The times., 1898-10-10
CREDIT FOR THE VICTORY
Destruction of Ceryera's Fleet
to Be Rehearsed.
POSITIONS OF THE SHIPS
A Board of Naval Officers Ordered to
Convene ut TOmplsinsviIIe to De-
tern,ine the Places Occupied by
the american Vessels During the
NavaI battle on Santiago.

Secretary Long has directed the as
sembling of board of naval officers ar
Tompkinsville, which will thoroughly in
yestigate the questions affecting the
right of Rear Admiral w. T. Sampson TO
the promotion that has been gwen him.
The board will also determine finally the
positions occupied by the cruisers Brook
lyn and New York during the naval
fight which resulted In the destruction of
Cervera's ships.
1t is proposed to officially settle these
questions in advance of the assembling Of
Congress, as the matter will undoubtedly
be brought before the House and Senate
in some form by friends of Rear Admiral
Schley
The board was originally appointed by
Rear Admiral Sampson shortly after
July 3 to determine the question of posi-
tions assumed by the ships during va
rious stages of the battle. Just at that
time there was a great deal of criticism
In America over his action in sending to
the department the cablegram announc-
ing that 1.-The fleet under my command
destroyed Cervera's feet
This board consisted of Lieutenant
Comma nder Richard Wainwright. and
the navigators of the Brooklyn. Iowa, In
diana, New York. Oregon and Texas. the
vessels which were in at the finish of
Cervera's fleet The work Of the board
was discontinued owing 10 orders from
the depar tment. which sent some of the
ships away on other duty. The matter
rested until Saturday, when instructions
We're sent to Commodore J. w. Phi.ip. di-
recung tnat the board reassemb.e at
Iompkinsviile-
This action will still further delay the
sailing of the Iowa and Oregon. as the
board will be required TO take the tes-
timony of the officers OF those battle
ships.
1t is understood that Admiral Schley
will submit evidence as to the positions OF
the cruisers and the signals each few
during the engagement. Friends of Rear
! Admiral Sampson are sanSu1ne-
/ They claim that as the New York rush
| ed in chase after the armored cruiser
| Cristobal Colon she passed the Indiana.
| which was ordered 10 return TO the mouth
| of the harbor of Santiago, and the Iowa.
| which was directed To rescue as many
! of the Spaniards possible, and that
| subsequently the Brooklyn was sent to
| investigate the report that Spanish
| warship was approaching.
A chart prepared by Lieut.. +. Hael-
/ Ter. ordnance officer OF the Texas, which
he submitted to the commanding officers
/ of the ships which participated in the bat
! tie shows rather clearly the varying po-
/ sitions of all the vessels during the entire
| engagement.
/ When the Iowa first few the signal OF
\ the appearance of the Spanish ships.
| the Brooklyn dashed in toward the mouth
! the westward parallel to the course taken
! by the Spanish ships, she turned, acord-
/ ing to the chart to the eastward away
from them, described a circle and then
! ran 10 the westward on the line parallel
I with them, but outside of the Oregon
/ Texas and Iowa, which had steamed in
| toward the mouth of the harbor and ther
| had turned so as to run parallel with the
shore and the fleeing ships.
! Furthermore. officers Of the Oregon
| claim that if it had not been that the
I officers and crew of the Colon feared theil
13-inch shells the ship would not hav'
/ been surrendered at the time she was
! The department will be very glad to have
the matter settled before the meeting o
I Congress.
| Schleys friends propose to continue thei
efforts TO secure for him the thanks o
Congress, and that such action woul'
be a virtual condemnation of Rear Ad
mral Sampson.