Assistant Secretary of the Navy Charles H. Allen to Secretary of State John Sherman
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Washington, DC
May 23rd, 1898.
S I R :
In accordance with the recommendation of the Naval War Board, I have the honor to request that a telegram be sent to the Consul at Kingston,1 Jamaica, instructing him to exhaust every effort to ascertain if the Spanish division remains in Santiago.2 He should be authorized to hire a boat with secrecy to communicate news to our vessels off Santiago. A sum of five hundred dollars at least should be allowed him for that purpose, a premium on rapidity of communication being allowed.
Very respectfully,
Actg’3 Secretary.
Source Note: TLS, DNA, RG 59, M30, roll 181. Addressed below close followed by typist’s initials: “The Honorable,/The Secretary of State/FSH.” Document reference no.: “113382.” The State Department square stamp (with an octagon inside) in the left-hand corner is dated “26 May ’98.” In the left-hand corner the following is also stamped: “Dept. of State/MAY 24,9.18 AM 1898/CHF. CLMS. OFFICE.” Below this stamp in underlined handwriting: “Ack’ May 24, 98.”
Footnote 1: United States Consul at Kingston, Jamaica Louis A. Dent.
Footnote 2: The Spanish squadron, under the command of RAdm. Pascual Cervera y Topete, arrived at Santiago de Cuba on 19 May.
Footnote 3: This abbreviation is handwritten.
