The Washington times., 1901-12-14
sigsbee's visit to Flagship.

had a conversation with Commodor,
schley.
Commodore Schley had no converse
tion with the senior commanding officer
of the scouts and obtained no positive in
formation from the scouts regarding the
Spanish squadron.
AT 7:45 p. m. May &c. Commodore
Schley changed the course of the Flying
Squadron to the westward and siEnaled
to his squadron Destination Key West
via south side of Cuba and Yucatan
Channel. as soon as collier is ready;
si-cea nine knots The squadron pro-
ceeded westward eighteen miles, stopped
at 11:15 p. m. uhe tow lines OF the col
lier having partedD, drifted until $40 D.
m. May p. resumed its westward course
for twenty-three miles. stopped again at
7:15 p. m. and drifted until ! p. N. OF
May 2S.
The Important Despatch.
AT $3.50 a. m. May p the Harvard
Joined the Flying Squadron, and her com
manding officer delivered to Commodore
Schley the following despatch. dated May
rs, addressed by the Department to the
Harvard at ST. Nicholas Mole. Haiti:
Proceed at once and inform Schley
and also the senior officer present eff San
tiago de Cuba as follows: All Depart
ment's 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 4 decisive action. Cubans
familiar with Santiago de Cuba say that
there is landing place five t5) nautical
miles west or six 80 from the mouth OF
harbor and that there insurgent probably
viii be found and not Spanish. From the
surrounding heights can see every vessel
in the port. As soon as ascertained no
dfy Department whether enemy is there.
Could net squadron and also the Harvard
coal from Merrimac leeward Cape Cruz.
Cuba; Gonaiyes. Haiti Channel, or Mole,
Haiti The Department viii send coal i'm
mediately to Mole. Haiti. Report with
out delay situation at Santiago de Cuba
schIcy's Reply of Regret
This despatch was answered by Com
modore Schley about noon, May q, as fol-
lows:
Received despatch of May 26 deIiv-
cred by Harvard of Santiago de Cuba.
Merrimac's engine is disabled and she is
helpless; am Obliged to have her towed
TO Key West. Have been absolutely un-
able to coal the Texas. Marblehead, Vix-
on. and Brooklyn from collier, owing to
very rough seas and boisterous weatyer
since leaving Key West. Brooklyn is the
only one in squadron having more than
sufficient coal to reach Key West. I'M
possible to remain of 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 10 Port Royal: also
reports only small vessels could coal at
Gonaives Mole Haiti. Minnea~ oils has
only coal enough to reach Key West and
same Of Yale, which will tow Merrimac
1t is TO be regre tso1 that the Depart
ment's orders cam q. be obeyee, earnestly
as we have all str1ven to that end. am
forced TO return TO Key West via Yucatan
passage for coal. Can ascertain nothing
certain concerning enemy. Was Obliged
TO send Eagle to Port Antonio. Jamaica,
yesterday, as she had only twenty-seven
tons coal on board. VIII leave St Paul
here VIII require $500 tons Of coal at
Key West"
The Conling Difficulty.
The amount of coal on each vessel Of
the squadron and the nL nber OF miles
each could have steamed at ten knots and
while on blockade duty is reviewed.
''At that date the Flying Squadron was
accompanied by the collier Merrimac,
containing 1850 tons Of coal. The amount
OF coal required TO completely fill the
coal bunkers Of all the vessels OF the Fly
ing Squadron on this same date was $50
tons. The conditions OF wind. sea. and
weather from noon on May 26 to June /
were favorable for taking coal from a col
lier at sea of Santiago de Cuba"
Statement is made that the ships coaled
at sea thirteen times on May % and "a
and from May 27 TO 81, inclusive some of
the vessels more than once.
At 3:35 p. N. May q Commodore Schley
signaled TO the St. Paul, III Sampson
comes here, tell him half Of squadron out
of coal and collier engines broken down"
At l0.45 p. m. May 27 Commodore Schley |
sigDaled to the Texas The more coal you |
take in this smooth weather the less you |
will have to take in Haiti
A Declaration of Jaxity.
Commodore schley made no effort to
ascertain whether the Spanish squadron /
was in the harbor of Santiago; he left
sat1 harbor entirely unguarded from p. |
m. OF May rs to 5 p. m of May %. and !
guarded only by the scout ST. Paul from
?. m. May q. until about p. m, OF |
May Is.
The flFing squadron arrived oil the j
harbor of Santiago de Cuba. seven miles /
south Of the MORO. at p. m. May 2s. and /
established blockade. The distance from /
Cienfuegos TO Santiago is 3l5 miles.
Commodore Schley did not proceed /
with all despatch from cienfuegos TO San
tiago dc Cuba.
Early On the morning OF May 90. the
Cristobal Colon and other vessels Cf the
Spansh squadron were discovered at
anchor In the harbor OF Santiago about
200 yards from the entrance.
''No attempt was made by Commodore
Schley on May 20 or May 80 to capture
or destroy these Spanish vessels"
The Colon Incident.
The reconnaissance of the Colon on May
81 is reviewed chronologically, with this
conclusion:
THE Gre was returned by the ships in
the harb0r. and by the land batteries, but
no large guns were used by the batteries.
Several projectiles passed over our YES
sells. but no injuries were sustained.
Did Not withdraw AT Night.
The Flying Squadron did not withdraw
at night from the entrance to Santiago
Good for Had Teeth,