The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-16
A STORY ABOUT sCHLEY
HE Is SAID TO HAVE DIsOBEYED Or
DERS AT SANTIAGO DE CUBA,
And Is Reported to Have Been Saved
Why Sampson Was Favored.

CHICAGO, Oct. 15.-The Tfmes-Herald's
St. Louis correspondent says: lone of the
best-kept secrets of the war leaked out
here to-day and throws new light on
President McKinleys judgment of men and
his generous forbearance. The gossip of
the presidential party has it that the Cabi-
net at two different times by a unanimous
voice advised the President to remove Com
modore Schley from the command of his
squadron. About the time of the battle
with Cervera's fleet there were whisperings
in Washington that Commodore Schey was
IN disgrace with his superiors and had been
in danger of losing his command. 1t was
intimated he had been guilty of disobeying
an order, but it was not possible to anthem
ticate the rumor or get details.
Tine Washington dispatches published
this morning tell of coming reports of Cap
tain Crowninshield and Lieutenant Suther-
land bearing on these incidents and they
led TO to-day's disclosure. When Schleys
squadron started from Key West in search
of Cerveras fleet the American commander
steamed for Cienfuegos on the south coast
of Cuba. Schley thought he had the Span
ish armada bottled up in that harbor, and
he waited outside five days under that de-
fusion. When the Washington authorities
learned through d scout boat that Cervera
was in Santiago bay they sent a message
and order to Schley by the way of Mole st.
Nicholas, Haiti. The dispatch was carried
by the Marblehead. Captain McCaIla to the
American feet at Cienruegos.
Commodore Schley imediately raised
the bind blockade of Cienfuegos and sailed
10 Santiago. The story goes that he soon
left Santiago to go to key West to coal
ms shlps Friends of Schley have hereto
fore explained that this movement was
bInd, That Cervera was not in Santiago
bay ana That Schley merely got out Of sight
10 let the Spantard slip into the bottle. AT
any rate tO-days story has it that when
the Washington officials learned of Schleys
departure from SantIago they sent Captain
Cotton and his flying scout to overhaul
Schey with peremptory orders to return
10 Santiago, blockade the bay and under
no circumstances leave the station without
permission.
1t is explained that the members of the
Cabinet on learning that Schey had been
IN front of ClenIuegoS five days without
discovering his mistake We're chagrined and
angry, and expressed themselves unanl-
nIOusly in favor of removing him from COM
nand of the squadron. The President.
the other hand, argued that 1t might DO an
injustice to condemn Schiey without know
ing more of the circumstances, and at any
rate it might have a bad moral effect TO
make such change a that tifne-a change
that would lead to a disclosure of the rea-
sons and perhaps to some decentralization of
the navy He made the suggestion tnat Ad-
Alltdl odupSOu SIlDulu UC sent III TAME COIl-
mand OF the squadron operating against
Cervera, which would dispiace Schley nat
uraly and without i'll feeling or bad effect.
The President had his way, of course, and
this explains the sudden dispatch of Samp-
son to Santiago, about which there had
been an air of mystery.
1t is asserted that when Commodore
Schley left Santiago the Cabinet again adj
Vised the President to remove him from his
command. Sampson had not arrived yet.
The PRESIDENT. it is said, admitted he
thought Schley had made an error in judg-
ment in going away and leaving the mouth
of the bottle conveniently open for Cervera
to escape but he pointed out that Sampson
would soon reach Santiago, when, as the
superior commander, he would take charge
of the situation. He argued that with the
peremptory orders to Schley TO guard the
entrance TO Santiago bay it would be better
10 have little patience and show no signs
of demoralization or error to the world at
large.
The President adhered to this course, and
history tells the result. There have been
long inquiries as TO why the Washington
authorities favored Sampson above Schley.
To-day's disclosure is the answer.