The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-25
on SCH[EY It SANTIAGO.
GEORGE Z. GRAHAM ANSWERS
CRITICISMS OF THE ADMIRAL
After LGu9 silenee, Tells What He
Observed ~ Sea Fight, In which
Cervera's Fleet Was Destroyed.


on which Mr.. Graham has been silent up
to this time, desiring to take no part in
the controversy between the friends OF
Sampson and Schloy concerning the
amount of credit due TO each for the great
victory. He ID q warm friend and .ad-
mirer Of Admiral Schley. from whose ship
he witnessed the battle Of Santiago. and
belittle the part played by the latter. 4r.
Graham has at last consented to talk
His opinion - that Of trained observer.
who In his capacity Of Associated Pres
correspondent was the only civilian on
the American fleet who saw the battle
from start to finish.
According to Mr.. Graham. these are the
four matters which have been considered
by the administration In connection with
the Schley-Sampson controversy:
Frst-Schley's alleged reprehensiols
conduct of Cienfuegos. In ordering his
ships to go to Key West to coal.
Second-Schley's alleged failure to enter
the harbor Of Santiago.
Tnird-whether Schley or Sampson was
in command Of the fleet on June 8.
FOurth-The explanation or ScnAey's IA
nous Runaway from the enemy during
the battle with Cervera's fleet
''I'li go over the battle from the begin
Ming" said he to the Argus representa-
tive, land you can judge tor yourself
where the credit belongs.
Arrival 1t Cienfuegos.
I'VE arrived OK Cienfuegos on Sunday
morning. May q. and. acting under specific
orders from Admiral Sampson. established
a blockade Of the harbor. We had COM
munication with Capt. McCalia. Of the
Marblehead, who was quite convinced that
the enemy would have gone In this port
In preference to Santiago, because there
was railroad communication with Havana.
while Santiago had no such communication.
1t was announced by the naval strategy
board that the Cervera squadron had on
board great guns for the defense Of Ha-
vana. so that Schley. Sampson and Mccall.
Ia were excusahle for their belief that this
would be the point which Cervera would
make for. McCaila never indicated that
there was any way In which to commun.
dcate with the insurgents in that vicinity,
although he knew they had certain signals.
which Indicated such q desire. Several
times We saw lights and day dgnals. but
did not answer them.
Finally, after three days blockade. Nc
Gala returned and told Schley that the
signals were intended for him. Schley was
exceedingly angry and made preparation
to secure information himself. In the
meantime 1t had been impossible to coal
because Of the heavy weather, and one
III
turned to the United States. The other.
the Merrimac afterwards famous. had
broken down Its machinery ard could not
even get alongside OF the ships. The Tex
as had signaled 1t was out Of coal and the
Marblehead and the Iowa that they were
nearly so. and the situation that confront
ed Schley WAS that II he gould not coal.
he would be in a practically helpless state
II he met the enemy. -
ION the morning Of the 26tn he received
a message from Admiral Sampson. a mere
~ tentative message, saying that It was
probable that the fleet was at Santiago,
and continuing: II you are sure that the
feet h not at Cienfuegos. proceed to San
tiago.'
Order Came Too Late.
1.-THE navy department il authority for
the statement that a definite order was
sent to Schley to proceed to Santiago.
That order was never received until after
We had arrived at Santiago.
"On the afternoon Of the 9th we started
for Santiago after repairing the collier.
and on the morning Of the 18th we ar
rived at the port. The weather was now
exceedingly bad. and the difficulty Of ccai-
ing increased. 1t was then that Schley tel
egraphed to Washington that he would
have to return to Key West for coal by
the western passage. knowing that Samp-
son was coming down by the Windward
passage. and that Cervera could not get
up that way.
There was no other alternative for
Schley IL the bad weather continued, and
the fact that he did not 60 is due 70 the
abatement OF the high sea. which finally
allowed him to coal.
There can be no possible difference In
Schley's position here and SIMPSONS at
Porto Rico.
Sampson had Golfers with him at Porto
Rico. bu; instead OF trying the coaling op-
erations at sea he compelled the Iowa and
the Indiana TO tow the monitors all the
way back. thus damaging both these ships
80 that during the battle of July 3 they
could not make their usual speed It must
also be remembered in this matter tina:
Simpsons letter charging Schley with
reprehensible conduct was written after
the battle Of Santiago. and almost two
months after the alleged 'reprehensible
conduct and month after Sampson had
written 10 Schley letter OF congratuia-
ton upon the finding Of Cervera's feet
Guided by Other Captains.
ut must also be borne in mind that be-
fore Schley sent his message detailing his
situation as 10 coal he had seen the cap
tains Of all the so-calied scouts, the ST.
Paul. Harvard. and Minneapolis. and been
told by them that they had not seen Ger
NefaS nect ana were not inclined to be-
lieve that II was I'm that vicinity.
Answers Another Criticism.
The second criticism made OF Admiral
Schiey's movements before Santiago Is
that he did not attempt TO force the en-
trance tn the harbor and at once engage
the Spanish fleet. The answer TO that IL
found readily in the order issued by the
strategy board that commanders OF
squadruns should not risk their ships
against earthwork Notifications or de-
strue,ion OF mines. The order was carried
out both by Sampson and Schiey. as Is
evidenced BY the bombardment OF Ma
tanzss and the killing Of a mule by the
squadron under Sampson and the bonn
hardmsnt Of San Juan and the demolition
by the same squadron Of the spires OF .
few churches.
ION the day after the arrival OF the
Schley squadron at Santiago Sch,ey began
deliberately to coal the ships. under the
guns Of the enemy. the SEA having Gained
down. On the same dav he transferred
his flag 20 the Massachusetts and began.
with the assistance OF the Iowa and New
Orleans. a hornhardment OF the batteries