The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-28
Uhe Nlessenger.


We think no fair mind can read the
.dignifed, calm and conclusive reply Or
Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley to
his accusers n Notwithstanding
Long. Sampson & Co.-without much
satisfaction and pleasure. It is very
complete. 1t shows what millions of
Americans have believed that he has
been prosecuted, most foully dealt with.
The treatment he has received from the
administration Is infamous. We hope
the bill III the United States house Will
be passed comforting the title OF vice
admiral upon the splendid hero, who
did SO much to end the war. and 10
confer immortal glory upon MS couh-
try. All honor to the distinguished
southron. It would be a most proper,
a most happy, a most deserved reouke
to jealous and incompetent n unfair
Sampson if this poorpit OF mckinley
and company were thus rebuked by the
honoring OF the man he SO basely sought
TO wrong and to wound. Read what
Schley says. It clears up and Ids
really to his high renown for g~allantry,
efficiency, and high character.
There was a new phase given recently
to the controversy The president rep
rfmanded Sampson for refusing to give
General Miles a convoy for his troops
when they wished to start from San
tiago to begin the subjugation of Porto
Rico. A dispatch from Washington to
the Baltimore Herald makes this COM
ment:
"This fact is interesting, in view Of
the publicity given the reprimand 70
Schley.
reprimanded by Secretary Long on rep
resentations mad by Admiral Samp-
son. The latter was reprlmandeu py
the president on representations mace
by the major general ommandlng the
army. In the former case the main
spring of the attack might have been
professional jealousy. In the latter case
the animating reason must have been
the good of the country, as professional
iealousy was impossible. The friends
of Admiral Schley are naturally well
pleased"
Sampson was nine miles away from
the great sea fight at Santiago when
Cervera's fleet was destroyed. He did
not appear on the scene until an hour
had elapsed after the four Spanish war
vessels had gone down. He is a fine
fellow to manufacture a hero out OF.
Schley's own ship was the Brooklyn.
OF the engagement with Cervera, we
copy this much from his defence:
Instant decision" he continues, was
therefore. necessary to avoid interfering
in any way or cutting off any of the
fire of our vessels, as o have oc-
CURED if she had turned toward the
Spanish fleet, now approaching the
Brooklyn. Turning westward left the
enemy's ships unmasked by the Brook
lyn, and exposed hem to the concen-
trated fire of our squadron. The result
of this manOeuvre was that in thirty
minutes from the opening Of the combat
four of the enemy's vessels were on fire
and riddled with prOjectiles.
-At the final capture of the Colon
at Ills D.. m, the Brooklyn was near
est, the Oregon next, and then the
Texas and Vixen. The New York ar
rived at 2:23 p. m, and the commander
in-chief assumed of the
squadron. Signals were made from the
Brooklyn to the squadron until all sig
nal halyards were shot away, and then
by the Myers army code"
In conclusion, Admiral Schley con-
tends that the turn of the BROOKLYN
in the battle of the 3rd was 1.-The cru
cial and deciding feature of the combat
and of decided advantage"