The Portland daily press., 1898-08-26
TAYLOR WANTS CREDIT.
Captain Of Indiana Says He Was
Slighte9.
NOT SPECIALLY MENTIONED BY
SCHLEY OR SAMPSON.

Indiana Did AS Good Service as Any vessel
in the Fleet in Sinking Cervera's Ships
Sampson Amends His Report Al
'e Requested.
Washington. August 25.-Admiral
Sampson has forwarded to the navy de.
partment the following letters which
have passed between himself and Capt
Taylor of the battleship Indiana.
q. S. S. Indiana,
Guantanamo Bay. Cuba, August 8, 1898.
Admiral:
The report of Commodore Schley on the
battle of July 3, as published gives credit
in the seventh paragraph to four ships
and mentions by name their captain,
Philip, Evans. Clark ana Cooke, and
adds "the dense smoke of the combat
shut out from my view the Indiana and
Gloucester, but as these vessels were
closer to your flagship, no doubt their
part in the conflict was under your i'm
mediate observation.
2-In your report as published you
make but slight mention of the Indiana
stating that the Iowa and Indiana, hav-
ing done good work. and not having the
speed of the other ships, were directed
by me, etc.
3-The results of these reports is that
the captains of all of the vessels OF the
line of battle except the Indiana have
received personal mention in the official
report before the department while the
two smaller vessels had distinctive men
tion either from the commander IN cnleI,
or the second in command.
4-If the official record should be re-
ferred to in future it will appear from
its general tone that the Indiana was
less deserving than all Of her consorts.
Leaving out my personal interests in the
matter, it is right that should consider
the officers and crew OF the ship ana
speak for them as we'll as for myself when
I submit to you. Admiral, that the above
combination of the report will place
the ship, in the opinion of the department
and the country, markedly below all the
other vessels of your squadron: l respect
fully submit, sir, that this Is injustice
to the Indi ina and her officers and crew.
81 can say, without disparag ement
of any other vessels, that during the hrst
hour of the fight, the Indiana's fire con-
GTlDut6u TO U00 ueSGruCUiou VI U.io OAoSN''
and Teresa more than that of any vessel
Of our squadron except one and na eauaailed d
hers. l do not know why the second In
command failed to observe the Indiana
during this period of our hottest fight.
1 saw the Brooklyn quite plainly.
6.-An examination of these reports
with reference to the Indiana will, be-
lieve, convince you, sir, that they do
produce the effect of putting the Indiana
below all other vessels of the squadron.
If it be your opinion, sir, that this is the
case and that all the vessels from the
Brooklyn to the Vixen rendered service
as much more valuable than the Indiana,
as the published report of the commander
in chief and the second in command
taken together would indicate, then
must accept it for myself and the ship;
If on the contrary, that be not your opln-
ION, I urge respectfully that such steps
be taken to remedy this injustice as may
seem wise to you.
Very respectfully,
II. q. Taylor,
Captain U. S. N, Commanding.
To the Commander in Chief U. S.
naval force, NORTH Atlantic station.