Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-19
ECHOES OF THE LATE WAR.

ECHOES OF THE LATE WAR.
When President Mckinley promoted to
the rank Of rear admiral the naval heroes OF
Santiago IL was hoped the partisans Of
Sampson and schley would drop the con-
troversy, satisfied with the honors dispensed.
Both commanders set an example their ad-
mirers might follow with profit. They are
attending TO their respective duties at Ha-
vana and San Juan, doubtless unaware OF
the valorous efforts Of curbstone strauegists
to explain the Santiago naval campaign and
how one is entitled to all the glory to the
exclusion OF the other. The controversy has
revived, after few weeks rest, In sig
nihcant manner. Philadelphia admirers are
buying $500 sword Of honor for Schley.
Sampson is reported i'll at Havana, and his
illness Is ascribed by correspondents to de-
preston induced by the alleged lack OF ap-
probation for his war services" Ridiculous
and unworthy as the assertion is IL serves
as pulse to start the home batteries afresh.
During the last week there have been two
outbreaks on the part Of SIMPSONS admir-
ers, and what purported to be conclusive
proof" was printed, showing him to have
been "the whole thing"
The first shell thrown into the Schley
camp was what was claimed to be sum
mary of the findings Of the Naval Board Of
Review. recently in session in New York.
This board was composed of the navigating
officers OF the ships participating in the
destruction of Cervera's fleet, with Com
mander Wainwright of the Gloucester as
presiding officer The reports had 1t that
this Board Of Review found and declared that
SIMPSONS plans guided the battle; that It
was "a captains battle,' fought and won
by the captain, and that the signals OF the
Brooklyn, Commodore Schley's ship, had no
material bearing on the victory. To these
findings was added the statement that the
Brooklyn fought at a greater distance from
the escaping fleet than any other American
vessel, namely, two miles. Lest these con-
clusions might shock popular ideas, a post
script was added to the effect that the
brooklyn did gallant service in the fight"
Ihe absurdity of the alleged summary was
evident to any one familiar with the ad-
mitted facts Of the battle. The Brooklyn was
hit more times by the enemy's shells than
any other ship its effective shots on the
enemy's ships were twice the number cred
ited TO any other, and the one life lost on
the American side was on the Brooklyn,
aside by Board Of Review, nor was II at.
tempted. The alleged summary was manu-
factured out of whole cloth. The reporO OF
the board has not been made public in whole
or IN part. 1t is in possession of Commo-
dore Philip, and he declares in a telegram
TO the Navy department that the findings do
NOT In any manner agree with the published
report. Thus is another wild war story
frosted and put to Sleep
Inc second attack on Schley comes
from three sources-St. Louis, Washington
and New York. Washington furnishes tho
inspiration in the form of copies of naval
dispatches which are to accompany the re-
port OF the chief Of the Navigation bureau IN
congress. Those on which particular stress
are laid are the dispatches passing between
the Navy department and Sampson and
schiey when both commanders were search
ing for Cervera's fleet In connection with
them 1t is asserted that Commodore Schley
was diiatory in complying with orders, that
ne was disobedient and would have been re-
moved from his command had not President
mckinley interposed veto. The St Louis
ana New york reporters agree in asserting
that the cabinet twice agreed in urging the
removal of Schley. but that the president
smoothed the matter over by sending Samp-
son to Santiago. This is the great secret
OF the war" just revealed, and is classed as
yindication for Sampson, justifying the
omission of the names Of his subordinates
from the reports. To understand the grave
affenses now charged against Schley. brief
reference to dates and dispatches is neces-
sary. The Flying squadron sailed from Key
west. May 10, for Cienfuegos. Sampson had
lust returned from San Juan. Neither
sampson. Schley, nor the department knew
| the location OF Cervera. The Flying squadron
was, therefore, on still hunt Com
modore Schley naturally supposed that Ger
vera would attempt to enter the port of
| Cienfuegos, because from that point he would
have rail communication with Havana and
could ship to the capital the supplies he car
| ried for Blanco's army. On the Goth the de-
| nartment received an intimation that the
Spanish feet was at Santiago. Sampson was
| instructed to communicate with Schley. On
| the 21st Sampson dispatched to Schley, say
| ing: Spanish squadron probably at San
| tiago. II you are satisfied they are not in
| Cienfuegos. proceed to Santiago, etc." Schley
was satisfied that the fleet was in Cienfus GO 3
| and so stated in dispatch on the 23d. 81
think have them here almost to a GER
| tainty," he said. Meanwhile, Sampson was
instructed to arrange safe conduct for troops
/ invading Cuba, and could not detach his own
| fleet for service at Santiago. On the 9th
positive orders were sent by Sampson tc
Schley to blockade Santiago. Before Schrey
received the order he satisfied himself thai
the fleet was not in Cienfuegos and proceed ID
to Santiago, where he arrived on the 2Sth
On the morning Of the 29th he had definitely
determined that the Spanish feet was in the
harbor and sent dispatch to that effect tc
the department The peg on which the crit
| les hang the charge OF dsobedience Is
dispatch from Schley on the 2Sth, stating
that he did not have sufficient coal for his
feet. and would proceed to Key West fol
that purpose. Scouting vessels were imme-
diately sent to intercept Schley with orders
to blockade the port at all hazards. Whether
they intercepted him before he personally
saw two Of the Spanish vessels at the mouth
of the harbor does not appear from the dis
patches published. What they do show is
great deal OF irritation over the movement
Of Schley. while part Of his feet was coal
ing twenty miles south Of Santiago the com
modore suddenly ran in front of the entrance
and saw "the Colon and Teresa and two tor
pedo boats moored inside Morro.'' Sampson
arrived at Santiago, June 1, and assumed
command.
| There Is no report or explanation from
schley in the dispatches. and it is said hi