Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-10-12
DISPUTED POINTS IN SANTIAGO BAT
TIE SET AT REST.
LITTLE CREDIT DUE TO sCHLEY
HIS ORDERS DID NO GOOD AND
WE'RE UNNECESSARY.
Oregon, Iowa and Texas Bore the
Brunt of the Battle, Which Was
Fought Strictly in Accord
ance With Admiral
Sampson's Plans.

NEW YORK, Oct11-Although the Amer
lean fleet in the battle off Santiago on July
5 obeyed the general orders of Rear Adj
miral Sampson. given in advance to meet
just such an emergency, it was essentially
a captains fight
This is the substance of the report OF the
naval board which has been investigating
disputed points in the battle. Rear Admiral
Sampson was not present, and the two or
ders signaled by Schley "Close in and
Engage the enemy did no good and were
unnecessary. for the ships already had clos
ed in and We're engaging the enemy when
the orders were run up.
The full text of the report must come
from Washington. but many interesting
points We're obtained from the navy yard
to-day after the board, which had been in
session on the Brooklyn, finally adjourned.
The board finds in a general way, that
each ship in the feet 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
because of the preparation made by Samp
son and within his general orders.
The board proceeded along these well de-
fined lines in making the inquiry:
First-The relative positions of the
American ships when Cervera came out
and throughout the battle.
Second-The course of the Brooklyn i'm
mediately after the alarm.
Third-The distance of the New York
from the Colon when the Spaniard SUR
rendered.
Fourth-The signals made by the Brook
lyn.
Fifth-The orders issued by Sampson in
preparation for an attempted escape of
Cervera.
The findings of the board are summar-
First-The battle was fought and won
upon plans prepared by Rear Admiral
Sampson.
Second-The directing of the movements
of ships done by schley during the battle
was inconsiderable.
Thrd-The New York had no active part
in the fight.
Fourth-The Brooklyn was not engaged
ar so close quarters as has been represented
by the first report. On an average she
was two miles away from the enemy.
borne by the Oregon. Texas and Iowa
Sixth-The New York was about nine
miles from the Colon when that ship sur
rendered, and between four and five miles
from the nearest sister ships engaged (from
which signal distance is taken):
Seventh-The average range of the ships
most engaged was about mile and a
half.
Eighth-No American ship at any time
during the battle was within mile of an
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
| Siboney, where he heard the firing and
| turned about and came back as fast as
forced draught could bring him. The New
York was further in-shore than any of the
| other vessels, but too far away to assist
| in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. AL
|
| at a torpedo boat destroyer. She did not
| reach the Colon until three-quarters of an