Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-07-27

, as you know, has caused much cri'i-
clsm. Was that written by you or at
your dlctation?"
mo, the message was written by q
member OF my staff; l don't clearly
recollect which, approved the mes
sage, however. The Colon was on the
beach, was sinking and all hands were
making every effort to save this vessel
for the government. | must say II
had dictated the message myself |
should have expressed the facts differ
emily. | am not attempting In the least
to shift the responsibility for this mes
sage 10 any other person. | read II
and approved il and accept the full
responsibility for it."
AS to the blockade Schley had In
stituted-did IL meet your approval OF
what a blockade should beY
"Of course. | was not an eye wit
ness TO the blockade as It was main
tanned during the few days prior TO my
arrival The only official information
that | have on the subject is contained
In the official records TO which you
and every one else may have access
for the asking. ] did find II eXpedl-
ont. however, shortly after my arrival
TO issue an order of blockade dlstrlb-
uting the force in semi-circle, with
the entrance to the harbor as the CEN
ter. with a radius OF six miles In the
day time and lesser radius at night.
After bombarding the batteries and
discovering their weakness. this radius
was decreased q vessel was stationed
with her searchlight lighting up the
entrance and all that part of the har-
Dor visible from the entrance, so that
no sortie could have been attempted
without having been discovered lons
before the enemy reached the entrance.
Assurance was made doubly sure by
stationing at night picket line OF
small vessels In a semi-circle well IN
side the fighting line and third semi
circle of ships launches still further
inside. ] am OF the opinion that none
OF these things was done previous TO
this time, but whether or not the
blockade previous to this time was
efficient, you must, as | say form
your opinion from the official records
comprising orders, signals and re-
ports.
There is O most interesting and
presumably authentic pamphlet that
has been published by the officer of
naval Intelligence, which Is the diary
OF Spanish officer who was stationed
In Santiago throughout the blockade
who remarks upon the disappearance
OF the biockading feet some time
around twilight each night to the time
OF the arrival OF the New York and the
Oregon, and on the night following
their arrivals. says. In effect, that at
dark the blockading ships came closer
to the entrance instead Of disappear
ing, as II had been hitherto the case.
] cannot and must not. however criti
else the blockade established previous
TO my arrival but only quote the OBJ
servations Of others from which you
must draw your own conclusions"
zone other thing. admiral Rear Ad-
miral Schley In recent interview |
claimed that the Brooklyn inflicted IS |
per cent of the damage done the Span |
ish ships and received "a per cent of |
the injuries sustained by the blockad- |
Ing squadron"
II DO not wish TO criticise Schley or
any OF his statements. | do not want |
to be brought into any discussion I'm |
which he is involved His statements |
may be perfectly true. The exact fig |
ures are unimportant. / will repeat |
now what said before, that the Brook
yn did excellent work in the battle.
70 the best OF my recollection | never
criticised the Brooklyn except for her
initial movement, a movement which,
IN my opinion. took her too far to the
southwark. This, in my opinion, was
IN error OF judgment. ! do not wish
10 say anything more on that subject"