The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-15
THE TINEs RICHMoND Va. SUNDAY DECEMBER Is 1901

done in the conduct of the campaign.
while Admiral Dewey attaches more i'm
portance to the result Admirals Ben
ham and Ramsay seem to see in Schley's.
conduct CANCELLATION and dilatoriness.
prudence It was manfestly Schley
purpose to keep his ships well coaled ana
to keep them together. Dewey recognizes
this and says that in his opinion -,
passage from Key West to Clenhueeo =.
was made by the Flying Squadron W
all possible dispatch. Commodore Schiey
having in view the Importance o. o.
ing off Cienfuegos with as nucil eo''A 90
possible in the chips. bunkers. dewey
possible in the ships bunkers. De"ss
further concludes that the oiocA'oe -
Cenfuegos was effective
The majority opinion says that schley
should have endeavored on May 23d TO
obtain information regarding the Spanish
squadron by communicating with the IN
surgents. Yet it is well known that
Schley was not informed as to the codc
of signals which had been arranged with
the insurgents. Dewey points out that
Schley in permitting the British steamer
Adula to enter the port of Cienfuegos
expected to obtain information concern
ing the Spanish squadron, when this ship
should come out.
Again. Benham and Ramsay think that
RI re ~
ture or destroy the Spanish vessels at
anchor near the entrance OF Santiago
larbor on May 18th and 30th, and say
that he did not do his utmost to capture
and destroy the Colon and other vessels
of the enemy which he attacked on May
31st. They also think that he was too
slow in his movements in proceeding from
Cieufucgos to Santiago.
It is Dewey's opinion that the passage
was made with as much dispatch as
was possible, while keeping the quadron
a unit, Schley having pointed out Whea
he was on the stand that he could not
proceed faster than the slowest OF MS
steamers and that he kept constantly IN
view, the integrity of his fleet. Dewey
also concludes in one sentence that the
blockade of Santiago was effective.
Again. Benham and Ramsay would cen
sure Schley for the "retrograde move
ment'' and say that the turn OF the
Brooklyn in the famous 'loop" move
ment was made to avoid getting her into
dangerous proximity to the Spanish yes
sells 1t might be inferred from this that
in their opinion it was a cowardly move
ment if it We're not for the final opinion
expressed that Schley during the battle
of July Sd was self-possessed and en-
couraged in his own person his subordi-
nate officers and men to fight coura geous-
~. But the Hero of Manila Bay sweeps
all the little petty charges away When
he says that Schley was the senior officer
of the squadron off Santiago when the
Spanish squadron attempted to escape
on the morning of July 8, 1898; that he
was in absolute command and is entitled
TO the credit due to such commanding
officer in the glorious victory which re-
suited in the total destruction of the
SPANISH ships.
That is the great and all-important
fact, the glorious fact which stares the
accusers Of Schley in the face and which
makes all their charges against him ap.
pear trivial, not to say contemplate. 1t
is not a question as to what Schley
should have done here and what he
should not have done there and whether
or not he hurried as much as some thnh
that he should have hurried. or whcthe:
or not he was as aggressive as some think
that he should have been. Schey's one
aim seems to have been to keep himself
in position for, the great trial. When the
trial came he was in position, his ships
were in excellent fighting trim, Schley
fought with GOODNESS and courage and
encouraged his men to fight and made
short work of the Spanish ships! If he
had been !dilatory and vacillating" be-
fore he was not 'dilatory and vacilat-
ing" then. He was in every way pre-
pared for the emergency and he met it
like a brave and intelligent commander.
After all that is the main point, and these
facts being the record of history and I'M
disputed and confirmed by all the mem
bers of the court, the why's and where
fores and the trivialities are not worth
considering. The one regret in the mat
ter is that a splendid achievement OF
this character, q noble tribute to Amcri-
can arms, to commander and officers
and mon behind the guns, Should have
been married by the petty spite and jeal-
ousies that have been displayed.
------==-=
A CALL TO REPENT.
(Selectcd for the Timos.I
''In those days came John the Baptist
rreachipr and So vins 'ReDent We FOR the