The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-08-12
CAPTAIN MAHAN's MISTAKE.

The brave Commodore who plunged
his thin-clad cruiser flagship into deadly
combat at sight of Cervera's oncoming
squadron and chung to the throat of the
conflict through four hot hours and forty
thunderous miles has never uttered a
claim of credit for the wondrous result
of that great days naval work off South
Cuba. 1t was Admiral Simpsons cham
pions, far removed from the scene, who
first, last and all the time have been ex-
plotting the Admiral's title to the honors
of victory and trying to make the Amer
lean people consent that commander
away from his command is a more cred
liable figure in war than commander
present in the shock of battle.
But by far the most ill-advised and I'M
fortunate recruit to the standard of the
Admirals claim is Captain A. T. Mahan.
Q. S. NJ, retired, who in voluntary and
labored letter to New York daily affects
to decide for SIMPSONS title on the sim
pie ground that he planned the block
ade of the Spanish ships in Santiago har-
Dor. As broad truth, known Of all, no
''plan" at all was needed and none could
have been imperatively outlined, except
to fire on the ships if they came out; and
that was the intuitive ''plan" of the most
unlettered marine in the American feet.
Commodore Schley's renown has been
quickly and solidly won, is being most
modestly worn, and will easily endure
unsupported by extraneous advocates or
injudicious 'sclaims." The Judgment of
the intelligent masses of the country and
the world has awarded him a niche be-
side Dewey's in the pantheon of merit.
and it little matters, in fact, for the per-
functory award of an official verdict. pro
or con. At the same time it may be said
that Captain Mahan's letter appears at a
most inopportune time, and dated at the
national capital, too, whence had just
been announced President Mckinley 3
purpose to submit the whole controversy
to jury of arbitration. The Captains
letter is fragrant of the design to get his
testimony on tap for effect on the court
which is to determine whether the man
present or man absent is the more effec-
tive in winning results in war.
1t is not unlikely Captain Mahan con-
ceived that he owed Admiral Sampson
something's or other for something or other.
We all knew and loved the late Strategy
Board at Washington knew it for what
it did and loved it for the fun it made in
the war. Captain Mahan was an eminent
unit Of that profound body of theorists,
who kept Admiral Sampson continually
spinning on spook missions. Never can
die our memory of the Strategy Boards
CHASTITY terror of the phantom warships
with spectral gunners that barred the
way of our congested transports and had
them recalled, to be conveyed by Samp-
sons battleships. Never was thing fun
nier than that. The board had been born
with caul, and could see ghostly ships
and goblin gunners, but was color blind
and couldn't see Cervera's big cruisers
and their blue smoke in Santiago harbor.
That was funny, too, and we all Uttered.
But there was one sailor that Captain
Mahan's Strategy Board didn't have any
jollying with and didn't have much bust
ness for. At the same time that daily
Strategy Board bulletin went forth TO tell
that troops will be sent from Tampa as
soon as we knoav that Cervera is in San
tiago harbor'' all those days Schley, the
lynx-eyed sea dog, had his teeth fastened
into the sand at the critical spot and was
barking morning, noon and night into
the unwilling ears of the uniquely hui
morous Strategy Board: 81 HAVE GOT
THEM, AND THEY Ii NEVER GET HoME!''