Assistant Secretary of the Navy Charles A. Allen to Secretary of War Russell A. Alger
LETTER
Washington, June 9, 1898.
Sir:
Referring to the expedition destined to Santiago de Cuba, I have the honor to inform you that it is expected that the convoy of men-of-war, reinforced by two armored ships from Admiral Sampson’s fleet,1 will be coaled and ready to start for Santiago by the evening of Monday, the 13th instant, or by the morning of the following day, without regard to the Spanish ships.2
The Board3 is of the opinion that the Army transports/should not move from the vicinity of Tampa until about 20 hours before the naval convoy will be coaled and ready to start. This latter time, though estimated as above, cannot be closely fixed today, but probably can be by tomorrow evening.
Very respectfully,
CHAS. H. ALLEN,
Acting Secretary.
Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 80, Entry 194, vol. 1, p. 176-1/2. Addressed before opening: “The Honorable,/The Secretary of War.”
Footnote 1: RAdm. William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Fleet. The only armored ship sent to reinforce the convoy and was battleship Indiana. See: Capt. Henry C. Taylor to Sampson, 1 July 1898.
Footnote 2: This is a reference to the “phantom squadron” reported seen by Eagle. See: Sampson to Secretary of the Navy John D. Long 10 June 1898.
Footnote 3: Naval War Board.
