The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1901-12-17
Of Admiral schley's Conduct in
Search and Destruction OF
Spanish Flee. 9. 9. Santiago.
He Pound the Spanish Pleet in Bis
own Way and Destroyed it.

True they regarded him IN
charge of the squadron on the
eventful July 3rd that he was
Poss sesse ID in battle en-
couraging his men to fight valiantly.
All glory to Schley, his suboroi-
mates and men! The country will
accent Admiral Dewey's jndg
ment.
The following is the Courts re-
port:
Schley should have proceeded
with the utmost dispatch off Glen
fuegos and should have maintain
ed close blockade of that port.
He should have endeavored May
%, at Cienfuegos to obtain infor-
nation regarding the Spanish
squadron by communicating with
the insurgents at place designat-
ed in a memorandum delivered him
at 8:15 a. m. of that date.
He should have proceeded from
Cienfuegos to Santiago de Cuba
with all dispatch and should have
disposed of his vessels with view
of intercepting the enemy in any
attempt to pass the Flying Squad
ron.
He should not have delayed the
squadron for the Eagle
He should not have made ret
rograde turn westward with his
squadron.
He should have promptly obeyed
the Navy Departments order of
May %.
He should have eudeavored to
capture or destroy the Spanish YES
sells at anchor near the entrance of
Santiago harbor May 20 and 30.
He did not do his utmost to cap
ture or destroy the Colon and 9TH
er vessels of the enemy which he
attacked Y - -o. p-u-n
~ commencing the engagement
July 3, with port battery and
turning the Brooklyn around with
port helm, Schley caused her to
lose distance and position with the
Spanish vessels, especially the Wis
caya and Colon.
The turn fthe Brooklyn to star
board was made to avoid getting
her into dangerous proximity to
the Spanish vessels. The turn
made toward the Texas caused that
vessel to stop and back her engines
to avoid a possible collision
Schley did an injustice to Hodg-
son in publishing only a portion of
the correspondence which passed
between them.
Schley's course in connection
with the events of the Santiago
campaign prior to July was char
acterized by vaccillation, dilatori-
ness and lack Of enterprise.
His official reports regarding the
coal supply and coaling facilities Of
the Flying Squadron were inaccu
rate and misleading.
His conduct during the battle
July Bird was self possessed and he
encouraged, in his own person, his
subordinate officers and men to
fight courageously. GEORGE DEWEY
Admiral U. S. N. President.
SAMUEL c. LEMLY, Judge Advocate
General u. S. n.
ADMIRAL DEwaY's REPORT.
Admiral Dewey dissented from
the opinion of his conferees of the
court in the following minority ie-
port, which is signed by Samuel
c. Lemly, Judge Advocate of the
court, merely as matter of legal
formality.
In the opinion of the undersign
ed the passage from Key West to
Cienfuegos was made by the Fly
ing Squadron with all possible dis
patch, Schley having in view the
Importance of arriving off Cienfu-
gos with as much coal as possible
In the ships bunkers.
The blockade of Cienfuegos was
effective
Schley in permitting the steam
er Adula to enter the port of Glen
fuegos expected to obtain informa
tion concerning the spanish squad
ron from her when she came out.
The passage from Cienfuegos to
point about % miles south OF
Santiago was made with as much
dispatch as possible while keeping
the squadron a unit.
TIE blockade of Santiago was
effective
Schley was the senior officer oil
our squadron OFF Santiago when
the Spanish squadron attempted to
escape on the morning of July 3.
He was in. absolute command and
is entitled to the credit due such