The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-25
PEOPLE THRONG To HEAR
SCHLEY TELL HIS STORY
And in Silence Almost Breathless They Hang
Upon His Words While He
A is Speaking.
'ONCE ONLY IS THIS SILENCE BROKEN

ing the fire upon them in order, first to
obtain the moral effect and, second, to
throw them into confusion, making a vic
tory over them probably very much
more successful and complete. l did
that for the reason that the older plans
of battle had all been to attack centers
and rear, resulting in the escape usually
of part of each squadron. / felt that
the attack of the head of a squadron
which was to some extent new, would in
volve the destruction of the whole, and
that was the general plan of action as
explained to them on that occasion
TIL admiral detailed the target prac-
tice the squadron indulged in daily This
practice, said the admiral, resulted in an
accuracy of fire which was fully demon
strated in the action six weeks or two
months Later
He then related the details of the
cruise to Key West and his meeting there
with Admiral Sampson. "The admiral was
very much worm" he said, land neces-
sarily so because his responsibility had
been great. He showed me number of
orders, one of which was for a division
of the two sQuadrons, one to take the
north and the other to take the south
coast of Cuba, and he to have the prefer
ence. l asked which he preferred and he
expressed a preference for the Havana
command He told me confdentially
that whichever command l should take
l must remember not to attack heavily
fortified places on the shore until the
Spanish ships were disposed of: that we
must not risk the ships until the Spanish
fleet was out CT the way.
LOYALTY TO SAMPSON
1--WE discussed Cerveras probable des-
tination. He said that his information
was that the orders Of the Spanish
squadron to reach Havana or some point
within railroad communication were inn
perative and he believed that Cienfuegos
would be the point, as that came under
the acceptation of the order more direct
ly. We looked over maps and l must say
that / agreed with him. / could not inn
agine that anyone who had studied the
military situation of the island at all
could have supposed that Santiago would
have fulfilled any of the conditions OF his
instructions We had quite talk to-
gether. | told him that / had been orr
dered to report for duty TO Admiral
Remey, which l imagined necessarily
meant himself and that | wanted to as
sure him at the outset that l should be
loyal absolutely and unreservedly to the
cause that we were both representing.
Captain Chadwick, who was present, /
don't remember all the time or not, said
OF course, Commodore, any one who has
known your character would know that
it would be impossible for you to be
otherwise than loyal" / asked the ad
miral if there had been established any
means of communicating with the insur-
gents; whether there were pilots or
whether any locality was known where
they were to be found. He told me that
he did not know but that when he got
the situation better in hand he would
communicate with me and that he thought
it would be better for me to proceed to
the blockade of Cienfuegos as soon as
possible | said Very we'll l was
prepared, of course, to go anywhere.
The Admiral said that he then left
the New York and went on board his
own flagship in order to hasten the
operation of coaling. Later the Algon-
quin came with an order from the Sec
retagy of the Navy to the Commodore
Remey directing the witness to proceed
to Havana.
Admiral Schley said he signalled Ad-
miral Sampson and the latter said he
understood that his (Sampson'sD coming
to Key West modified his (Schley's)
orders and instructing him to carry
out the plans agreed upon.
The Admiral then read the order un-
der which he had sailed from Key West.
In this order Admiral Sampson had
told Commodore Schley that he should
establish blockade at Cienfuegos with
the least possible delay and had said
that after he had the situation more
in hand he would write the commodore.
That same night he had fallen in with
McCalla and his sub squadron McCalla
had sent the Eagle to intercept him and
had himself asked permission to pass
on. He had sent the Scorpion to meet
the Eagle and the former vessel had
reported as was recorded in its log,
that he said, is all the information
! she gave us. After this the Eagle came
within hail telling us that there was
no news The thing seems burnt into
my hind, but after what / have heard
l begin to think that may be / was
mistaken
Relating the particulars of his meet
ing with CAPTAIN Chester of the Gin
cinnati, he said chat the Captain was
anxious to join the flying squadron. The
admiral said that was not feasible.
When questioned as to coaling places
the Captain had suggested one or two
/ banks on the Cuban coagt al ,,.h,ch !.
thought coaling would be possible. Still
It was predetermined. as it would depend
upon the weather and the sea