The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-02-23
THE RIVAL ADMIRALS
The Naval Controversy Growing
Out Of the Spanish War.
,orLSy's REPLY TO CRITICISMS.


lated, Could Have Grown Into ''Rep-
-,,hensibie Conduct" sixweeks Later
Washington. Feb. 21.-Rear Admiral
" s. Schley having been granted per-
mission to answer, the charges recently
made against him in the communication
,ecently sent to the senate, yesterday
handed TO the committee on naval affairs
Nj, statement, in which he disclaims any
nurpose of controversy with the navy
department.
The admiral says his orders from
from Sampson on May 10 were to block
ade Cicnfuegos, which he proceeded to
do. He had no knowledge that there
were any insurgents about Cienfuegos
who we're friendly until the Marblehead
arrived on the oath. Even had he had
this knowledge on the 23d Of May, the
surf would have prevented communica-
tion. On his arrival he sent Commodore
McCalla, Of the Mnrblehead, ashore to
establish relations with the insurgents,
the result of which was made known to
him at $40 on May "a. Then, for the
first time, he learned definitely that the
Spanish fleet was not ut CienfueGos.
Within two hours he started for San
tiago. what possible ground of criti-
cism," he says, adverse to me, there
can be in all this, do not see. was
on the spot, acting under orders which
gave me entire discretion, and yet
clothed me with the responsibility Of
going to Santiago only after was salts
fed the fleet was not at Cienfuegos."
He quotes from the dispatch of Samp-
son Of May 20, in which the latter says
Schley should 'hold his fleet off Glen
fuegos. II the Spanish ships have put
into Santiago they must come either to
Havana OF Cienfuegos TO deliver the
munitions of war which they are said
to bring for use in Cuba l am, there
fore, Of the opinion that the best chance
to capture these ships will be to hold the
two points, Cienfuegss and Havana,
with all the force we can muster"
As to the slow progress toward San
tiago on account Of the Eagle, he states
that she was part OF the force which
Admiral Sampson had seen fit to send
him. and he had no right to abandon her.
The weather was rough, and not much
better speed could have been kept up.
He had been ordered to proceed eau
tiously." II. however, he had known
that the Spanish feet was in Santiago
no consideration for the Eagle or any
thing else would have prevented him
from getting there ut the earliest pos.
sible moment. "
Speaking Of ''the retrograde move
ments," which the secretary, adopting
the language Of Admiral Sampson, char
acterzes a. ''reprehensible conduct"
Admiral Sehley says that in AZ years
service ''uessef was such language used
to characterize conduct Of mine, and
| sec no reason for 1t now"
As to the battle Of Santiago, Admiral
Schley says the facts Of that contest
speak for themselves. Quoting from his
Official report to Sampson, in which he
congratulated the commander Of the
squadron and said the victory Sseems
big enough for us ALL" he asks the COM
mittee to contrast his reports and those
Of Sampson containing references to him.
self. He continues:
"As to a1l this criticism of my course
prior to the discovery by me on May %
Of Ceryera's feet, whether from Admiral
Sampson or the department. none of it
has ever been made by either to me,
and never heard word Of it from any
one until after the battle with that feet
Admiral Schley quotes the depart
,ment's dispatch Of May 90 in these
words: ''The department looks to you to
ascertain the fact Of the presence OF
the enemy, and that the enemy, il in the
harbor Of Santiago, does not leave with.
out decisive action" Commenting upon
this the admiral says: IN obedience to
the above order I did ascertain the fact
that the enemy was at Santiago, and the
enemy did not leave without a decisive
conflict"
Detailing events connected with the
battle Of July 3 he says at S:45 Of that
day Admiral Sampson made signal from
his flagship, Disregard movements of
eommander-in-chief." and steamed east
ward to Siboney. This" says Admiral
Schley. left me the senior of'cer pres
ent and necessarily clothed me with the
responsibility OF the command" Con-
unuing he declares that when the
enemys vessels came out of the harbor
signal was made from the Brooklyn
this fagship) to the fleet to "elear ship
for action Then followed the signal
close action" and this by the signal
the enemy is escaping westward"
lie says the Spanish feet was coming
westward under high speed, and "chang.
ing course more to westward brought the
Brooklyn heading eastward to meet It,
into a position where she would have
bianketed the fire of the eastern vessels
OF our force, now changing their courses
10 the westward, and between them and
the Spanish vessels. Instant decision
was necessary to avoid interfering in
any way or cutting off any of the fire Of
our vessels. as would have occurred IL
she had turned towards the Spanish
neef, now approaching the Brooklyn.
Turning outward left the enemy's ships
unmasked by the Brooklyn and exposed
them to the concentrated fire of our
squadron"
AT the final capture Of the Colon at
il5 p. m. the Brooklyn was nearest, the
oregon next and then the Texas and
vixen. The New York arrived at 2:25
p. m, and the commander-in-chief as
sumed command Of the squadron. Sig
nails were made from the Brooklyn to
the squadron until all signal halyards
were sot away, and then by army code.
In conclusion Admiral Schley contends