The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-14

wind Veered to the westward and be- came light and the sea moderated.
 1O:30 D. m Commodore Schley sent the Eagle to Port Antonio to coal and then to return to Key West. At noon of May 26, the Eagle had sufficient coal to steam ten knots per hour for three days.
 At 5:3O p. m. the squadron stopped ward of the port of Santiago, and was joined by the scouts Minneapolis, Yale and St. Paul.
 At D. m., May 26, the engines of the collier Merrimac were temporarily dis abled. The engines were changed to work compound" and at 4:20 D. m, or of May 27 she was able to make six knots with her own steam. The broken parts of the engines were repaired on board the flagship. All repairs com pleted at midnight of May 18th. The Yale lowed the Merrimac while disa- bled.
 The commanding officer of the St. Paul visited the flagship, in obedience to signal, took with him a Cuban pllot and had a conversation with Commo- dore Schley.
 Commodore Schley had no conversa- ton with the senior commanding ofncef of the scouts and obtained no posltlVe information from the scouts regarding the Spanish squadron.
 At 7:45 p. m., May 26, Commodore Schley changed the course of the fly ing squadron to the west, and signalled to his squadron, "Destination Key West, via south side of Cuba, and Yu- catan channel as soon as collier IS ready; speed nine knots" The squad ron proceeded westward eighteen miles, stopping at 1:15 p. m. (the tow lines Of the collier having parted) drifted until $40 D. m., May 27, resumed it's west ward course for twenty three miles, stopped again at 7:15 p. m. and drifted until 1 D. m. of May 2s.
 At 9:3O a. m., May 27, the Harvard joined the Flying squadron, and her commanding officer delivered to Com modore Schley the following despatch dated May 25, addressed by the de- partment to the Harvard at St. Nicho- las Mole. Haiti:
 Proceed at once and inform Schley and also the senior officer present off Santiago de Cuba as follows. All de- partments information indicates the Spanish division is still at Santiago de Cuba. The department looks to you to ascertain fact and that the enemy, if therein, does not leave without de- cisive action. Cubans familiar with Santiago de Cuba say that there is fvn nn1tjnD1 west or six (6) from mouth of harbor and that there insurgents probably will be found and not Spanish. From the surrounding heights can see every ves- sel in the port. As soon as ascertained, notify the department whether enemy is there. Could not squadron and also the Harvard coal from Merrimac, lee ward Cape Cruz, Cuba; GonaiVes, Haiti. channel or Mole, Haiti? The de- partment will send coal immediately to Mole, Haiti Report without delay sit uation at Santiago de Cuba"
 This dispatch was answered by Com modore Schley, about noon, May 27, as follows:
 'Received despatch of May 18th, de- livered by Harvard off Santiago de Cuba. Merrimac's engine is disabled and she is helpless; am obliged to have her lowed to Key West. Have been ab solutely unable to coal the Texas, Mar blehead, Vixen and Brooklyn from col Her, owing to very rough seas and bois- terous weather since leaving Key West. Brooklyn is the only one in squadron having more than sufficient
 tn remain off Santiago in present state of coal account of the squadron. Not possible to coal to leeward Of Cape Cruz in summer owing to southwest winds. Harvard just reports to me she has only coal enough to reach Jamaica and she will proceed to Port Royal; al- so reports only small vessels could coal at Gonaives or Mole, Haiti. Minneapo- lis has only coal enough to reach Key West and same of Yale, which will tow Merrimac. It is to be regretted that the departments orders cannot be obeyed. earnestly as we have all striven to that end. I am forced to re- turn to Key West, via Yucatan pass age, for coal. Gan ascertain nothing certain concerning enemy, Was obliged to send Eagle to Port Antonio, Jamaica, yesterday, as she had only twenty seven tons of coal on board. Will leave St. Paul here. Will require $500 tons of coal at Key West"
 The coal supply of the vessels of the Flying squadron at noon on May 27 was sufficient to have enabled them to steam at ten knots per hour:
 The Brooklyn for il IA days.
 Iowa ' 12 days.
 Massachusetts 10 days.
 Texas IA days.
 Marblehead 1-4 days.
 Vixen il 12 days.
 Or to have remained on blockade duty off Santiago de Cuba:
 The Brooklyn for 26 days.
 Iowa 16 days.
 Massachusetts 20 days.
 Texas 10 days.
 Marblehead days.
 Vixen 23 days
 And then tseam to Gonaives, Haiti or to Cape Cruz. Cuba, to coal.
 At that date the Flying squadron was accompanied by the collier Merri- mac. containing 4350 tons of coal. The amount of coal required to completely fill the coal bunkerS of all the vessels