that Schley displayed a weak, vacillating course, None of his vessels had less than four days' coal supply on board, and it was soon afterwards proved that it was possible to coal at sea from the Merrimac, Sebley did not proceed far on his. return trip. Perewptory orders were sent_him to remain off Santiago at apy cost. He went back, therefore, apd began the port, finding, too, that to coal at sea.
Sampson, as soon as it was definitely known that Cervera was in Santiago, hurried there with the cruiser New York and the battleships Mascachusetis avd Ind On his arrival "a more stringent blockade was put into effect and continued until the ant of July. that worming Sampson had started with the New York for a vonfereuce with Shafter, the commander of the American land forces, He was some ten miles distant from the remainder of the ficer when Cervera's attempt. to escape was made apparent by the appearance of the first of Spavish ships coming out of the har hour, The Brooklyn, with Sclley ea board, was the farthest west of any of the American ships and about opposite the harbow's mouth. As the first Spunich ship came rushing out ber intention seemed to be to strike for the middle of the Americans or to ram the Brooklyn. The Brooklyn's helm was ordered hard a-port and the vessel executed a loop in the direction away from the Spaniards and threatening the safety, too, of the Texas which was next in line. As a matter of fact the Texas, blinded by the smoke of her own guns and those of the Brooklyn, did not discover the latter's course until there was barely time to avert a collision.
Tt was for this loop that obley has been severely criticised, but there is at least something to be said on the other side Tt saved the Brooklyn from possible ramming and it disconcerted the Spanish captains. In their reports of the battle they term it a "brilliant manoeuvre." Further, the responsibility for the order is divided, since Captain Cook, who was commander of the Brooklyn, admits that he at least joined in the order.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.