The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-21
SCHLEY AND SAMPSON,
The Naval Controversy Growing
Out Of the Spanish War.
E0HLEY's REPLY TO CRITICISMS.

Ue Cannot Understand How His Com
duct, on Which He Was Congratu-
Hated, Could Have Grown Into '.Iep.
rehensible Conduct" Six Weeks Later
Washington, Feb. 2l.-Rear Admiral
w. 8. Schley having been granted per-
mission to answer the charges recently
made against him in the communication
recently sent to the senate, yesterday
handed to the committee on naval affairs
his statement, in which he disrlains any
purpose of controversy with the navy
department.
The admiral says his orders from
from Sampson on May 10 were to block
adc Cienfuegos, which he proceeded to
do. He had no Knowledge that there
were any insurgents about Cieniurgos
who were friendly until the Marblrhcad
arrived on the 24th. Even had hc had
this knowledge on the 23d of May. the
surf would have prevented romnlunira-
tion. On his arrival he sent Commodore
McCalla, Of the MarbIehcad. ashore to
establish relations with the insurgents,
the result Of which was made known to
him at 3:4O on May n. Then. for tho
first time, he learned definitely thar the
Spanish feet was not at CieufHcgns.
Within two hours hr started for San
tiago. "What possible ground Of cril-
cism," he says, adverse to ne. there
can be in all this, do not see. was
On the spot, acting under orders which
gave mo entire discretion. and vet
clothed ME with the responsibility OF
going to Santiago only after | was salts
fled the fleet was not at Cicnfue.os.
He quotes from the dispatch of Samp-
son of May 20, in which the latter says
Schley should "hold his fleet off Cien-
fuegos. If the Spanish ships have put
into Santiago they must come either to
Havana or Cienfuegos to deliver tn"
munitions of war which they are said
to bring for use in Cuba | am, there
fore. OF the opinion that the best chance
to capture these ships will be to hold the
two points, Cicnfucgos and Havana,
with all the force we can muster"
AS to the slow progress toward San
tiago on account of the Eagle, he states
that she was part of the force which
Admiral Sampson had seen fit to send
him, and he had no right to abandon her.
The weather was rough, and not much
better speed could have been kept up
He had been ordered to proceed eau
tiously." If, however, he had known
that the Spanish feet was in Santiago
no consideration for the Eagle or any
thing else would have prevented him
from getting there ut the earliest pos
Bihlc moment.
Speaking of "thc retrogradp move
mcnts,' which the secretary, adcpii ing
the language Of Admiral Sampson. char
actcrizcS as 'rcprchcnsiblc conduct"
Admiral Schley says that in A. years
service "nevcr was such language used
to characterize conduct of mine, and
1 sec no reason for it now"
As to the battle of Santiago. Admiral
Schlcy says the facts of that contest
speak for themselves. Quoting from his
official report to Sampson. in which he
the commander Of the
squadron and said the victory seems
big enough for us ALL" he asks the COM
mittrc to contrast his reports and those
Of Sampson containing references TO hinl-
self. He continues:
"As to NIL this criticism Of my course
prior to the discovery by me ON May %
nf Cervera's feet, whether from Admiral
Sampson or the department. none of it
has ever been made by either to mo,
and | never heard word Of it from any
Die until after the battle with that fleet
Admiral Schley quotes the depart
ment's dispatch Of May 30 in these
words: "Thc department looks to you to
ascertain the fact Of the presence Of
Inc enemy, and that the enemy, if in the
larbor OF Santiago, does not leave with.
'nt decisive action Commenting upon
his the admiral snys: ''In obedience to
he above order | did ascertain the fact
hat til" enemy was at Santiago. and the
'nemy did not leave without a dccisiy.
conflict"
Detailing events connected with the
,hitlc Of July he says at S:i5 of that
lay Admiral Sampson made signal from
lis flagship. Disregard movements Of
commander -in-chicf." and steamed east
yard to Siboncy. "rhis.' says Admiral
'chlcy. left me the senior officer pres
mt and necessarily clothed me with the
responsibility of the command" Con.
inuing he declares that when the
hcmy's vessels came out Of the harbor
signal was made from the Brooklyn
his flagship, to the feet to clear shin
or action Then followed the signal
close action and this by the signal
the enemy is escaping Westward
ii" says the Spanish feet was coming
westward under high speed, and chang
,g course more to westward brought tho
Brooklyn heading eastward to meet il, ,,
ito q position where she would have , ,
lankctcd the fire Of the eastern vessels ,. .
{ our force. now changing their courses J., ,
, the westward, and between them and = =
he Spanish vessels. Instant decision
'as necessary to avoid interfering in
ny way or cutting off any Of the fire Of
'Ir vessels. as would have occurred if
he had turned towards the Spanish Il
Get, now approaching the Brooklyn. i
Urning outward left ihc cncmy's shins o
nmaskcd by the Brooklyn aud exposed i
ltm to the concentrated fire of our q
luadron.' o
AT the final capture of the Colon Mt !.
10 p. Ill. the Brooklyn was nearest, the ?
RECON next and then the Texas and u
ken. The New York arrived at o:25
m, and the cOmmandcr-in- -cliief as
lmcd command of the squadron. Sig ,
nls were made from the Brooklyn to =
'e squadron until all signal halyards II
ere sot away, and then by army code.
III conclusion Admiral Schley contends a
Iat the turn Of the Brooklyn in the Il
ittle was ''thc crucial and deciding y
ature Of the combat. and of decided o.
Vantage
He says he made no report of his MAN.
'ver in his report Of the battle, as its
feet upon the battle was never a eues- II
Dn with him. His last paragraph reads: i
''On May 81 received telegram from u
C commander-in-chef congratuat;ig u
e upon my success in locating and u
ockadng the rnemy's fleet at San
ago. IL 1t was worthy of commenda-
IN at that time am at q loss to under
and how it could have grown into IN
prehensihlc conduct, as suggested by ei
lmiral Sampson in his letter Of July o'
, 1898. some six weeks later" 10