The Dickinson press., 1898-09-03

Admiral CsrverAss Fleet-AdmiralSam p.
Son. He says. Mads All Dispositions Prior
to the Aotton-Ris Reasons why tAs
Merit Of Forcing the Enemy 10 right
Under Disadvantassoas condieions Re-
lonss to the Commander In Chief-His
wtse Methods aaa Praiss For ah Sab
ordlnates.
In view Of the widespread attention
that has been excited to the discussion
as to whom belongs the credi. for the
humiliation Of Admiral Cervera's feet
off Santiago the following letter from
Captain Mahan, the naval expert. to
the New York Sun Of Aug. 6 discussing
the question is of much interest:
In your issue of July 90 q correspond
ent asks, "Why did Nelson, second in
command, receive the credit for Copen-
hagen if Schley is not to have it for
Santiago?"
A better knowledge of history would
have shown the essential differences be-
tween the two cases and have saved the
question. At Copenhagen Nelson did
not merely do the fighting. The entire
conception Of the method Of attack was
his, and by him was forced-the word
is not too strong-upon a reluctant COM.
mander in chief. When the latter had
yielded his consent, the separate and
decisive attack WA made by Nelson,
commanding a detachment from the
main fleet, all the movements Of which
detachment, including the positions in
the order of battle, were prescribed by,
him. With the preliminary dispositions
and subsequent conduct Of this detach-
ment his commander in chief, Parker,
had nothing to do, although within sig
nal distance, beyond making the since
historic signal to withdraw from 40.
tion," which Nelson refused to, obey.
It is to be added that although Parker
was not formally censured-as far at
least as I know-he was recalled to
England as soon as the accounts of the
battle were received there, Nelson be-
ing left in command in his place. A.
stronger implied censure than the re-
call Of a commander in chief after such
a victory is difficult to imagine.
At Santiago all the dispositions prior.
to action and for ,overa month before,
were made by the commander in chief.
A number Of orders, issued from time
to time by him for the enforcement Of
the close watch Of the harbor's mouth,
were published in the Washington Post
of July ~, and I presume by other
journals as we'll. There is very strong
ground for believing that Cervera's at
tempt to escape by day instead of by
night-the. incident Of his conduct
which has been most widely censured
and is most inexplioable-was due. to
the fact that the United States ships
kept SO close to the harbor mouth at
night that a dash like his, desperate at
best, had q better chance when the
ships were at day distance. Thiawas 10
stated substantially to Admiral Samp-
son by the captain of the Colon. II so,
the merit Of this, forcing the enemy to
action under .disadvantageous condi-
tions-and it is one of the highest
achievements Of military art-belongs
to the commander in. chief. It was the
great decisive feature Of the campaign,
from start to finish. Few naval authori-
ties, I imagine, will dispute this state
ment
It will be noted also BY comparing
the report Of. Admiral Sampson, stating
the disposition Of the ships, with the
report Of Captain Cook, commanding
the Brooklyn, Commodore Schley's
flagship, that the United States ships
chased and fought in the order, from
left to right, established by Sampson.
There is in this no. particular merit for
the latter beyond that in placing the
two fastest ships,,sB Brooklyn and New
York, on the two Hanks; he had made
the best provision for heading of the
enemy, which the Brooklyn so hand
somely effected. But the fact that the
ships chased as they stood shows that IL
was unnecessary for Schley to make .
signal, and in truth; from first to last,
the secondsin command needed to make
no signal of . tactical character. and
made none * far as is shown by his
own report or that Of the captain of
the ship. That is, the second in COM
mand exercised no special directive
functions Of ia flag Or general officer
while the; fighting lasted.
In this there was no fault, for, there
was no need for signals, but the fact
utterly does away vith anv claim In
particular merit a. aeoond in oommand.
without in the leastimnairinu tha com.
modore's credit for condnot IN III. noaai-
Bile respects Gallant and ofaoerlika, a.
Far az plan ia concarned. the hattie was