The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-18
The Case of the Times-Democrat.

We have been much surprised to observe
that our esteemed contemporary the Tines
Democrat Of New Orleans, which we have
been accustomed to regard rs fair In fight
and sound in logic, Is among the foremost
among the deluded party OF newspapers
who have undertaken to help Rear Admiral
ScHLEY in his peculiar effort to write AWAY
his actual record as a commander in the
navy. The undertaking has degenerated
largely into an attack upon the Secretary
of the Navy, and we will select this passage
from the Times Democrat to show to our
contemporary 10Y its passion has led it
blindly to commit an act Of injustice upon
Mr.. LONG:
Secretary LoxG repeats his former statement
about scHLEY's disobodience of the departments
orders in starting to leave Santiago In the last week
in May; but he fails completely to shake scHLEr's
plea OF q coaltng necessity"
Here is SCHLEY's plea:
Knowing that. as the sea and weather then we're.
IL would be impossible to coal my squadron of the
port. l deemed 1t best to take the action | did"
The action SCHLEY took was, when
twenty-five miles away from Santiago, al
though under orders TO go there and ascer-
tain definitely whether CERvERA was there,
to order his squadron to turn homeward
for Key West.
And what were the facts as shown by Sec
rotary LoNG's letter sent to the Senate
under date of Feb. q, in response to a call
for the documents bearing upon the case =?
They are stated on page 3 OF Executive
Document c, Fifty fifth Congress, third
session:
During the twentv.four hours in which Commo-
dore scHLEY signalled that his destination was Key
West and telegraphed the department that he would
he unable to remain at Santiago. there were still on
board the Brooklyn between ten and twelve days
coal supply. being $40 tons for full steain!ng in
squadron: between eight and ten days supply. or
7sa tons. on hoard the Massachusetts between Ave
and six days supply, or 3"4 tons, on board tho
Texas: between three and four days supply. or 40
tons. on board the Marblehead; between eight and
ten days supply. or 1852 tons, on board the
Iowa. and 400 tons on board the collier
Merrimac. from which during the two following
days his vessels were ,oalcd. The department had
suggested the possibility of a uea- cualing base, but
no effort was made to reach it. although Commodore
SCuLEy had sent the Eagle to Port Antont" for coal.
There was coal enguIh to return to Key West. and
therefore to remain at Santiago until further sup
plies came. He could also have counted on the de-
partment sending him . further coal supply"
The armored ships, it must he observed,
the determining members Of S~CHLEY's
squadron, the Brooklyn. Massachusetts,
Texas and Iowa, were supplied respectively
for ten days, eight days, five days and eight
days when SCHLEY turned homeward.
And to what did SCHLEY'S conclusion
about coaling reduce the Navy Department
and the Naval Commandor-in-Chicf's pro-
grammc of blockading Santiago? A virtual
inpossibility. If the blockade couldn't have
been maintained during weather such as
that in which SCHLEY ordered his ships to
Key West, it couldn't have been main
tanned at all.
Tho real blockade of Santiago began upon
Admiral SAMPSoN'S arrival there on June /.
1t continued with cast-iron rigidity through
| all weathcrs until the morning Of July 3,
when CERvERA, gambling on the chance OF
| catching the American fleet mapping in the
day, came out to his doom.
The Times-Democrdt also should not re-
, main unaware OF the character of Rear
Admiral SCHLEY's extraordinary defence OF
his conduct before the Senate, as it was re.
vcaled by the sentence of his used above
when quoted in full:
knowing that. as the sea and weather then were.
It would he impossible 10 coal my squadron Of the
port, / deemed 1t best to take the action I did. n,
final result II ,rhich ras the location Of the entmp'i
feet in Santiago hdrbOr.'
A commander who, after the unnatural
sluggishncss and va"illation recorded of
Rear Admiral SCHLEY's movements, parties
with this astounding argument the proof
that he had first actually refused to obey
the order to num- for CERvERA in Santiago,
not only cannot hc n safe man to command
a warship, hut is plainly Of n east Of mind
that no patriotic or intelligent newspaper
can safely accept as the guide of its judg'
mcnt.