The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-12
Report of the Naval Board which Has
Been Investigating Disputed
POints In the Battle.
CRUISER NEW YORK NOT In 1T
AND COMMODORE sCHLEY's ORDERS
WERE NOT NECESSARY.
Brunt of the Fighting Was Borne by
the Battle Ships Oregon, Texas
and Iowa.

NEW YORK, Oct. 11.-Although the
American fleet i'm the battle off Santiago on
July obeyed the general orders of Rear
Admiral Sampson, given in advance, to
meet just such an emergency, it was es-
sentially Captains" fight. This is the
substance of the report of the naval board
which has been investigating the disputed
points in the battle. Rear Admiral Samp-
son was not present, and the two orders
signaled by Schley, "Close in,'' and En-
gage the enemy did no good and we're
unnecessary, for the ships already had
closed in and were engaging the enemy
when the orders were run up. The full text
of the report must come from Washington,
but many interesting points were obtained
from the navy yard to-day, after the board,
which has been in session on the Brooklyn,
more general way that each ship in the
feet knew exactly what to do should Ger
vera come out and did it when he actually
came out. Each captain fought his ship on
plans prepared and orders given by Samp-
son. Even had Schley directed the general
movement of the fleet in the battle which
1t was unnecessary to do. they would have
been executed because of the preparation
orders. The board proceeded along those
well-defined lines in making the inquiry
First-The relative positions of the Ameri-
can ships when Cervera came out and
throughout the battle.
Second-The course of the Brooklyn i'm
mediately after the amarl.
Third-The distance of the New York from
the Colon when the Spaniards surrendered.
Fourth-The signals made by the Brook
Fifth-The orders issued by Sampson in
preparation for an attempted escape of Ger
vera.
First-The battle was fought and won
upon plans prepared by Rear Admiral
Second-The directing of the movement of
ships done by Schley during the battle was
inconsiderable
Third-The New York had no active part
Fourth-The Brooklyn was not engaged
at SO close quarters as has been represented
by the first report. On an average she was
two miles away from the enemy.
Fifth-The brunt of the fighting was
borne by the Oregon. Texas and Iowa.
miles from the Colon when that ship sur
rendered. and between four or five miles
from nearest sister ships engaged frOm
which signal distance is taken)
Seventh-The average range of the ships
most engaged was about mile and half.
Eighth-No American ship at any time
unsurrendered Spanish ship.
The New York, the board finds, did moth
ing to effect the issue of the battle. When
the Colon's flag came down the New York
was nearly ten miles to the eastward.
Sampson, on the New York, was near ST.
honey, where he heard the firing and
turned about and steamed back as fast as
forced draught could bring him. 1.-The New
York was farther in shore than any of the
other vessels. but too far away to assist
any in the destruction of the Spanish fleet.
All she did was to fire two shots at long
range at a torpedo boat destroyer. She did
not reach the Colon until three-quarters of
an hour after the Oregon and Brooklyn, and
fifteen minutes after the Texas reached
there.
At the time of the hottest fighting (be-
tween 10 and 1915 a. NO. the Brooklyn was
in line with the Oregon, but three-quarters
of mile farther out to sea. The Oregon at
that time was pouring fire into the Maria
Teresa. The OQuendo was about three
thousand yards distant; with the Texas ard
Iowa half mile to the rear of her. Ac-
cording to the testimony the Brooklyn was
lying farther out to sea than any Of the
American ships. She headed in at once and
when about two thousand yards from the
Maria Teresa, which WIS leading the Span
ish fleet out, she turned 70 the eastward,
then doubled southwark a short distance.
Schley then followed a parallel course with
the Spaniards, keeping up running fight.
He was well outside the course of the other
American vessels and in The lead. lie kept
this position, an average distance of about
two miles from the Colon, until that ship
surrendered.
The issue of the battle, the board
learned, was not affected by any signals
that Schey made from his flagship. The
Oregon dashed out from the very begin
ming of the engagement and kept within
range of the enemy until the fight ended.
The elaborate chart prepared by the board
shows the positions of the ships at the
times mentioned here:
$3.50 a. m. when Cervera came out.
$3.50 when the torpedo boat destroyers ap-
peared.
1915 a. m. when the Maria Teresa turned
to run ashore.
1920 a. m. when the Oquendo turned to
run ashore.
1890 a. m. when the Furor was blown up
II :05 a. m. when the Vizeaya turned
ashore.
Ills p. m. when the Colon surrendered.
The board was made up of Lieutenant
Commander Richard Wainwright of the
Glouscester, presiding officer lieut. Samuel
P. Comfy, of the Indiana; Lieut. Lewis c.
Heiner. of the Texas Lieut. William H.
schuetze, of the Iowa: Lieut.. Alben G.
Hodgson of the Brooklyn: Lieut. William
Allen, of the Oregon. and Lieut.. Edward E.
Capehart of the New York
ASSIGNMENT OF OFFICERS