New-York tribune., 1901-12-14

squadron was not at Cienfuegos to proceed
with all dispatch. but cautiously 10 Santiago
de Cuba. and IL the enemy is there blockade MIN
in that port"
1895. which directed Commodore Schley to mask
his movements in leaving Cienfuegos
A memorandum which stated that a good
landing place had been found by Commander
McCalla thirteen and one-haf miles west OF
SAVANNA Point, mat the S0t14ns IT,, M Cte,,
knowledge OF what was going on WITHIN MN -
fuegos: that the Cuban forces in the San Juan
Mountains controlled the railway between @ cen
fGegos and Trinidad and that there were lalr
ds from the landing place TO Cienruesos-
At $50 a. m. May 23. the Castine and the
collier MeFrimac arrived at Cienfuesos-
At noon on the same date the British steamer
Adula was permitted 70 go into SlenIuegoS,-
AT L. M May "a the Marblehead. Vixen
and Eagle arrived at Cienfuegos-
About 10 a m. the Marblehead ana Eaeie
proceeded the landing place thirteen ana one
half miles west of Savanilla Point, comrnun-
Gated with the insurgents. landed stores Ior
them learned that the Spanish squadron was
not in the harbor Of Cienfuegos. reJoined the
squadron at 3::S0 p N, and reported 10 COM
Irande,. echiey the information Obtained.
After the receipt OF this Information Commo-
dore Schley wrote a dispatch TO the comma .
sr-chief in which he stated: II shall move east
ward Tomorrow He also wrote a dlspatch 70
the commandant of the naval base at heg
West in which he stated: AS 1t is not 1ounu
practicable to coal the Texas from the collier
here where there is so much swell, shaH pro
off santiago de Cuudr peils
embarrassed. however, by the IeNas snort codA
supply and her inability to coal in the open sea
] shall not be able TO remain of that port on
account Of general coal supply or squaoroIi SO
will proceed TO the vicinity OF Nicholas Mole
where the water is smooth, and can coal Ie6as
and other ships with what may remain IN
collier
No work was apparently. in progress on the
fortifcations of Cienfuegos while Commodore
Schley was off that port,
Tn SPANIARDS
No effort. were made by Commodore schley
TO communicate with the Insurgents to dis
cover whether the Spanish sauadron WINS IN
the hnrbor of Cienfuegos prior 10 the morn
sing OF May "a
Signal lights were displayed shore at night
Nav - and May %, but Commodore Schiey
had no information which enabled him 10 IN
terpret them.
schley received reliable information that ships
could be coaled in the vicinity Of Cape Cruz and
IN Gonaives Channel
The F7ying SQUADRON with the exception of
the Castine sailed from Cienfuegos about 3
% m of May n. the heavy ships In column OF
vessels the light ships on the right hank ana
the collier Merrinac on the left flank Al lo:Io
q N Of MAY 70 the light vessels were shifted 70
The port beam and the collier TO the starooard
beam.
Before midnight Of May %, owing to heavy
rolling the forward compartment of the Eagle
flied with water. which reduced her speed.
On May % the wind was fresh from the east
ward the weather was bad, ald the sea was
heavy for small vessels The squadron reduced
its speed to enable The Eagle 20 remain with IL
on MAY 20 the weather improved, the wind
veered TO the westward and became light and
the moderated
Eagle to Port Antonio TO coal and then to re
turn TO Key West AT noon Of May 70 the
Eagle had sufficient coal TO steam ten knots per
hour FOR three days.
Al $50 =. m. the squadron stopped about
twenty-five miles TO the southwark of the port
of Santiago. and was Joined oy the scouts Mlh- /
neapoIis Yale and St. Paul
Al 8 .. rl May 20, the engines of the collier |
SFerrin1ac were temporarily disabled. The /
engines were changed to work compound, and |
al 20 D. IN. of May - she was able to make /
sdx t1o1s with her own steam. The broken parts /
e - a-rree z1.a-.a raosjred on board the flag
ship all repairs being completed at midnight /
of May IS The Yale towed the Merrlmac while |
disabled. /
The commanding officer Of the St Paul visited |
the flagship in obedience 10 signal, took with /
him a cuban pilot. and had conversation Win {
Commodore Schley. - /
Commodore schiey had no conversation with |
the senior commanding officer of the scouts anu |
obtained no positive information from the scouts |
regarding the Spanish squadron.
At 7:45 =. m, May 20. Commodore Schiey |
changed the course Of the Flying Squadron 10
the westward. and signaled TO his squadron;
'.Destinatipn Key West via south side of Cuba !
and Yucatan Channel as soon as collier is !
ceeded westward eighteen miles, stopped al |
1l:15 p. m. cthe towlines Of the collier having |
Tarted9 rlrTfted until $40 ?. m, May p, re
surned its westward course for Jwenty-three |
miles. stopped again at 10 p m, and drifted |
! d 81
AT $50 a NJ, May -. the Harvard Joined the |
Flying Squadron, and her commanding officer |
delivered 10 Commodore Schley the following |
dispatch. dated May %. addressed by the de |
paTtment TO the Harvard at St Nicholas Mole |
Hayti:
Proceed at once and inform Schley, and also |
the senior officer present off Santiago de Cuba |
as follows All departments information 1ndl-
Gates the Spanish division is still at Santiago oe
cuba The department looks TO you TO ascer- |
tain fact. and that the enemy. if therein, does |
NOT leave without decisive action CubanS !
familiar with Santiago de Cuba say THAI thero |
is landing place five 90 nautical miles west or /
six 90 from mouth OF ha-bor. and that there
insurgents proba bly, Will be found and not span
ish From the surrounding heights can see every
vessel in the port As soon as ascertalneo'
notify the department whether enemy Is there.
Could not squadron and also the Harvard coal
from Nerrimac. leeward Cape Cruz. Cuba
C,nnaives Havti Channel. OF Mole. Hayt? The |
department will send coal immediately to Mole
Heyti. Report without delay situation at san
fisgo de Cuba
This dispatch was answered by Commodore
Schley about noon. May %. as follows:
Received dispatch of May Pc delivered ny
Harvard off Santiago de Cuba Merrimacs en-
gine is disabled and she is helpless am Obliged
to have her towed 20 Key West. Have been
absolutely una bic 70 coal the Texas, Marble |
head Vixen and Brooklyn from collier owing to
very rough and boisterous weather since
leaving Key West. Brooklyn is the only one
in SQUADRON having more than sufficient coal to
reach Key West. Impossible TO remain off San
tiago in present state of coal account OF the
squadron. Not possible to coal TO leeward OF
Cane Cruz in summer owing to southwest
winds. Harvard just reports to me she has only
coal enough reach Jamaica. and she Will
proceed TO Port Royal; also reports only small
vessels could coal at Gonaives or Mole Hayti
MINNEAPOLIS has only coal enough TO reach Key
West. and saEe Of Yale. which will tow Mer-
rirnac 1t is VI he regretted that the depart
rrent's orders cannot be obeyed earnestly as
We have all striyen 10 that end. l am forced
10 return TO Key West via Yucatan Passage
for coal Can ascertain nothing certain con-
IL r