of the ships at that moment under Com
modore Schley's command were in motion,
presumably preparatory to taking their
stations in steaming order to return to
Key West. AS soon l returned to my
own ship, after my boat was hosted, 1
steered to the southwest for Kingston"
Did you state in specific terms that you
agreed with Commodore Schley as to the
difficulty of coaling?"
THE question was not discussed and 1
expressed no opinion
Did this conversation occur before or
after the dispatches which you took
aboard had been read by the commander
in-chief?'
After"
The Navy Departments Order.
In response to further questions Admiral
Cotton said that he had the original
translations of the cipher dispatches ad.
dressed to the Harvard.
The dispatch of May % was then read
to him follows:
Washington. May %, 1898.
Harvard, St Nicholas Mole, Haiti.
Proceed at once and inform Schley and
also the senior officer present off Santi-
ago as follows: All department informa-
tfon indicates Spanish division is still at
Santiago. The department looks to you to
ascertain facts, and that the enemy, II
therein, does not leave without a decisive
action Cubans familiar with Santiago say
that there are landing places five or SIX
nautical miles west from the mouth of
harbor and that there insurgents prob
ably viii be found, and not the Spanish.
From the surrounding heights can see
every vessel In port AS soon as ascer-
tained notify the department whether en-
emy Is there. Could not squadron and also
the Harvard coal from Merrimac leeward
OF Cape Cruz, Gonaiyes channel or Mole,
Haiti? The department will send coal i'm
mediately to Mole. Report without delay
situation at Santiago de Cuba LONG"
Admiral schley's Reply.
Mr.. Rayner called attention to the fact
that there were some immaterial changes
in the dispatches as printed in the official
| reports by the Navy Department.
Admiral Schley's reply to these dis
| patches dated May 30 was then read, and
| Mr. Rayner pointed out various changes
| in the language of the dispatch as print ed
| In the official report.
Following is the text of the original dis
patch sent to the Navy Department.:
Received dispatch of May 26 by Har-
| ward off Santiago de Cuba. Merrimac's
engine is disabled and she is helpless; am
oDlged 10 nave her towed 10 Key West.
Have been absolutely unable to coal the
| Texas, Marblehead. Vixen and Brooklyn
| from collier, owing to very rough seas and
| boisterous weather since leaving Key West
/ Brooklyn Is the only one in squadron hav-
| ing more than sufficient coal to reach Kew
| West Impossible to remain off Santiago
/ in present state of coal account of the
| squadron. Not possible to coal to leeward
/ or cape Cruz In summer. owing to south
west winds. Harvard just reports to me
she has only coal enough to reach Jamaica,
| and she will proceed to Port Royal; also
| reports only small vessels could coal at
| Gonaives or Mole Haiti Minneapolis has
| only coal enough to reach Key West, and
| iCoutiuued on Second Pa9o \ -