Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-04-26
MAY GUST COGHLAN.
His Indiscreet Utterances Likely
to Cost Him the Command
of the RaIaiQh

to Cost Him the Command
of the Raleigh.
Washington, D. c., April 24.-As re-
suit of his indiscreet illusions to the con
duct of the German fleet at Manila dur
ing the war with Spain Capt. j. B. Cogh-
Ian may be relieved of the command of
the cruiser Raleigh.
Secretary Long will not discuss Capt.
Coghlan's conduct, but he consented to
say yesterday afternoon that no action
would be taken until he had heard from
that officer. 1t is presumed that Capt.
Coghlan received this morning the let
ter sent him by Secretary Long yes
terday afternoon, and it is expected that
reply will be in the hands Of the secre-
tary today or tomorrow
Until action is taken in the matter it is
hoped by department officials that Capt.
Coghlan will not make any further pub
lie utterances of i character rejecting
upon the conduct of Germany during the
late war. The departments communi-
cation indicates its displeasure that Capt.
Coghlan should permit himself to make
statements preJudicial to the friendly re-
latons between the United States and
the kaiser's government.
In his speech at the Army and Navy
banquet Saturday night Capt Coghlan
SAID that his remarks before the Union
League club had been garbled, but he
would not say that they were incorrect
III substance or untrue, but they We're
distorted and twisted so as to put Il diff
ferent meaning on them" He will. by di-
fectlon OF Secretary Long, furnish the de-
partment with Il correct version of his
speech, but his remarks made Saturday
night are not likely to help him out in
the opinion of the department.
There * inf in, Al L
circles of t-martialing Capt. Coghlan
The utmost that will be done. if the pres
ent temper Of the department continue.
viii be to relieve him of his command,
write him a letter of cenSure and note his
conduct upon his record
1t has been the aim Of Ambassador Won
Hollenben to remove the impression that
his government was unfriendly and he
regrets that Capt. Coghlan should have
revived the reports of unfriendlineSs be-
tween the German and American fleet
commanders when, in the interest of the
friendship existing between the two gov
ernments, it had been better if they had
not again been brought up.
Dewey was Ready.
New York, April PA friend of AID
miral Dewey, who was with him Oh board
the flagship Olympia during his most
trying days before Manila and who re-
turned to New York three months ago.
made this statement last evening regard
ing Capt. Coghlan's recent utteranceS:
Capt. Coghlan of the cruiser Raleigh
told only part Of the story of the reia-
tions of Admiral Dewey to Admiral Won
Diederichs at Manila in his speeches ut
the Union League and Army and Navy
clubs here. The facts that Coghlan
didn't tell were that Dewey had actually
drawn up a plan OF battle to fight the
German admiral and that it was com
plete IN every detail. No preparation was
left unfinished. and if the clash had come
Won Diederichs squadron would have
been completely annihilated as We're
the ships of Montijo's fleet.
Admiral Dewey and his officers had
noted the terrific effect of the rapidiire
guns on the Raleigh. Concord and Olym-
pia at the battle Of Manila. 1t was ar
ranged that if fight should come the
Raleigh should do the heavy work. Cogh-
Ian was to dash at the German admiral's
flagship and riddle her with rapidira
guns. The plan was to demoralizc the
crew of the German flagship with the
guns of the Raleigh and the Olympia
The other American vessels were to
attack the other German ships A large
loss of American life was expected, but
Dewey so laid his plans that by quick
action no German ship was to be allowed
to escape.
Dewey consulted with all his captains
on the plan to be adopted, but the tina!
details were agreed upon at a conference
between Dewey and Coghlan. This
showed the marvellous attention to de-
tails that characterized Deweys naval
management. The Yankee rapid-fire
guns were to do the trick
"Coghlan's speeches here have made Il
sensation. The full details of Won Die
derichs' conduct at Manila will come out
some day, and when they do they will
startle the world. Dewey is known to
have been eXasperated several times al
most to the fighting point. Ammunition
was ready at all times and on more than
one occasion orders were actually pre-
pared to have the men sleep beside the
guns.
Il do not think that Coghlan will be
punished. His speeches were made in
clubs at private receptions. Reporters
were admitted at the Union League club
without Coghlan's knowledge and placed
behind screens. His speeches were pri-
yate matters and not public in any re-
Sponsible sense"
The gentleman who made the forego-
ing statement will repeat it at much
greater length i'll one of the June maya
zines and over his own name, which will
convince the public of the authoritative
ness of his utterances