ender of the place, but the fact that we
should be held several days in completing arrangements for holding it;
that part of our force would have to be left to await the arrival of
troops to garrison it; that the movements of the Spanish squadron,
our main objective, were still unknown; that the flying squadron was
still north and not in a position to render any aid; that Havana,
Cervera's natural objective, was thus open to entry by such force
as his, while we were a thousand miles distant, made our immediate
movement toward Havana imperative.

"I thus reluctantly gave up the project against San Juan and stood
westward for Havana."

Several telegrams are here presented, based on reports that Cervera's
squadron had returned to Cadiz and they had in view "to return and
capture San Juan, the desire to do so and occupy the place being
assured in the event of Admiral Cervera's failure to cross the
Atlantic."

Shortly after news was received that the Spanish fleet had appeared
off Curacao, West Indies, and the squadron under orders from the
department proceeded to Key West, to which place the flying squadron
under Commodore (now Admiral) Schley had already been ordered.

Arrangements were then hurriedly made and the flying squadron,
augmented by the other vessels under Commodore Schley, was sent off
Cienfuegos, where it was believed the enemy would go, in which case an
effort was to be made to engage and capture him. Sampson was given the
choice either of the command of the blockading squadron off Havana or
at Cienfuegos, Schley in either case to remain with his own squadron.

From messages received by the Admiral from the department about May
20 it appears that reports had reached the United States that the
Spanish fleet was at Santiago, so the department advised Sampson to
send immediately word to Schley to proceed to that place, leaving
one small vessel off Cienfuegos.

On May 21 instructions were written by Samnson for Commodore Schley
and sent to him via the Marblehead regarding the possibility of the
Spanish fleet being at Santiago. They are in part as follows:

United States Flagship New York, First Rate, Key West, Fla., May
21.--Sir: Spanish squadron is probably at Santiago de Cuba--four ships
and three torpedo boat destroyers. If you are satisfied they are not
at Cienfuegos proceed with all dispatch, but cautiously, to Santiago
de Cuba, and if the enemy is there blockade him in port. You will
probably find