Graham guardian., 1899-02-03
uNMAsK THE NAVAL sNEAKs.
From the rhilaaelphis Times.

IHOiV GU pSiSOhS h'Sh III OI-
fclal position in naval affairs who
have been Systematically playing
the part of sneak and coward, and
the time has come when they must
be unmasked. The naval battle at
has brought the move,
ments of the naval sneaks and
towards to climax, and the truth
must now be made known to the
country and the world no matter
who shall stand or fall thereby.
The action of the Senate in call.
ing for the entire record of the
naval movements resulting in the
dethuction of the Spanish feet is
entirely right. Hitherto the couu-
try has only received information
from official sources on that sub
ject IN shreds and patches, and
then always filtered through naval
bureaucratic authority at Wash
ington, that has become an intol-
erable stencil in the nostrils of the
people. The country now demands
that the entire record Of Admiral
Sampson and Commodore Schley
from the time they started in pur'
suit of Cervera and the destruc-
ton of his vessels on tho 3rd of
July, shall be given to the public,
and nothing less will be accepted.
The bureaucratic despotlsm that
has been exhibited in countless
ways in the discussion Of the
naval battle of Santiago must be
made known to the country, and
when once made known no party
and no administratio will dare to
sustain it. If it is right IN its
theory and criticisms which rarely
get beyond mere innuendos. Com.
modore Scbley merits ceusure and
he should be made to suffer 1T;
and if systematic efforts have been
made to deprive HIM of just hon
ors the country will insist upon
fair play to the man who confes-
Sedly led the fight at Santiago.
There can be no question as to
who fought the naval battle and
under whose command the Spanish
svuadron was destroyed, Com
modore Schley was there and the
feet was subject to his command,
not only because he was the rank
ing officer in the absence of Admir-
al Sampson, but also because Ad'
miral Sampson had signaled to
the feet when he left it, to disre.
gard orders of the commander-ln
chief. 1t is not disputed that Com
modore Schley was nearest the
enemy when the Spanish squadron
appeared; that he was soon there
after in engagement at short range
with the entire four Spanish cruis-
ers; that he was closest to the en-
emy and fired the last shot when
the battle ended, and that his YES
sci was struck oftner by the enemy
than ali the other vessels of the
feet combined.
But even with such a record, if
he made a cowardly or illadvised
and dangerous movement of his
ship in action, let the truth be
known, not by the innuendo of the
sneak, but by open challenge and
answer. If Commodore Schley
disobeyed orders at Santiago when
it was possible TO execute them, or
if he failed to blockade Santiago
when he could do so with any
measure of safety, let the world
know the truth, and bravely as he
fought the battle of July 3rd, he
would merit the censure of the
g government and of the country.
The people know that he fought
from start to finish closer to the
enemy than any other vessel, and
if he is entitled to credit for this
they want the truth
given honestly, manfully and un-
reservedly to the world.
There can be no issue with any
man as TO whether
Sampson or SchIey fought the bat.
tie of Santiago. Schley was pres
cnt and in close engagement with
the enemy from the time the first
gun was fired until the last Span
ish flag was struck, and Sampson
was not there at all, nor was he at
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