The age-herald., 1901-09-11

|. (COntlneuu rom PaBe 5FOur.)
 might have an equal steaming radius. Tn order to secure coaling ground, and at the same time to guard against the Span iards dash!ng to the west, Commodore Sehley started back in the direction of Key West. After going -43 miles he stop ped, the storm having abated sufficiently for him to coal the Texas and Marblc- head. This was done from the collier r Merrimac, and as soon as the work was completed and the cause of his anxiety removed Commodore Schley- returned to the entrance of Santiago and established the blockade, which was not broken un- til the Spanish squadron made the sortie on the morning of July 3.
 It was In this connection that there oc- cured the alleged disobedience of orders On the morning of May 2 a dispatch was delivered to Commodore Schley by the Harvard. This dispatch asked Commo- dore Schley to ascertain definitely if the Spanish ships were in Santiago. and 1T they were there not to let them leave without a decisive engagement. It also suggested that he go to Cape Cruz, Con dives or the Mole, Haiti, to coal, the de- partment's preference for the latter point being shown in the fact that 1t stated 1t was sending coal to him there. In reply to this dispatch Commodore Schley sent a telegram, which. among other things stated, Much to be regretted. the order of the department cannot be obeyed have striven earnestly, etc. Upon this f1imsy pretext rests the charge that Com modore Schley. confessed to disobedence of orders.
 Orders Could Not Be obeyed.
 What he did do, as is shown by the original dispatch, was to state to the de- partment that 1t was a physically impos- sibility to obey its orders. This he, or any other officer on the spot, and clothed with the discretionary powers always vested in a commanding officer, would have been justified In stating whenever 1t is demonstrated that the orders received cannot be obeyed because obedience Is a physical impossibility.. Such cases of disobedience frequently occur in military service, as. for instance, when com mand Is ordered to cross a river which, upon the attempt being made, is found to impossible. In such Q case the officer in command Is compelled to report to the source of the orders that they cannot be obeyed-not because he is unwilling or has not tried, but because obedience Is a physical impossiblity. That was the case of Schley, and, further. his dispatch was sent after the receipt of that one author izing him to go either to Cape Cruz. Con dives or the Mole. to coal. In going to the westward Commodore Schley served his country much more efficiently than he would have done. had he gone to the Mole, whence the department was send ing him coal. By the westward move ment he protected the south coast of Cuba; by going to the Mole. fourteen hours steaming to the eastward, he would have given Ceryera an opportunity to reach Cienfuegos or Havana, by run ming along the south side and around the west end of Cuba Military judgment is, therefore unable to ascribe to this move ment any judgment except that of entire propriety.
 Sampson Did Not Attack.
 As for the incident of the Colon, Com modore Schleys conduct was strictly ac- cording to orders. The general orders under which he was operating positively forbade him to risk his ships against shore batteries. The attack upon the Colon was merely a reconnaissance, un- dertaken for the purpose of developing the strength and position of the Spanish ships and land defenses at Santiago. It was' never meant to be anything else, and was so reported. As a reconnais- sance it was entirely successful, and that Commodore Schley did right in refusing to risk his ships against the land batter ies is shown by the incident that marked the arrival of Admiral Sampson of San tiago on June 1. Admiral Sampson had a modification of the general orders, under which he was permitted to expose his vessels to the fire of land batteries. When he reached Santiago the Colon was lying in plain sight. about one mile up the har- bor, and remained there for nearly five hours. In that time Admiral Sampson made no effort to attack her, although he might have done so and lost all his vessels with entire impunity, so sweep ing were the orders or which he was in possession
 AS for the blockade. there is nowhere in