The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-10
The Anti-schIer cnn.ntrncr.

With keen eye to dramatic effect
the Navigation Bureau ring selected
yesterday. the day Of his retirement
from active service. 10 denOunce Adni-
raj Schley as a coward. The instru-
ment selected was a person named
Potts. a lieutenant commander in the
navy. He was a junior officer on board
the Massachusetts when Admiral.
then Commodore, Schley transferred
his flag 10 her to make his reconuois-
sance Of the shore batteries at the
mouth Of Santiago Harbor and, Incl
dentally. to take few pot shots at the
| Cr!stobal Colon, which was lying in
side. Potts testified in effect that the
commander-in-chief Of the squadron
was in a state OF nervous excitement
that is. terTor-and that he said 10
the officers surrounding him that a
group Of people in white uniforms
made a conspicuous mark for the enc
my, and that all hands would better
so inside. This statement contTadicts
the evidence Of Admiral Higginson. Mr.
Schroeder, and others, who swore that
during the movement the attitude and
conduct Of Commodore SchIey were
what should be expected OF "a com
mander-in-chief. and that throughout
he IVES alert. calm. and scIf-cOutained
But suppose that Potts told the truth
in "a sense. and that Commodore SchIey
did make the remark about the white
uniforms making a conspicuous mark.
what them The Court knows II the
general public does not. that il is the
bouuden duty Of an officer in high com
mand 20 avoid risking his life uunec-
essarily in action The object Of the
reconnaissance was not of sufficient
importance TO justify the careless ex-
posture Of the squadron commander. A
few days later, when Commodore
schIey assumed command Of the fleet
and fought the sea battle OF Santiago
to q successful and splendid finish. he
deemed IL necessary 20 expose himself
that he might the better be able TO see
what was going on. and signal instruc-
tons % his ships accordingly. The
only American killed in the engage
rlent. YeOman Ellis. was killed stand
ing by the side Of the communicative
chief on the bridge Of the Brooklyn.
The Potts story will not stand against
the sworn statements Of superior and
honora BILE officers. II is on it's face too
plain a demonstration Of the desperate
straits to which the truth testified 20
by honest men has reduced the prose
cution."
The one other point of interest i'm
the session was the almost IaughabIe
vehemence with which the judge adj
vocate endeav1reC 10 have the Court
rule out evid ncc Cf the signals be-
tween the flagship New York and the
Indiana, when Admiral Sampson in
vited tie latter's commander. Captain.
now Admiral. Taylor. TO accompany
him 20 behind the horizon a couple of
hours before Cervera began his s0rtie.
Captain Lemly was painfully conscious
that 20 admit the signals Of invitation
and declination would enable Admiral
Schley's counsel TO show why Captain
Taylor would not leave his ship. We
cannot say whether or not the reason
viii ever become a part Of the Court
record, but IL is well enough under
stood in naval circles that il was that
the Indiana was being cleared for ac-
.
warning 10 the squadron on the even
ing before that the Spaniards were get
ting ready 20 run out
Were that fact established, another
that Admiral Sampson also had been
warned. could not readily be suppress
ed. Mr.. RayneT. Of counsel for the APP
plicant. allowed the matter To drop for
the moment, but il viii come up again.
and as facts are what the distinguish
ed president Of the tribunal regularly
insists upon. there would seem TO be
little doubt that those signals and
whatever they may involve, viii he
duly exploited AT the appropriate time
In London the diplomatic gossip mon
gers are busy with a story TO the effect
that Ambassador Choate. who shortly viii
visit this country on leave Of absence.
will not return 20 his post, but retire
from the service. II may be So but CO.
incident rumOrs that the Ambassador Is