The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-26
CAPT. TAYLOR INQUISITIVE
ASKS WHY THE INDIANA VAS NOT
 FAVORABLY MENTIONED,

Nh the Reports of Admtra1s Sampson or schley to the Navy Department After the Destruction of Cervera's Squadron or santiago-Matt tier Re- ferred to the Authorities at Washing ton.
 Washington, Aug. 25.-Admiral Samp- son has forwarded to the navy depart ment the following letters which have passed between himself and Captain Taylor of the battleship Indiana:
 U. s. s. Indiana,
 Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
 August 6, 1898. Admiral-The report of Commodore Schley on the battle of July 8, as pub lished, gives credit in the seventh par agraph to four ships and mentions by name their captains-Philip, Evans, Clark and 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 con- f1ict was under your immediate observ- ation."
 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 di- rected by me, etc.
 3-The results of these reports is that the captains of all the vessels of the line of battle, except the Indiana, have received personal mention in the off, cial report before the department, while the two smaller vessels had distinctive mention, either from the commander in-chief or the second in command.
 4-If the official record should be re- ferred to in the future it will appear from it's general tone that the Indiana was less deserving than all of her con- sorts. Leaving out my personal inter- ests in the matter, it is right that should consider the officers and crew of the ship, and I speak for them as well as for myself when I submit to you, admiral, that the above combina- tion 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. I re- spectfully submit, sir, that this is in justice to the Indiana and her officers and crew.
 5-I can say, without disparage- ment of any other vessels, that during the first hour of the fight the Indiana gun first contributed to the destruction of the Oquendo and Teresa more than that of any vessel of our squadron ex cept one. do not know why the sec- ond in command failed to observe the Indiana during this period of our hot test fight. I saw the Brooklyn quite plainly.
 6-An examination of these reports with reference to the Indiana will, believe, convince you, sir, that they do produce the effect of putting the Indi- ana below all other vessels of the squadron. If 1t be your opinion, sir, that this is the case, and that all the vessels, from the Brooklyn to the Vix- en, rendered services as much more val uable than the Indiana as the publish ed report of the commander-in-c chief and the second in command taken to- gether would indicate, then I must &C., cept it for myself and the ship; if, on the contrary, that be not your opinion, l urge respectfully that such steps be taken to remedy this injustice as may seem wise to you.
 Very respectfully,
 H. c. TAYLOR, Captain United States Navy, command ing the Indiana.
 To the Commander-in-C Chief, United States Naval Force, North Atlantic Station.