Evening star., 1901-10-31
SCHLEY'S PRELIMINARY REPORT.
Referred to in Yesterdays Session of
the Court of InauirY.

The following is the text of the original
report of Admiral Schley of the battle of
Santiago to Admiral Sampson, referred to
in the proceedings before the court of in
quiry yesterday afternoon, and which, ac-
cording to Admiral Schley's statement was
returned to him because it omitted men,
ton of the flagship, the New York:
North Atlantic Fleet, Second Squadron,
Flagship Brooklyn, off Santiago de Cuba,
July 3, 1898.
Sir-I have the honor to make the follow
ing preliminary report of the engagement
this morning:
At $50 o'clock Admiral Cervera, with the
IHfanta Maria Teresa, Viscaya, Almarante
Oquendo and Cristobal Colon, with two
torpedo-boat destroyers, attempted to es-
cape from Santiago harbor.
Signal was at once made for CLOSE ac-
ticn,' which was promptly responded to
by the Brooklyn, Indiana, Oregon Iowa.
Gloucester, Texas and Vixen.
The squadron, after clearing the harbor
stood to the westward, but was engaged
at close range from ] 100 to 1900 yards
for most of the time), and in about twenty
minutes the Oquendo and Viscaya were set
on fire by shells of the squadron and were
forced to run ashore, where they burned
and blew up later in the night. OF the
destroyers, one was sunk and the other set
on fire by ~our shells and burst on the
beach.
2 The flagship Infanta Maria Teresa
with Admiral Cervera, and the Colon were
engaged in a running fight with the Brook
lyn, Oregon, Texas and Iowa for some
twenty-five minutes when the Spanish flag
ship was set on fire, the Spanish being
obliged to beach her. The Brooklyn and
Oregon continued the chase and fight grad
ually drawing away from the other ships
until lis pm, when the Colon was beat
and struck her colors to the Brooklyn and
Oregon.
B. The Brooklyn was exposed for some
twenty minutes to the fire of the four
Spanish ships, until the other vessels of
our squadron could get up into good range
L cannot speak with too much praise of
the conduct of the officers and crews Of the
vessels engaged; their spirit and enthus-
asm were such as / have rarely before
seen in action.
a. 1 would especially mention Captain
Philip Captain Evans, Captain Taylor,
Captain Cook and Captain Clarke for ex-
ceedingiy merltorious conduct on the oc-
casion; their ships were handled superbly.
and their officers and crews responded
nobly. Lieutenant Commander Wainwright,
commanding the Gloucester, and Lieuten-
ant Sharpe. commanding the Vixen, acted
with conspicuous galiantry, and though not
able to engage the heavier ships, they were
close in on the battle line.
3. Admiral Ceryera and his officers with
about j, 200 men, were captured, and he in
formed me that his loss in killed was about
450. Our casualties were one killed and one
wounded on board the Brooklyn. and no
one else was hurt In the squadron, al
though this ship was struck twenty five
times.
g. In order to make a complete and
detailed report, 1 would suggest that you
direct the commanding officers of vessels
Of the first squadron to send copies OF
their reports on the engagement to me-
Very respectfully.
w. s. SCHLEY,
Commodore United States Navy, Com-
mander Second Squadron.
The Commander-in-Ch Chief United States
Naval Forces, North Atlantic Station.