The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-30
M'KINLEY WAS LENIENT
THE PRESIDENT SAVED SCHLEY
FROM COURT-MARTIAL DISGRACE.
The Admiral Is Alleged to Have Dis
Might Have Been Changed.
washington Special to St Louis Globe

Washington Special to st. Louis Globe
Democrat.
Before he became rear admiral Commo-
dore Schey narrowly escaped a court-mar-
tial. This has been known in a limited circle
ever since the Santiago campaign. 1t was
talked about in Navy Department circles as
long ago as last June. That the commo-
dores course regarding Cervera's fleet early
in the campaign was not at all satisfactory
to the Navy Department was mentioned at
the time in these dispatches. Only the dis
position of the President to be lenient and
the brilliant manner in which the commo-
dore subsequently participated in the de-
structiOn of Cervera's fleet saved him from
official investigation. So much of the inner
history of the campaign has been common
property.
The order which was sent to Commodore
Schley, and which was temporarily DISC
beyed by him. has never been published UNI
til its appearance to-day in the secretary's
report The order from the department was
delivered to the commodore on the morn
ing of the 9th of May. 1t was cabled by
Secretary Long to Mole st. Nicholas. and
thence carried by the Harvard to where the
flying squadron was, twenty miles south
of Santiago. 1t directed Commodore Schey
to ascertain the facts about the reported
presence of Cervera's fleet at Santiago.
'All the departments information indi-
Gates that the Spanish division is still at
Santiago" the order said. The department
looks to you to ascertain the facts. and that
the enemy, If therein. does not leave with
out a decisive action"
The order even suggested. that If there
was doubt. the commodore should find a
landing place, probably in control of the
insurgents, a few miles west of Santiago,
and could, from overlooking heights. ascer-
tain II the Spanish teet were there.
at noon of the 9th Commodore Schley
sent back by the Harvard reply to the
secretary of the navy. In it he explained
that the sea was rough, and that he could
not coal. He further stated:
Much to be regretted, cannot obey orders
Of department Have striven earnestly 4T ~
Forced TO proceed for coai to Key West by
way of Yucatan passage. Cannot ascertain
anything respecting enemy positive"
me order and schIeyg reply, are made
received and the other was sent, Commo-
dore Sehley's squadron was twenty miles
south of Santiago. Cervera's fleet was in
Santiago harbor. Commodore Schley was
very positive in his opinion that it was not
there, although he had no information con-
trary to that which the department had
sent him. Contrary to the order, he started
away from Santiago, sailing westward, In
tending to go by way of Cienfuegos, around
the western extremity of Cuba, and back
the north side of the island to Key West.
The squadron moved along until it was for
ty miles west of Santiago. What happened
then is not mentioned in the secretary's re-
port. 1t Is told in official circles at the Navy
Department
modore Schley felt that he was making an
error in leaving the vicinity of Santiago
without determining for certainty wheth~
er Cervera's fleet was in the harbor. The
commodore's chief of staff went to him
and represented the sentiment. He urged
that the proper thing to do was to go back
m
the department. 1t is to the credit or the
commodore that he listened to the advice
was gone over in a frank discussion; The
chief of staff stoutly held TO his opinion,
and Commodore Schley. after some hesita-
ton, yielded. This statement or what oc-
Cured 1t is believed has not been pub
lished until the present time. II comes from
one who was on Commodore Schleys nag
ship during the Santiago campaign. After
Welding to the argument of mis- chief of
staff Commodore Schley ordered up the
signal stop, Some eoalipg was attempted pied
turned about, retraced the forty miles II
had come westward of Santiago, took up
its station off the mouth Of Santiago mar
Dor and soon obtained positive information
that the fleet was within. Admiral Sampson
arrived and the blockade was made com
After that Commodore Schley's course
was such as to win the approval OF the
government at Washington. When his al
most inexplicable refusal to carry OUT the
DEPARTMENTS instructions was received ana
when shortly afterwards. it was learned
that CerVera was in Santiago harbor,
court-martiai was very seriously contem-
plated Only the unwillingness OF the
President to have the charges preferred
against the commander of squadron at
such a critical time saved Commodore
Schley from being deposed and ordered
home to face charges. High ohlcers or the
navy on duty at Washington who realized
the gravity of the offense, felt quite posi-.
tive that q court-martial must come out or
the disobe6ience.
If Commodore Schley had proceeded west
ward as 1t is said he would nave zone out
for the advice and entreaty OF ms chle1 OF
staff Cervera would have had free passage
out Of Santiago for several days. Inc span
ish admiral could have struck the Atlantic
coast where he pleased, Commodore Samp-
son being at the time at Key West. Com
modore Schleys course at santiago might
have been of the most serious consequences.
Rut the Presidents unwillingness to act at
once upon the error of judgment gave the
commodore the opportunity to retrleVe nnl-
self The publication of this order ana tne
answer to it in the secretary's report, with
the other facts given on eXceHeht ,dullor-
ity will enable many people TO understand
why the government depended so largely
upon Admiral Sampson at santiago ana
why what seemed to the pubic 70 De uh-
due credit was given to him Tor the mag
nifcent results. When this informaJlon OF
the commodores almost fatal mistake pc
me generally disseminated among the
war ships in front of Santiago the sailors
adopted for him the title or Commodore
Fly of the Fleeing Squadron. NOT untlI
after the battle was ended so giof1ouSiy
was the prestige of Commodore Schley 1ully
restored.