New-York tribune., 1901-09-09
S. Flagship New-York. LIST Rate,

Sampson had previously sent the following
instructions:
L. s. Flagship New-YOrk LIST Rate,
Key West, Fla May 21st, 1898.
Sir:-Spanish squadron probably at santiago
de Cuba-4 ships and } torpedo-boat destroyers'
II you satisfied that they are not at Glen
fuegOs. proceed with all dispatch, but cautiously
to Santiago de Cuba, and if the enemy is there,
bloc kade him in port You will probably find it
necessary to establish communication with some
of the inha Observation-Disclosures or others-to learn
definitely that the ships are in port, it being
impossible to see into it from the outside .
w. T. SAMPSON, Rear-Admiral, etc.
Commodore Schley's movements under these
orders were summarized for the Senate by the
Secretary of the Navy from the official orders
published in the Appendix to the Annual Report
of the Bureau of Navigation. as follows:
Commodore Schley reached point twenty-five
miles TO the Southwark of Santiago late in the
afternoon of May Goth. He Immediately COM
municated with the three scouts-Mlnneapols,
St. Paul and Yale, receiving the reports of their
commanding officers as also the reports of two
pilots brought from Jamaica by the st. Paul. but
he did not make further enort TO estaDIsh
communication with the nhabitants-hshermen
or others-to learn definitely that the ships were
in port it being impossible TO see them from the
outside, as suggested in the orders of the
mander in chief. dated May Dist. Three hours
after his arrival at this point the Commodore
turned and stood to the Westward, signalling TO
his squadron that the destination was Key West,
and proceeded with it in that direction for three
stopped.
on the morning of May 9th the Harvard.
coming from the eastward, delivered to Commo-
dore Schley the Departments dispatch OF May
18th, directing him 10 remain at Santiago and
| ascertain whether the enemy was there or not.
Thereupon he replied by telegraph that on
account Of shortage of coal, bad weather, and
difficulty in coaling, he would be obliged to pro-
! ceed 20 Key West and disobey the Departments
orders. at the same time acknowledging the De-
partment's orders of May 2Jth TO remain off
Santiago That afternoon at four he again pro-
led 9r6 until he had mad al
miles, when he again stopped until between one
and two o'clock on the afternoon of May 2S,
coaling in the mean time.
With reference to his coal supply, the facts are
that his effective fighting force at this time
the Brooklyn, Massa sachusetts, Iowa, Texas, and
Marblehead. Inc vixen ana Eagle had also
accompanied him. The Eagle, however, was
detached and sent to Port Antonio, Jamaica, for
coal although as SHOWN by her log, she mad yet
on board 3 days supply C21 tons). During the
twenty-four hours in which Commodore Schley
signalled that his destination was Key West and
telegraphed the Department that he would be
unable TO remain at Santiago, there still on
board the Brooklyn between 10 and 10 days
coal supply, being $40 tons for full steaming in
squadron; between and 10 days supply, or 1855
tons, on board the MASSACHUSETTS,; between D
and G days supply, or 394 tons. on board the
Texas; between 3 and 4 days supply, 116
tons, on board the Marblehead; between s and
10 days supply, or I62 tons on board the Iowa;
and 1900 tons board the collier Merrimac,
from which during the two following days his
vessels were coaled. The Department had sug-
gested the possibility Of near coaling base. but
/ no effort made TO reach il. although Com
1 mOdOre Schley had sent the Eagle to Port An
/ tonic for coal. There was coal enough to return
! TO Key West. and therefore to remain at San
| tiago till further supplies came. He could also
have counted on the Departments sending him
! a further coal supply.
At p. N. of the 9th the squadron having
/ been stopped since midnight it steamed west
ward until D. m, when ii again stopped to coal
| the Texas and Marblehead. The weather con-
| ditions becoming more favorable and having
| gone west about 4S miles in all since the even
| ing of the Goth, between l and > o'clock on the
| afternoon of the 2Sth Commodore Schley again
xI-E,-
| belng i miles on that port at > p. m Up to
this time there had been nothing to prevent the
/ escape of the Spanish fleet, but the scout st.
! Paul was ordered TO remain off Santiago
/ At 11:l5 a. on May 2Sth Commodore Schley
ssignnalled Rendezvous in Gonaiyes Bay; at
/ ll:3O a. m In case of separation, feet will
! rendezvous at a place which will be designated
! by signal-Lat 19' "a n, Long. 73o 03' W."
/ at 405 p. m, While off Santiago the general
meeting place will be % miles south of that
place"
The Secretary of the Navy. still condensng
! from the official reports which are cited. men,
tiOns that the flying squadron having at last
on May Doth approached nearer to Santiago
sighted the Spanish feet. but only attacked on
May 31st and then at a range of 1000 yards
and at greater distances varying to 1000
yards. When the Spanish ships came out Of
the harbor July Sd. Admiral Sampson in
passing the MOrrO sustained the undivided fire
Of the batteries AT a range Of $500 Yards The
battle was begun by each commanding officer
doing his part prescribed in the standing
orders Of Admiral Sampson and. subject there
10. fought each commanding officer
directed his ship. Commodore Schley reported
10 Admiral Sampson that signals were made as
prescribed in the AdmiraIs general orders. and
the Secretary states that the reports show no
command over the feet. and no order of com
mand excepting the above, save the original
commands and orders of Admiral SAMPSON
The log Of Commodore Schey's flagship notes
two other signals; at 9:36 a. m Clear for
action" and at 9;45 a. NJ "Close up" but no
commanding officer reports having seen them.
and at the time when they were made the
ships were independently clearing for action
and chasing at full speed. Then follow these
statements from the Secretary of the Navy
backed again by reference TO the published
official records
In following SIMPSONS order of battle Of June
= requiring IF the enemy tries to escape the
ships must close and engage soon as possible
and endeaNor 70 sink his vessels or force them
TO run ashore in the channel" the Brooklyn at
the beginning Of the battle stood for the enemy's
ships, using port helm TO close with them. After
the leading Spanish ship, the Maria Teresa. had
passed 20 the westward and the VZcaya had
clearly indicated her intention TO escape, the
BFooklyns helm was put hard aport and she
was turned IN a circle around to the southwark
and then to the westward and I'm doing in
I creased her distance from the Spanish shiDs by
her tactical diameter oe 500 yards.
The orders Of Admiral Sampson issued In the
beginning OF June prevent cscaDa of the