New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-12
SEA FIGHT INQUIRY ENDED.
BOARD FINDS BATTLE WON ON sAMP-
SONS PLANS.
scHLEY's SIGNALS SAID TO BE suPERFLUoUs-
BATTLE-sHrPs BORE BRUNT OF ACTION
CONTROVERSY SATISFACTORILY
TERMINATED

TERMINATED.
Admiral Sampson on September 2 ordered that
an inquiry be held to determine several disputed
points regarding the sea fight of Santiago between
the American and Spanish squadrons July 3.
Inc Board appointed to make that inquiry finished
Its work Monday afternoon, and sent exhaustive
report TO Secretary Long. accompanied by charts
ana documents. 1t is said by officers at the Navy
Yard that the report settles for all time the
called Sampson-Schey controversy by deciding
that the battle fought and plans pre-
pared by Admiral Sampson that the directing of
the movements OF the ships done by Commodore
Schley was inconsderabe: that the New-York took
no active part in the fight and that the Brooklyn
was not engaged at such close quarters was
represented In the first report. The report also
states. 1t is said. that the hrunt of the lighting was
borne by the Oregon. Texas and Iowa.
The Board constituted as follows: Leuten-
ant-Commsnder Richard wainwright. OF the Gouces-
ter. presiding officer; Lieutenant Samuel T. Comfy
OF the Indiana: Lieutenant Lewis C. Heilner OF the
Texas: Lieutenant william II. Schuetze OF the
Iowa Lieutenant ALBION c. Hodgson. OF the Brook
Ign: Lieutenant william II. Allen Of the oregon,
and Lieutenant Edward F.. Capehart. Of the New
York
When the Board first organized the Brook
lyn was away from New-Yo and the Gloucester
had not yet come north The meetings were held
AT once however. and when the Brooklyn returned
Admiral Schley's cabin was used for the meetings
Orders reached the Board a week to hold daily
sessions until the inquiry finished, and Lieu
tenant Comma nder Wainwright vas ordered TO
New-York 20 preside An all-day meeting was held
on Sunday. The testimony. part OF which was
given by the captains OF the ships concerned.
showed. n is said that the two general signals
given by Commodore Schley were. Close In" fol-
lowed by Engage the enemy" but at the time
these signals given they were superhuons'
for the American ships were already closing In
and engaging the enemy.
The Board found I. is said. that each ship fought
for herself according to plans prepared and or
ders given by Admiral Sampson In contemplation
Of iust such an emergency II was found that as
soon MS Admiral Sampson heard the firing he came
up from Siboney fast as the forced draught OF
the New-York could carry him She was too far
behind however TO have anything she did AFFECT
the issue ~ the battle. She simply fired two shots
at long range at the torpedo-boat destroyers. At
the time Of the surrender of the Crstobal Colon
the New York was from nine to ten miles TO the
eastward OF the Colon She reached Rio Torquino
where the Colon was beached fifteen minutes after
the Texas The credit for the capture OF the
Colon is given chiefly to the oregon.
With the report is an elaborate chart showing
the positions OF the ships at various important
stages of the battle 1t is said that this chart is
as nearly accurate as the comparison Of the esti-
mates OF the who had the best opportunity TO
observe could make It, AT the time Of the hercest
fighting II is said show that the Oregon was op-
pcste the Maria Teresa and the Oquendo at three
thousand yards distance. with the Texas and Iowa
about as far inshore about half mile TO the rear
The Brooklyn In line with the Oregon and
three-qtiartere Of q mile further out TO sea
II is said that there no unpleasant argument
among the witnesses. and that the representatives
Of the ships agreed nearly every point The
average range OF the ships was about mile . ana
a half and no American ship was at any time
during the battle within mile OF an unslrrenuered
Spanish ship The report as above outlined taxes
practically the same position that Admiral Sanp-
modore Schey freely gave Admiral Sampson me
credit he deserved comma nder-in-chief ahd
acknowledged that the Admirals plans were carried
out In full. .,- 49,.
The controversy was not carried on by these two
naval officers and they both felt that there was no
need OF an inquiry but Admiral sampson decluea:
in view OF the many inaccurate statements 'nat
had been made, that 1t was important FOR the
purposes OF the official record that most thorough
inquiry should he made. ard all points settlen tnat
! could he In the slightest degree In dispute. he
with the Secretary Of the Navy. Secretary Long
thought il desirable TO reconcile statements Thich
arpeared 10 conflict. Admiral Sampson selected
for the inquiry the navisators o, rne Thnv Wera
likely 10 know more than any other officers the
| positions occupied by the ships Throughout the
fight. The navigator is one OF tnreS o',c a T'ba
others are the captain and the executive officer
Oficers at the yard shy that there was practical
| unanimity in the testimony that when terVerd
ssawapd than the other American ships. She
| bnaGsd in and when about two thousand yards
from tho leader OF the Spanish squadron, the Maria
Teresa she turned 10 the eastwahhd afG rns
The RrookIyn then made a running fight keeping
| on a paralle. course with the Spanish SHIPS. OUT
side bur in advance Of the other American shlps s
| The Brooklyn was nj an average distance Oh aoou'
1 he