The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-08-08

! 10 De from WarSnlpS.
THAT Sampson himself recognized
this is evident from the fact that he
sent the Vixen around to the differ
ent ships of the squadron to announce
to them that he considered the move
ments inside to be suspicious, and
that he desired a close watch kept
1.-The next morning at daybreak the
columns of smoke were seen again,
and it was noticed by the officer on
watch on the Brooklyn that they
were nearer the entrance, and it was
therefore surprising to everybody
when, acting under orders, the Mass
achusetts, one of the heaviest battle
ships of the line, and the Newark,
protected cruiser, carrying Comma
dore Watson's flag, left the line for
| Guantanamo for coal.
But decidedly more surprising
were the future events. AT o'clock,
while Captain Phillip aud Admiral
Scbley were discussing the suspicious
movements, through the medium of
signal flags Sampson suddenly sig
nailed Disregard the movements of
the communicating chief, and moved
away from the line with the New
York. The New York was the only
other ship, besides the Brooklyn, in
the line with the accredited speed of
the Spanish ships, and there were
present the Gloucester and the Vixen,
two converted yachts, either one of
which would have made special dis
patch boat, without weakening the
line. When the battle call was sound
ed Admiral Schley made the signal,
The enemy is escaping, and then,
determining that the New York was
out of sight, made the signal, Ships
close in
with a good, strorg pair of field
glasses, and standing upon the excep-
tionally high bridge of the Brooklyn,
looked for Sampson and the New
York, but he was out of sight. We
never saw him again until one long
hour after the surrender of the Colon.
1T is claimed that the Brooklyn
ran from the enemy during the fight,
and in that movement Schley dis
played cowardice. AT the outset let
Inc say that the movement of the ship
showed the greatest good judgment,
and probably saved the cruiser from
being sunk or disabled. When the
enemy was sighted coming out the
Brooklyn moved straight for the en-
| trance at the rate of about seven
knots an hour and continually in
creasing her speed.
1.-The ships of the enemy were NOV
ing out toward us at the rate of about
II knots an hour, and the distance to
traverse was only five miles. We had
opened fire with our port battery, the
guns being trained almost directly
forward. The turning circle of the
Brooklyn is 1000 yards, and if we had
turned in toward the shore that would
have allowed the Vizcaya to have
! gone between us and the Texas, and
would have opened our unprotected
side to the concentrated fire of the
Spanish vessels, and also have inter-
cepted the fire of our own ships. |
stood on the top of the forward S-inch
turret looking directly over the bow,
and l know that we were never near
enough to the Texas to hurt her, and
we did not block her fire for an in
slant.
'If Captain Phillip backed his en-
gines when he saw us turning it was
because through the smoke he could
not quite tell how we were moving,
and he knew that he had to follow
the motions of our ship and not do as
he pleased. The flagship always has
the right OF way. Up to the time we
turned we had been hit only twice.
After we turned we were hit 81 times
by projectiles and Is times by flying
pieces, and after we turned we left
the marks of 5-inch shells upon every
Spanish ship.
To those who criticise Schley's
turn, on the ground of cowardice,
commend the statement of Captain
Eulate, of the Vizcaya; If the Brook
Ign had not made that beautiful
maneuver in turning could have
rammed and sunk her.
ITO those who criticise upon the
ground that the Texas was stopped
for minute or so, let me say that q
little later the Oregon crossed the
bow of the Texas and blanked her
fire for 10 minutes, but certainly no
one will say that the Oregon, in view
of her splendid fight and chase, was
not justified.
when the battle was over Schley
thanked his men and signaled his
thanks to every man under him.
When Sampson arrived he offered no
congratulations to any man or officer,
although he did condescend to- offer
congratulations to the public for the
splendid manner in which the fight