The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-12
SAMPSON LEFT OUT.
He Was Nine Miles Away When
CerVera Surrendered.

New York, Oct 11.-Although the
American fleet in the battle off San
tiago on July 3 obeyed the general or
ders of Rear Admiral Sampson, given
in advance to meet just such an emer-
gency, it was essentially a captains"
fight. This is the substance of the re-
port of the naval board which has been
investigating disputed points in the bat
tie. Rear Admiral Sampson was not
present and the two orders signalIed
by Schley, "Close in and Engage the
enemy" did no good and were unnec-
essary, 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 interest
ing points were obtained from the navy
yard today after the board, which had
been in session on the Brooklyn, finally
adjourned.
The board finds in a geenral way that
each ship in the fleet knew exactly
what to do should Cervera come out
and did it when he actually came out.
Each captain fought his ship on plans
prepared and orders given by Sampson.
Even had Schley directed the general
movement of the fleet in the battle,
which it was unnecessary for him to
do, they would have been executed be
cause of the preparation made by
The board finds in general way that
defined lines in making the inquiry:
1.-The relative positions of the Amer
lean ships when Cervera came out and
throughout the battle.
2-The course of the Brooklyn an
mediately after the alarm.
3-The distance of the New York
from the Colon when the Spaniards
surrendered.
1.-The signals made by the Brook
5GThe orders issued by Sampson in
preparation for an attempted escape OF
Cervera.
married as follows:
THE battle was fought and won
upon plans prepared by Rear Admiral
Sampson.
2-The directing of the movements of
ships done by Schley during the battle
was incOnsiderable.
3-The New York had no active part
in the fight.
1.-The Brooklyn was not engaged at
so close quarters as has been repre-
scented by the first report. On an
average she was two miles away from
the enemy.
5-The brunt of the fighting was borne
by the Oregon, Texas and Iowa
6-The New York was about nine
miles from the Colon when that snip
and between four ana hVe
miles from the nearest sister ships en-
gagged Cfrom which signal distance IS
taken.)
7lThe average range of the ships
most engaged was about a mile and
S-No American ship at any time
during the battle was within mile
of an unsurrendered Spanish ship.
The New York, the board finds, dld
nothing to affect the issue of the bat
tie. When the Colon's flag came down
the New York was nearly ten miles 10
the eastward.
Sampson on the New YORK was heei5
where he heard the firing ana
turned about and came back as IasI
as forced draught could bring him. Ihe
New York was further in-shore thah
any of the other vessels put TOO Ia
away to assist in the destruction OF the
Spanish fleet. All she did was TO nre
two shots at long range at torpeao
boat destroyer. She did not reach the
Colon until three-quarters or an hour
after the Oregon and Brooklyn and M
teen rnin@tes after the Texas reached
there.
At the time of the hottest fighting
Cbetween 10 and 1e:15 a. m the Broph+
Ign was in line with the Oregon, out
three quarters of a mile further out 10
sea. The Oregon at that time was
pouring fire into the Maria Teresa me
Oquendo was about 5000 yards distant,
with the Texas and Iowa a half mile to
the rear of her.
According to the testimony the Brook
lyn was lying farther out to sea than
any of the American ships. She headed
in at once and when about 1000 yards
from the Maria Teresa, which was lead
ing the Spanish feet out, she turned to
the eastward, then doubled southwark
to sea for a short distance. Schley
then followed a parallel course with the
Spaniards. keeping up running fight.
He was well outside of the course of the
other American vessels, and in the lead
He kept this position, an average dis |
lance of about two miles from the Co.
Ion, until that ship surrendered.
The issue of the battle. the board |
learned, was not affected by any sig
nails that Schley made from his flagship. |
The Oregon dashed out from the very
beginning 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 went out
$50 a. m.-When the torpedo boat de-
strOyers appeared
1915 a. m.-When the Maria Teresa |
turned to run ashore.