The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-03-08
THE DEFENCE OF SCHLEY
An Answer to Charges Made to the
Senate Naval Committee.
HIS PART IN CERVERA'S DEFEAT.


structlon Of tho Spanish Fleet or
Santiago-Declares AL of His SIove-
ments Were Under Strict Orders.
WASHINGTON, D. C. (speciaD. Rear.Ad-
miral W. s. schley, having receive per-
mission to answer the charges made against
him in the communication recently sent to
the Senate few days ago handed to the
Committee on Naval Affairs statement IN
which he disclaims any purpose o; coatro
versy with the Navy Department. The
ter Of the Department. he says, so fur as 1t
relates to him, can be summarized under
the following heads:
The delay OF .CIentuegos; the alleged
slow progress toward Santiago de Cuba
from CIenfue gos; the retrograde move
ments on May rs and 27; the battle OF San
tiago, and the destruction OF Cervera's
feet.
The Rear-Admiral says that his orders
from Sampson on May 19 we're to blockade
CIenfuegos, which he proceeded to do. He
had no knowledge that there we're any in
surgeuts about Cientuegos who we're
friendly until the Marblehead arrived on
the oath. On his arrival he sent Com
mander cCalla, of the Marblehead, ashore
to establish relations with the insurgents,
the result OF which was made known to
him at $40 O'Clock on May a. Then for
the first time he learned definitely that the
Spanish fleet was not at Cienfuegos. Within
two hours he started for Santiago. The
Rear-Admiral then states that he cannot
see any ground for criticism adverse to
him, as he was on the spot acting under
orders which gave him entirs discretion.
Rear-Admiral Schley quotes from dis
patch from Sampson In which the latter
told him to hold his feet of Clenfuegos as
the Spanish fleet must proceed either to
Havana or Cienfuegos In order to deliver
munitions OF war, which were supposed to
be with 1t. Rear-Admiral Schley adds that
the document is not in the appendix or
executive documents, but It shows that he
was expected 20 hold his feet of Glen
fuegos.
As to the slow progress toward Santiago
on account OF the Eagle, he states that she
was a part OF the force which Rear-Ad-
miral Sampson had seen flt to send him,
and he had no right to abandon her. He
had been ordered to proceed cautiously"
Had he known, however, that the Spanish
feet was In Santiago Harbor, no consider
ation for the Eagle would have prevented
him proceeding there at the earliest pos
sible mome ment.
Speaking OF the :'retrograde move
ments," which the Secretary, adopting the
language of Rear-Admiral Sampson. char
acterizes as "reprehensible conduct" Rear
Admiral Schley says that in forty.two
years service "never was such language
used to characterize conduct OF mine, apd
see no reason for 1t now"
As to the battle of Santiago, Rear-Ad-
miral Schley says the facts OF that contest
speak for themselves. he asks the COM
mittee to contrast his reports and those OF
Sampson containing references to himself.
The Rear-Admiral gives the details Of
the absolute location Of the Spanish squad
ron inside the harbor on May 20, which
discovery was, he says, the result OF de-
termination to satisfy himself before sail
ing for the west. The question OF the
presence Of the enemy determined, he de-
cided not to risk serious disablemeat until
reinforcements arrived.
Rear-Admiral schley quotes the Depart
ment's dispatch OF May 90 In these words:
"The Department looks toyou to ascertain
the fact OF the presence OF the enemy. and
that the enemy, II IN the harbor at Santi-
ago, does not leave without decisive ac-
tion." Commenting on this, the Rear-Ad-
miral says:
"In obedience to the above order and with
out any further order or instruction from
any one, I did ascertain the fact that the
enemy was at Santiago, and the enemy did
not leave without q decisive conflict"
Detailing events connected with the
battle Of July 8, he says that at s.45 O'Clock
OF that day Rear.Admiral Sampson made
signal from his flagship: "Disregard
movements OF the Commander-in.Ch .Ch1ef,"
and steamed eastward to stboney.
"This," says Rear-Admtral Schley, LEFT
me the senior officer present, and neces.
sarily clothed me with the responsibility OF
the command"
Continuing, he mentions the signals which
were made from his flagship to tho fleet
to engage the enemy and prevent their
escape. Describing the manoeuvre OF the
Brooklyn which left the enemy's ships un-
masked by the cruiser and exposed them
to the concentrated fire OF tho squadron,
the Rear-Admiral snys, In consequence the
result was that within thirty minutes the
Spanish ships were on fire and riddled with
bullets. The capture Of the Colon was
effected at 1.15 p. m, and the New YORK,
Rear-Admiral Simpsons flagship, did not
arrive upon the scene OF action until 2.23
D. m, when the latter assumed command
OF the squadron.
In conclusion Rear-Admiral Schley con-
tends that the turn OF the Brooklyn IN the
buttle Of the Sd was "ths crucial and de-
Gliding feature Of the combat and OF deci'