Page 70 - NS-2 Textbook

THE RISE TO WORLD POWER STATUS 63

Santiago. Meanwhile, the Oregoll, just entering the squadron, plus the Oregoll. As senior officer present,
Caribbean after its circumnavigation of South America, Sampson took command of all U.s. naval forces and es-
stood a chance of steaming alone into the midst of the tablished a close blockade of the port.
Spanish fleet.
Word of Cervera's stop at Cura\ao, huvvever, indi- BATTLE OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA
cated that the Oregoll was safe, and that Cervera was
probably headed toward Cuba. There were three ports in Sampson arranged his blockaders in a semicircle off the
Cuba large enough to handle Cervera's fleet-Havana, harbor entrance, the battleshlps in the center and smaller
Cienfuegos, and Santiago. The Navy Department con- ships on the sides. At night the ships came in closer and
cluded that Cervera probably would try to reach Ha- directed a searchlight on the channel lest a Spanish tor-
vana, possibly stopping at Cienfuegos for coal. Accord- pedo boat try a surprise attack. There was always the
ingly, Sampson ordered the Flying Squadron to go problem of refueling the blockading ships and concern
around the western end of Cuba to blockade Cienfuegos, that a hurricane might blow in and disperse them.
while he guarded the approaches to Havana. Both the The coaling problem was partially solved on 10 June
department and Sampson were incorrect again. Cervera when a force of U.S. Marines from the Oregoll went
had steamed directly to the isolated southeastern port of ashore at Guantanamo Bay and, after a week of fighting,
Santiago de Cuba, arriving on 19 May. drove away the Spanish garrison. This gave the fleet a se-
Meanwhile, Commodore Schley headed toward San- cure anchorage only 40 miles from Santiago that could be
tiago after determining that the enemy was not at Cien- used as a coaling and maintenance base. Guantanamo
fuegos. But before arriving-and against Navy Depart- has been an important American naval base ever since
ment orders-he reversed COlU'se, intending to return to under a treaty with Cuba.
Key West for coal. The seas calmed on the night of 27 Sampson now called on Washington to have Army
May, howeve1; and he was able to take on coal from a col- troops land and take the Spanish batteries at Santiago, so
lier at sea. His squadron finally arrived off Santiago de he could go in with small boats and sweep the Spanish
Cuba on the morning of the twenty-ninth. There he saw minefield before forcing an enh'ance to the harbor. The
the Crist6bal COIOIl, Cervera's best cruise1; at the harbor Army was eager to oblige, in order to take part in the
entrance. He laid off the harbor for two days, then bom- war. On 20 June Major General William Shafter arrived
barded it for a few minutes at exh'eme range with little with an Army expeditionary force of 16,000 men. He had
effect. On 1 Jtme Admiral Sampson arrived with his orders to cooperate with the Navy and land near Santi-

ISLANDS CERVERA_·_
I
SAMPSON ----
SCHLEY--

..

•
PUERTO '. ~
RICO • •
,.' HONDURAS ~
~
CARIBBEAN SEA

COLOMBIA

Maneuvers of the opposing u.s. and Spanish fleets in the Caribbean campaign of the Spanish-American War.