Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-01

not Mt Cieufuegos. Per contra, Sarnp-
son arrived at Santiago on June l. but
it was not until June II that Lleuten-
ant Blue, at the urgent request or the
department. obtained definite informal
ton that Cervcra's fleet was in the
harbor.
The coaling expedition is referred to.
Schley had with his fleet the broken
down and disgraceful collier Merrimac.l
Schlcy notified the department that I'M
less the weather abated he could not
coal at sea and would have to return TO
Key west, u squadron without coal be-
Ing OF little value in fight with fast
vessels. The weather abated and he
coaled at sea, an example not followed
by Sampson, who at critical times sent
MS ships forty miles away to coal On
page ala of the navy report Captain
SlgsDee, of the st. Paul, rela ting to
difficulty OF coaliig at sea, says: Just
oetore leaving (May 3) l told Commo-
dore Schley that the weather then pre-
vailing was by far more favorable than
any l had observed in eight days
cruise off that coast Coaling at sea off
santiago will be very difficult most OF
the time"
One month later, on June 26 (page
o02 naval reports), Admiral Sampson
cabled the Departments I'm smooth
water ships can coal off Santiago with
SONY oliiCuily. was SamPSon'S ult-
nculty any greater than Schley's?
or the battle of July 5 it is hardly
necessary to speak, the American pub
TIC having fully placed the honor where
1t belongs. Suffice 1t to say that the
foolish argument that the battle was
fought under Sampson's plan is no,
tenable. Ii it is. then Admiral Dewey
mad nothing whatever to do with the
night of Manila Bay. The order to
Dewey was: You will find the Spanish
lleet and destroy it. F" The order OF
Sampson to his squadron was: You
VIII close in on the entrance and sink
them." Both orders were carried out,
one by Dewey and the other by Schlcy;
but IL those giving the directions are
responsible for the victory, then
Crowninshield. NInhan and Company
must take the credit from Dewey and
Sampson that from Schley.
The criticism OF personal Judgment
OF commanders during battle, particu-
larly Schley, is so palpably for politi-
cal purposes as to be unworthy OF an
swer The battle was won, as Samp.
sons own board shows, in a greater
measure by the work of Schley's flag
ships five and eight-inch shells than
by those OF any other. On that ship
were the only one either dead or
wounded, and that ship was hit ten
times as often as all the other ships
combined. 1t was the Brooklyn and
the Oregon that Caught the Colon and
made the days victory complete, and it
was of the Brooklyn that Admiral Ger
vera and Captain Eulate said to mo:
"She spoiled all our plans by her splen-
did manocuvres."
OF Schley's personal bravery and
GOODNESS I am an eyewitness. Stand
ing by his side during the five hours OF
fighting that memorable day, heard
him give his orders, discuss movements
with his officers, compliment men for
their work, order I5llss body preserved
for burial, as he wiped the mans blood
from his own face: tell Captain Cook
to keep the men below decks informed
of advantages, call to the engine and
boiler room heroes his encouragement,
and when the battle was over and pris-
oners were expected aboard, ask the
men not to cheer in exultation.
And finally, with every man who
loves generosity and manliness and
common decency, I remember that he
said OF the fight: Every man in 1t did
his full share, and there is glory enough
for lis all"
GEORGE e. GRAHAM.
Albany, N. Y, Nov. 13, 1899.