The evening times., 1898-07-06

A resolution thanking Commodore
| Schiey and his officers and men for their
gallant achievement before the harbor of
Santiago. in sinking the entire Spanish
fleet. was introduced by Mr.. Pettigrew.
who asked that 1t be printed and go to the
| Committee on Naval Affairs. After some
discussion this order was made.
Mr.. Hale. speaking on the resolution
said that the full particulars were not
yet known, and he did not think that this
was good time to stimulate jealousy
between the gallant officers of our Navy.
THAT Commodore Schley has acted
most admirably, there is no question"
| he said. Admiral Sampsons report to the
| Navy Department has not been received
in detail / have no doubt that when
that report comes. it will give full credit
to all. and l think the agitation now
urged in the public press and elsewhere
tending to create a feeling between these
officers ought not to be encouraged here"
little surprising that there was doubt as
to the question of who led the American
fleet in that battle. All the accounts
point conclusively to the fact that our
fleet was commanded by Commodore
Schley. who. with the Brooklyn as his
| flagship. proceeded for sixty miles fight
ing the most remarkable naval battle
that was ever fought in the world, and
sunk ship far superior to his own
For the purpose of calling attention to
this fact, and seeing justice done. and as
| promptly as possible correcting the mis-
apprehension in the minds of our people
and in the newspapers, introduced this
! resolution he said.
Mr.. Stewart said that the dispatches
were unfortunate in not mentioning the
fact that Commodore Schley had taken
particularly important part. 1t had
misled the American people. said Mr.
impression There is no man who needs
an investigation more than Commodore
Sampson in order to set him right
Mr.. Allen: Il am inclined to believe that
this matter ought to pass over for few
days for careful investigation have
no doubt of the competency and bravery
of both of these men.
IF Commodore Sampson, in the line of
duty. was called away from the scene
of action to hold a conference with Gen.
Shafter it was the proper place for him
to be. and he would have been blame
worthy if he had failed in that respect.
1t does not follow. therefore, that be-
cause he was absent that he was unne-
cessar;ly absent. but. as understand it.
he was absent in the line of duty. If he
had been present. if his duty had called
him to remain with the fleet. I have no
doubt that he would have played a gal
liant part"
Mr.. HaIe-He was in consultation with
the commanding general about immedi-
ate movements.
Mr.. Allen-I will say, frankly. however.
that have been prejudiced against Com
modore Sampson on account of the con-
stant newspaper putting he has received
since the war began. 1t has been my OBJ
servation that the man who receives
such putting is generally the one who
fails in the end. I have on the other
hand. been strongly impressed with Com
modore Schley. on account of his not re-
ceiving much favor from the press. But,
Mr. President. it does not follow that one
man is entitled to greater credit than the
other if both men were discharging their
ruty at the same time