The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-09-29

The first was commanded BY Sampson
and the second By Sehley. Neither OF
these squadrOns entered upon setive duty
until after the declaration OF war, nor
in reality until after May l. when Dew
ey's victory In the far East was known
On May the Key West squadron
sailed for Cuba under command of Rear
Admiral sampson. Following this was
the naval fighting at Cardenas, the bonn
bardment Of San Juan by Sampson. On
May i3 the Navy Department received
word that the Spanish squadron of Ad-
miral Cervera was west OF Martinique,
in the Windward Islands. Later Samp-
son was advised that It was of Curacao
He was ordered 70 proceed TO Kew West
at once, to which point Seniey's flying
squadron had also been ordered. Both
sqnadrons reached Key West, coaled, and
awaited orders
The flying squadron under Schley was
the first TO be ordered out Composed OF
the Brooklyn, Texas. Massachusetts, and
Scorpion. 1t was directed to proceed to
Cienfueg0s, Cuban port near Havana,
and to blockade the same The Spanish
squadron was supposed to be headed for
that port and Schley was clearly intend
ed to intercept t. So confident was
Washington that he would find Cervera
at Cienfuegos that the Iowa. Castine and
the collier Merrimac were sent to join
him there after he had set his battle
ships on their course.
But after he had left Key West the
Navy Department was informed that
Cervera was az Santiago, and advised
Sampson to so instruct Scniey. The
| Marblehead was sent TO Schley advising
| him that the Spanish squadron was prob
| ably at Santiago, and directing him, if
/ he were satisfied that il was not at
Cienfueg0s. TO proceed with all dispatch
| to Santiago. and upon arrival there TO
| establish communication with some OF the
inhabitants and ascertain definitely
whether the shiDs were in port or not
| Schley received these dispatches May %.
According to the official records at
| Washington on May % Sampson received
| advices from Key West that Cervera
was at Santiago on May 81. Sampson,
| therefore. on May D left of his Ha-
vana blockade and sailed for st. Mich
olas Channel. intending to occupy that
/ in such q manner as to prevent the ap-
proach of the Spanish squadron in that
| direction. There he received information
on the 9th that Ceryera was still at
1 Santiago.
On MAY 26th he heard from Sehley to
| the effect that the latter was not salts
| fed that Cervera was not in Cienfuegos
/ harbor, and that he would therefore re-
main of that port. The Wasp was sent
ON the 9th to Schley and from Sampson
advising him that daily confidential re-
ports stated that Cervera had been in
| Santiago from May 10 to May %. He
/ was ordered to proceed to that port at
| once.
Before Schley could reply to these or
ders two dispatches from him 70 Samp-
| son. dated May %. were received by the
latter. Schley stated in these that coal
| ing of Cienfuegos owing to high seas
| was uncertain that he was satisfied that
Cervera was not there. and that he would
| at once go eastward. but that on account
| of short coal supply in his ships he could
not blockade the Spanish squadron If II
/ was at Santiago. but would proceed to
the Vicinity of the Mole st. Nicholas
on the western coast of Haiti. from which
point he would communicate.
/ Sampson. on learning this. put in to
| Key West for coal himself. hut before
| doing so he sent dispatch to Schley to
| remain on the blockade ar Santiago al
all hazards. assuming that the Spanish
vessels are at that port. Sampson ar
rived AT Key West ON May y. and ther
cabled Schley TO ascertain definitely il
Cervera was AZ Santiago.
In the meantime Schley left Cienfue
gos on the evening Of the 9th, and OF
the 2tSth was within twenty miles of San
tiago. where the squadron stopped for re
| pairs 10 the Merrimac. That night hs
signaled the squadron;
Destination Key West. via soutl
side of Cuba and Yucatan channel, a:
soon as collier is ready. Speed nine
knots
The squadron was under way BY
/ O'Clock and steamed two hours. when i
was compelled to stop and make repairs
on the Yale. The next morning Sehle.
was met by a dispatch boat and giveT
this dispatch form the Secretary of tbs
Navy:
IAN departments information indi
Gates Spanish division is still at Santi
| ago. The department looks 70 YOU Il
| ascertain the facts. and that the enemy
II therein. does not leave without de
cisive aetion. Cubans familiar with San
/ tiage say that there are landing place:
Eve or six nautical miles west from tbs
mouth Of the harher, and that there in
surEenls win be found and not Span
iarslS. From the surrounding height
one can see every vessel in port A
| whether enemy Is there Could no
squadron and also the Harvard coal iron
the Merrimne leeward OF Cape Cruz
fsonaires chanel. or Mole HATTIE tn
department viii send coal immedfafei'
to Mole. Report without dela~ situation
at Santiago de Cuba"
Here arises tie first great query o
the opponents Of Admiral Sehley as Il
I the wisdom of his course after the re
ceips Of this dispatch. He was ia has
shape for coal his squadron was not i
the bess of eondstion. His opponent
say be should hare obeyed orders evei
| K he SoSt efeFy vessel he bad. lie con
tensas that the safety 81 his squadron wa
L his 6rst consideration. and that CON