The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-07-28
THE scHLEY coNrRovERs,
Continued from Fourtb4erge.

Eagle or anything else wopSu nave prevented
me from getting there atChe earliest possible
moment with the larser vessels. But Inc
weather and sea andthe slow moving vessels
made it impossible to do better than did. .
If in a law school a student should
have the face to argue before moot
court that cautiously" coming after
call dispatch" meant SLOWLY" the
word into which Schley twisted it his
fellows would have to blush for him.
Schley half demolished his own pretence
by saving that eff he had known that
the Spanish fleet was in the latter port
(Santiago) nothing would have stopped
his getting there with dispatch" That
is, if he had approved of his sailing
orders, which were given to him with
out regard to his knowledge, belief or
Judgment, he would have obeyed them.
To his commanding officer he was vir-
tually insubordinate. We leave it to
his supporters to think over what he was
to the Senate.
To the third count, or Schley's daily
ing and turning in the neighborhood of
Santiago, Schley's defence is in his in
initial vein of carefully studied specious-
ness.
On the afternoon of May rs Schley
got to within twenty two miles OF San
tiago, where he spoke with the Minnea
polls, the St. Paul and the Yale. He
tells the Senate that he was assured,
by Capt. Sigsbee of the St. Paul, that
Sigsbee ''did not believe it the Spanish
fleet to be in Santiago" Capt Sigsbee
is on record in direct contradiction of
this statement. Schley made no effort
to learn definitely that the ships were
in port, as suggested in the orders OF the
Commander-in.Chief." Three hours
afterward he signalled the fleet to go
back to Key West.
During this time the Navy Depart
ment, having had reasons to expect
Schley off Santiago on May "a, was in
a panic of anxiety ''Schley ought to
have arrived off Santiago Cd May "a"
telegraphed Sampson. The most abso-
lutely urgent thing now" telegraphed
Secretary Long to Schley on May q,
lis to know positively whether the Span
ish division is in Santiago You must
surmount difficulties regarding coaling
by your own ingenuity and perseverance.
This is a crucial time, and the depart
ment relies upon you to give quickly
information as to Cervera's presence, and
to be all ready for concerted action with
the army"
On the morning of that day the Har
ward gave to Schley a dispatch from
Secretary Long dated May 25 repeating
to him the direction "to remain off San
tiago and ascertain whether the enemy
was there or not" and thus Schley
answered:
much to be regretted Cannot obey orders
of the department. Have striven earnestly
Forced to proceed for coal to Key West by
way of Yucatan Passage. Cannot ascertain
anything respecting enemy positive. !"
The reports of the Captains of Schley's
ships show that at this time the Marble
head had over three days supply of coal;
the Brooklyn, over ten; the Massachu-
sets, over eight; the Texas, over FIVE;
and the Iowa, over eight. The strong
body of the squadron, the battleships
and the armored cruiser, had coal enough
to steam around the Island of Cuba.
Schley's reply before the Senate is in
the same strain of evasive pleading;
1.-The retroerade movements of May 90 and
~ are what the honorable Secretary charac-
terizes as reprehensible conduct. In reply to
this can only say that never before In a pro-
fessional life of more than forty-two years
was any such language used to characterize
conduct of mine, and can see no reason for
its use now.
IAN officers conduct should be judged first
In the light of his known character for pro-
fessional zeal and ability. The honorable
Secretary pays me high tribute when he says
that was selected for command of the Flying
Squadron without any solicitation or sugges-
ton on my part or that of any one in my be-
half, and solely with a view to the best interests
of the public service trust that there is no
doubt in the mind of any member of your
committee that in all did while in command
of the Flying Squadron | was animated by the
sole desire to do my duty fully and completely
to my country, and to deserve the high compli-
ment that had been paid to me In sending me
to that command,
ACTING In accordance with my best judg-
ment. l deemed Ii best to take the
action did, the final result of which was the
location of the enemys feet in Santiago"
This is an argument to meet charge
of treachery, of a plan to injure the
United States, not to meet the facts
specified by Secretary Long. "What-
ever | did, believe me, | meant we'll :"
expresses Schley's attitude. "Never
mind my deeds; consider my intentions
and let me be promoted with the rest. ="
If wearers of the United States uniform
were not to be rebuked or punished for
any offence short of evil intent against
their Government, the service would not
last long,
But by the time that Schley actually
reached Santiago he concluded that some
other theory more plausible than lack of
COAL not to say more substantial than
good intentions, was desirable in con-
nection with his turning back to Key
West in disobedience of orders. In his
report to the Department dated May 30
(page 404 of the Appendix) in this amaz-
ing passage:
"l3. lnasmuch as it was known that, In
case the Spanish squadron had reached San
tiago Admiral Sampson was able to block any
movement of the enemy through the Bahama
channel, my intention in standing to the west
ward was, should 1t become necessary, to bar
any effort of the enemy to reach Havana by
dash through the Yucatan passage"
When the time came, however, for
Schley to lay his case before the Senate
he refrained from venturing upon an
explanation so clearly indicative of in
suoordination. He again attributed his
retrograde movement to shoTtness of
coal
Schley's reply to the Senate as to the
fourth count, concerning the battle of
Santiago and the destruction of Cerveras
fleet, is in accordance with his usual
policy of PRESERVE" GAS to this" the
battle, he says, 81 have nothing to
say here. The facts of that contest speak
for themselves,
That is so, but they do not speak in the
manner in which Schley furtively and
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