The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-23
CRITICIsING THE BOARD OF
STRATEGY.

STRATEGY.
1t is stated as matter of current talk
in Washington that if the Spanish fleet
escape both the fleets now on the lookout
for it, the naval board of strategy will
probably be abolished entirely or relegated
to the background. This cannot represent
anything more than phase of current Cos
sip. since If those in authority contem-
plated anything of the kind they would not
be talking about it. The board of strategy
is not created by law, and no formal action
would be necessary to abolish it, 1t is
simply an advisory committee of supposedly
able experts whose judgment and advice
the President may adopt or not as he sees
fit. The board has no authority to issue or
revoke an order, and no authority of any
kind except such it derives from the
President either directly or through the sec
rotary of the navy. This being the case it
seems unreasona BILE to hold the board re-
sponsible for any policy that may be
adopted. since its advice is not binding on
the President, and he alone, or the secre-
tary of the navy, with his authority can
issue orders. Therefore, so far as the public
is concerned, criticism of the board of STRAIT
egg is criticism of the President.
Looking at the matter from another point
of view the Journal does not believe that
the conduct of the war thus far has been
delayed or embarrassed or the operations of
our navy hampered in the least degree by
the action of the board of strategy, the
ia
ington. There is no evidence that such is
the case, and no reason for thinking so. The
great victory at Manila was a direct result
of orders from Washington. The President,
in his message to Congress, nominating
Commodore Dewey for admiral, said
On the oath of April I directed the sec
rotary of the navy to telegraph orders to
Commodore George Dewey, of the United
squadron, then lying in the port of Hong
Kong, to proceed forthwith to the Philip
pine Islands, there to commence operations
and engage the assembled Spanish fleet
Secretary Longs dispatch sent by order
of the President on April q. was as fol-
lows:
Dewey. Hong-Kong, China-War has COM
menced between the United States and
Spain Proceed at once to Philippine islands.
Commence operations at once. particularly
against the Spanish fleet. You must cap
ture vessels or destroy them. Use utmost
endeavor
This was the first knowledge Dewey had
that war had commenced. Certainly it was
good strategy to notify him of the fact
and order him to proceed at once to attack
and destroy the Spanish fleet at the Philip
pines. 1t is not likely he would have done
it without some orders or authority from
Washington. No one will be so unreasonable
as to criticise the Washington authorities
for their action in this case.
AS to the arrival of the Spanish fleet at
Santiago de Cuba the public knows moth
ing except the main fact. That the fleet did
evade our scouting ships and fleets is en-
tirely true, but there is no evidence that
the board of strategy or any person at
Washington was responsible for it. Very
likely the secretary of the navy gave Samp-
son and Schley as brief orders and
as much discretionary power as he did
Dewey. Nobody questions the ability
or zeal of these officers, but it
must be remembered the Atlantic
ocean is very wide, and even the Carib-
bean sea. which some people seem to think
or fifteen times as large as Lake Super
ior Considering the facilities for maneuv-
ering and the superior speed of the Span
ish fleet it is not at all surprising that it
should have been able to dodge into San
tiago Had Sampson and Schley not re-
ceived official information and orders from
Washington they would not be as we'll
posted regarding the movements of the fleet
they are, nor as favorably situated for
cornering and attacking it, as they are
pretty sure to do. For these reasons the
Journal regards the disposition to critcise
the board of strategy and the President,
who, after all. is the responsible head, as
ungenerouss and unjust. If the naval move
ments now in progress succeed credit will
be due to those who planned as well as to
those who executed them. and it will be
time enough to talk about responsibility
for failure when failure shall have oc-