Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-23
ECHOES OF THE WAN.

Reports from Washington have 1t thai
Rear Admiral Schley will hoist his flag as
commander OF the South African squadron
early In October, II is peculiarly fittinE
that the admirals flag will again float from
the peak of the cruiser Brooklyn, that YES
sci having been designated the flagship oI
the squadron. The Brooklyn and the ad-
miral are inseparably welded in the nava,
history of the war with Spain, and both
carried off the chief honors OF the naval tri.
umph at Santiago. No more appropriate
selection OF a flagship for the squadron
could have been made. and the hosts OF
friends Of the genial admiral will be graft
fed to know that he is to tread again the
decks OF the Olympia of the Caribbean sea
The new squadron will not go into South
American waters Immediately. The expec.
tation is that duty will keep 1t in South
African waters for some time to come, es-
pecially II the Transvaal crisis eliminates
In war. 1t Is suggested that the fleet will
touch at the coast OF Spain on its way south
and salute the Spanish flag, probably at
Cadiz, as a formal recognition OF the re-
establishment OF peaceful relations between
Spain and the United States. For that pur-
pose the fleet commander and his flagship
are well chosen. Admiral Schley received
the surrender of the crew of the last Span
ish ship sent ashore off Santiago. The
Brooklyn bears more honorable scars OF
Spanish bullets than all other American
war ships. Both were the target of the
concentrated fire OF Cervera's feet. The
fortunes of war fell to the best marksmen.
The pangs of defeat were materially mti-
gated, however, by the generous treatment
received at the hands Of the victors In
thus soothing the wounds OF disaster Ad-
miral Schley was conspicuous. He talked
Spanish to them like native, praised their
heroism in mother-tongue and filled them
with rations and cigarettes. II any Ameri-
can naval officer deserves a cordial greeting
in Spanish waters that man is Winfield
Scott Schley.
The tate Lieutenant Colonel ]. d. Miley,
who died in Manila a few days ago. had
more to do with the charge up the heights
of San Juan than he is usually credited
with. Press accounts of that charge gave
the credit to several mmanders-Roosevelt,
Wheeler and Sumner. Some insisted 1t was
started without orders; others asserted the
rank and file took the reins and the officers
as a matter Of course. In his book on the
Santiago campaign Captain John Bigelow,
jr., gives the credit to Miley. His story Of
the incident, which was given him by one
lows: Between and $3.50 a. m. General
Hawkins, commanding Kent's First brigade,
and forming the right of the division, said
to General Sumner in the presence of Cen
eral Kent We cannot stay here. 1t Will
not do for us to retire. The alternative is
to attack And, turning to his commander,
he added If you viii authorize it, Cen
eral Kent, I will move my brigade around
here to the enemy's right and with Gen
eral Sumner cooperating, will engage to
carry the enemy's position Just then
Lieutenant Colonel Miley, General Skaters
chief of staff, came up, and General Hawkins
made the proposition to him In the presence
Of Generals Kent and Sumner. 1t was about
1890 a. m. when Lieutenant Colonel Miley
said: General Kent, If you have no objec-
ton, / will order this movement in General
Skaters name. Very WELL said General
Kent, who then rode off to hurry up the
remainder OF his division"