Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-08-04
SAMPSON AND SCHLEY,
important Signal Made Just Before
Cervera's Flight
SAMPSON YIELDED COMMAND
BOW Reported For the First rlme-Con.
eress and Naval Court to De-
eide Who Destroyed the
Spanish Fleet.
SAMPSON YIELDED COMMAND

New York, Aug. 4. - The Evening
journal publishes, the following d $.
patch from Washington:
The controversy over Schlev and
sampson and their respective claims 70,
Inc credit OF destroying Cervera's fleet
VIII probably not terminate for many
d oay. The whole subject will be yen-
tliated In congress.
An important revelation has been
made that was not even limited at in
the admiral's report. When the flag
snip New York headed eastward on the
memorable Sd Of July, in order to per-
init sampson to hold an important con-
ference with Major General SHAFT r, this
message was communicated by Samp-
son TO other ships of the fleet:
Disregard signals Of commander in
chief"
The meaning of this was plain
enough. In the absence of the admiral
from the blockading station the com
mand of the ships would devolve upon
the senior officer-Commodore Sch'ey-
and signals from the flagship would lie
only as a means for communicating
with the shore
Wlthln an hour or so after Samp-
sons departure. Cervera attempted his
escape. In spite of the message COM
municated to the fleet, Sampson SAYS in
his report that the New York turned
about and steamed for the escaping
fleet, flying the signal Close in toward
harbor entrance and attack vessels"
Having previously been directed to
disregard his signals, it is improbable
that his signal "Close in toward harbor
entrance and attack vessels would
have received any attention from the
ships.
Had Admiral Cervera's sortie been
successful, Commodore Schlay would
doubtless have been held resp nsib'e for
the escape.
Board of Inquiry to Decide.
An extraordinary board of inquiry will
be detailed by the navy department to
discover what officer should get the
chief credit for the victory.
1t is an important thing to know.
DeWey's victory was a certainty. He
commanded from start to finish and
during the recess for breakfast in Ma
Mia bay. There was no doubt or hest
tation about his reward. The thanks
Of congress, a sword Of honor voted and
prompt promotion to be rear admiral
followed quickly.
The news from Santiago leaves this
credit for victory in doubt. Schley,
commodore, whose rank Is higher than
Simpsons, was present. Sampson,
commander of the fleet, was away. The
traditional rules of the navy are that
Schley was the ranking officer present.
This makes it apparent to lay mind
that Schley was in command, and he
got the popular credit for the great
achievement of the Yankee sailors and
their guns.
Every captain in the whole squadron
who was in action believes and declares
that his ship did the business for Ger
vera. The reports from each ship rep
resent that that vessel sent the Span
ish ships ashore in one, two, three order.
Admiral Sampson himself claims
credit for the success Of the engage
ment because his previous orders for
the blockade formation and for the pur-
suit We're carried out. He also was con-
structively present, according to his ar
gument, and hence ranked Schley.