The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-13
THE SAMPSON AND SCHLEY Az
FAIR

can think OF no better word for IL, ought
not to have come about. A blunder has
been made in making it possible. Com
modore schley ranks Commodore Samp-
son. and by law and all usage he was
entitled to the command when the two
were present. Indeed, when he was or
dered to serve under Sampson he was a
commodore and Sampson only captain.
BY some sort of department red tape
which neither the country nor the service
has ever yet erstood-Sampson was
made an acting rear-admiral and thus
made to rank Schley by a procedure
which the law hardly contemplatcs. 1t
was inevitable that there would be fric-
ton between them when Schey was or
dered to serve under Sampson, ard i
should never have been done. Both are
no doubt excellent officers. but if Samp-
son was to be given supreme command
of the fleet schley ought to have been
sent somewhere else.
Nevertheless, we are by no means con-
WINGED that Sampson is 10 be ignored
and Schley to be credited with the vic
tory over the Spanish fleet. The dispo-
sition of our ships when Cervera came out
,of the harbor had been made by orders
Of Sampson. Whatever advantages came
TO US. therefore, from the location of our
ships Sampson is clearly entitled TO the
credit Of Ships so situated are govern
81 fu
the commodore Even while SIMPSONS
ship was several miles off when Cervera
came out and while Schleys ship was
actually on the ground, so to speak, yet
sampson's ship was near enough for him
TO see everything that took place and to
give his orders by signals that each ship
in the feet could see. That being So We
cannot see why he was not just as much
in command OF his feet as II he had
been within a mile of Weymouth Of the
harbor.
In point OF fact 1t seems TO be per-
fectly established that no orders were
given by any commodore that our ships
should attack the enemy. lie came out OF
the harbor without warning and all UNI
expected Each ship in our fleet saw him
at the same moment, the captain Of each
ship knew it to be his duty to close in
and fight as soon as that event occurred,
and each captain, acting upon his own
sense Of duty. actually did start his ship
instantly toward the Spaniard as soon
as he appeared, and each proceeded as
soon as he could open fire. 10 pour in
shot after shot upon him. The battle
was one. therefore. directed by no one
mind but fought in the most splendid
manner possible by each captain in
obedience 10 the sailors instinct that he
must do his duty, whatever it may be-
as he sees it at the moment The battle
was not fought, therefore. by either
Sampson or Schley. 1t was fought by
the officer and men Of each ship, and IL
should be adjudged that no one man is
entitled TO the victory. but that it is due
TO the magnificent discipline and seamon-
ship of the American navy, and that
each officer and man who participated in
II is entitled 10 as much credit as any
other. 1t should be a badge Of honor to
have fought IN this great naval battle
and the humblest seaman should be adj
Judged entitled 10 as much honor as the
acting admiral
Having said this much. we cannot for
bear 10 say a word more that is personal
20 Commodore Schley himself, because
we, confess TO sort Of weakness for
him. We believe that he has got in him
some OF the sternest stuff that the sailor
] ever has. lie was on board OF the Brook
| lyn. and no personally directed the part
which she took in the battle, and that
| part IS enough 70 immortalize her. She
was known 10 be the fastest OF QUO ves-
sells. and the fire of the whole Spanish
| feet was directed at her in the hope that
| she might be crippled. She was struck
| more shan forty times. yet by what seems
| n miracle. she was not seriously injured
But her work was positively astonish-
| ing. 1t Is clear that she alone headed on
and put the Colon out of action, though
| carrying armor thrss times as thick a:
the Brooklyns, and while sustaining th'
terrific Ere concentrated upon her she
riddled and practically destroyed the
Vizcaya in edition to her other work
The Spanish officers on the Colon ant
the Vizcaya say that her fire was the
most astounding thing they ever con
celved Of.
Oven II ne did not win the battle in the
sense OF directing the movements OF al
the vessels. Commodore schley neverthe