The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-31
Circulation Statement.


SchIcy's One RIUnder.
The sensational feature of the pro
ceedings in the Court Of Enquiry yes
terday was the development Of the fact
that Commodore SchIey's original re-
port OF the sea battle off Santiago had
been refused and suppressed by Admit
raj Sampson. That this interesting bit
Of history should be dug up and aired
In the course of what everybody re-
CARDS as SIMPSONS personal cr0ss-ex-
animation Of the man who won the
fight from which he had hurrie5Iy alb
scented himself just before il began. is
somewhat surprising. but so il hap
pened.
Following the precedent established
in excluding the text OF Commodore
Schley's suppressed report which mis-
flag secretary tried 10 file f8r trans
mission by cable. The Court ruled that
the battle report 90 Sampson could not
be admitted. In both instances it seems
TO US that the desire Of the tribunal
TO get at al the facts. as well as respect
for the instruction Of the precept 10
go into the entire case" should have
led TO different action. However ex-
cept in the matter of official record. no
harm has been done, since the country
has the text Of both reports at its dis
posal and, in the light Of evidence al
lowed by the Court with regard TO
them. IS well able to understand the
canine animus which actuated their
original suppression.
While he was not allowed to intro
duce his report To Sampson. Admiral
Schley was permitted 10 tell tn. story
OF its presentation. It was written on
board the Brooklyn on the evening of
the battle Commodore Sch!ev took il
personally TO Admiral Sampson Oh the
flagship New York As we learn from
other sources. il gave the story II the
battle. as our readers are familiar with
the same, praised the conduct of the
officers and crews OF the vessels eneae-
ed particularly mentioned Captains
Philip Evans. Taylor. Cook. and Clark
for exceedingly meritorious conduct. %
and stated that Lieutenant Commander
wainwright, commanding the Glouces-
ter. and Lieutenant Sharpe. command
ing the Vixen, had behaved with con
spicuoUs gallantry." Il also asked Aa-
miral Sampson 10 direct the com
manding officers Of vessels Of the first
squadron TO send copies Of their reports
on the engagement 10 Commodore
Schley
Having delivered the document. the
commodore returned to the BROOKLYN.
Immediately thereafter Admiral Samp-
son signaled him 70 visit the New York
again Doing so. Sampson handed back
the report. refusing 10 accept il because
II made no mention Of the New YORK
as being present This was not strange
in2smuch as the Colon. the last ship to
surrender. had done So before the masts
Of Simpsons flagship showed above the
eastern horizon. and as is well known
tho New York did not appear on the
scene for an hour and a quarter after
wards
And now we come 70 the FIRST thing
in the course Of the pr0ceediLgs. before
the Court Of Enquiry which. in cur
judgment, shows the conduct Of Com
modo-e Schley during the whole West
indian campaign in an uufavorabIe
light. Believing as he testified yester-
day. that there was glory enough for
rewriting the report and mentioning
the flagship New York as having been
in the chase Of the Colon II IS quite
unnecessary 10 remark that. II the New
York had been alone in the chase Of the
Colon. that vessel would be in the har-
Dor Of Barcelona today. cleaning shin
10 get ready for King AIfonso's corona
ton When she started 20 run. Samp-
son may have been twenty or more
miles away. When she surrendered 10
Commodore SchIey, he could not have
been nearer than twelve miles. for il
took him one hour and fifteen or TWEEN
y minutes 10 come up. and. since fir
ing had ceased, II may be assumed with
confidence that he was making all Dos
Eible speed.
When the amended report was hand
ed him. Admiral sampson thanked
Commodore Schlcy for his generosity.
!: was generosity costly enough to the
Victor OF Santiago, since il forged the
peg upon which afterward % hang the
conspiracy against his fame. character
and the truth of history. The motive
undoubtedly was Chivalrous. but the
act was TepTehensiDIe. IN committing
it Commodore SchIey assisted another
70 falsify the truth of the great war
episode He realizes now how little the
alleged gratitude Of his secret enemy
amounted 90. That WAS the time i'm his
Efe when Admiral Schley was guilty
of a lamcntable and objectionable
blunder. He should have steruly re-
fused TO Jungle with the facts Of his
own victory Tor the benefit Of any man
lie should have insisted upon standing
upon the true. and rejected all over
lures % participate in the conc0cti0n
Of a false record. Then was his time
10 declare himself. and call for a court
OF enquiry. Had he done SO. today ne
would be Vice Admiral of the Navy
and not practically a defendant on trial
under a criminal indictment found by
the grand jury OF the Navigation Blu
reau and the Judge Advocate Generals
Office
The Mexican Bread Riot.
We are quite accustomed 70 tales OF
o..