The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-14

asked permission to coal first on May
% and was refused by Commodore
Schley, who ordered the Iowa to coal
first and the Massachusetts second.
The Texas was ordered to coal from
the collier on May "a but the order
was revoked as the Massachusetts was
alongside of the collier and the com
handing officer of the collier deemed
1t unsafe to place his vessel between
two battleships.
The Texas and Marblehead coaled at
sea, off Santiago, from golfers, May
q and Is; the Massachusetts and Vix
en- on May 20; the Brooklyn and Iowa
on May 80; the Brooklyn, Texas and
Marblehead on May 81.
At 3:35 p. M, May q. Commodore
Schley signaled to the st. Paul: IF
Sampson comes here, tell him half of
squadron out of coal and collier en-
gines broken down"
At 10:45 p. M, May q. Commodore
Schley signaled to the Texas, The more
coal you take in this smooth weather
the less you will have to take in
Haiti"
DeIiDquencies of SchIey.
Commodore Schley made no effort to
ascertain whether the Spanish squad
ron was in the harbor of Santiago;
he left said harbor entirely unguarded
from p. m. of May rs to p. m. of
May q, and guarded only by the scout
st. Paul from 8 p. M, May q, until
about p. m, of May IS.
The Flying Squadron arrived off the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba, seven
miles South of the MORO, at 6 p. m,
May 2S and established a blockade.
The distance from Cienfuegos to San
tiago is 315 miles.
Commodore Schley did not proceed
with all dispatch from Cienfuegos to
Santiago de Cuba.
Early on the morning of May 20 the
Cristobal Colon and other vessels of
the Spanish squadron were discovered
at anchor in the harbor of Santiago
about 1900 yards from the entrance.
No attempt was made by Commo-
dore Schley on May 20 or May 80 to
capture or destroy those Spanish YES
sells.
At 11:1O a. m, May 81 the flagship
Massachusetts signalled: THE Mas
sachusetts, New Orleans and Iowa will
go in after dinner to a distance Of T.
900 yards and fire at Cristobal Colon.
with s, ~ and 13-inch guns. speed
about 10 knots"
At E30 D. M, the three vessels des-
ignated steamed, in column, toward
the entrance to the harbor of San
tiago, heading to the eastward, at
about 10 knots speed. The ships pass
cd the harbor entrance, about 1000
yards distant from the MORO. firing
at the Colon and the shore batteries
with ranges varying from 1000 yards
to $500 yards. All projectiles fell
short.
When the ships had passed to the
eastward of the entrance, the flagship
turned off shore. followed in success
sion by the other ships, repassed the
entrance and fired as before, but with
ranges varying from 1900 yards to H.
900 yards. Some of these projectiles
fell near the Colon.
The fire was returned by the ships
in the harbor, and by the land bat
teries, but no large guns were used by
the batteries. Several projectles
passed over our vessels. but no injuries
were sustained.
The Flying Squadron did not with
draw> at night from the entrance to
Santiago harbor 10 a distance at sea.
The blockade was maintained at an
average distance OF about to miles
from the harbor entrance during the
day, and probably somewhat nearer
during the night Two vessels per-
formed picket duty at night, two miles
inside Of the line OF vessels.
The Battle and the Loop.
The Spanish Squadron was discover
ed to be in the entrance TO Santiago
harbor steaming out, about $3.50 a. m,
July 3, 1885,
The Brooklyn at that time was hold
ing to the westward Of north about
$500 yards S. w. Ms from the MORO,
which was practically her blockading
position.
Large vessels coming out Of the har-
Dor Of Santiago were obliged to head
about s. w. by s.. and the Spanish
vessels, therefore, In coming out, until
clear Of the shoal to the westward,
were Obliged 90 head directly for the
position Of the Brooklyn. When clear
Of this shOal the Spanish vessels turn
ed. IN succession 10 the westward and
took course nearly parallel 10 the
land.
The Brooklyn stood toward the Span