Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-16
The Schley Verdict.

fortunate controversy. and il does not.
more is the pity. put an end to the
Quarrel which has disgraced our
navy. Admiral Schley is very far from
getting the vindication which his
friends confidently expected: and. on
the other hand. the charges against
him arc not sustained by the unani-
nous and unqualified opinion of the
three members of the court.
The opinion which must stand as the
verdict of the court. since two MEM
rers sign il without qualification. and
Admiral Dewey as presiding officer
gives it his signature, is wholly against
Schley. Il condemns and arraigns
him in most vigorous terms on tn"
half score charges which We're pressed.
such Il verdict was hardly expected BY
the general public. even III view of the
strong testimony that was given in
such abundance at the inquiry. The
verdict softcns nothing and does not
spare the feelings of Admiral Schley
or his partsans. In a dozen different
matters, all of Importance. it decides
that he failed To do what he should
have done. or did what he should not
have done He showed ''vacillation.
dilatoriness and lack of enterprise.
ard his official reports We're ''inaccur-
ate ard misleading" He failed 10 obey
the orders of the department; his
retrograde movement was a blunicr;
and he has done injustice to brother
officers by publishing misleading por-
tions of correspondence regarding the
controversy. All these things are in
the finding of the court in plain ana
unmistakablc English. They do not
make cheerful reading for the friends
Of the officer who has won $" much
popular sympathy on the plea that he
was being unjustly prosecuted by the
administration and hostile naval
clique"
IN the verdict of the court ->dmiru
Schley e not called coward" No
charge of cowardice was pressed
against him at tho inquiry. on the
contrary Judge Advocat" Lemly. ir
summing up the case, went out OF his
way to disclaim any such intention.
Iut certainly It cannot be called a
testimonial to his valor and zeal for
battle that the court in its verdict
finds that hc was slow in seeking "a in
tcrcept the enemy: that he did not
destroy the Spanish vessels at anchor
near Santiago, May 20 and 80. when he
might have done SO: that he did not do
his utmost Ia capture Or destroy the
colon and other vessels which he at
tackled. May 81. The condemnation of
the court is also put in strong terms
upon the much discussed loop" with
which Admiral Schley's vessel opened
the battle OF July 8. This movement,
The court finds, caused the Brooklyn to
lose distance and position with the
Spanish vessels. endangered the Texas
and was made to avoid close quarters
with the fleeing Spanish ships. Evi-
IDENTIFY the court did not get tn" idea
that Schley was suffering from an in
satiabe desire for fighting during that
blockade and battle. 1t kindly re-
Trained. however. from using the un-
pleasant epithet of coward
Such are the findings of the court
with which Schley and his friends. as
we'll as those Of Sampson, declared in
advance they would be perfectly salts
tied. so complete was the confidence
Of all in the ability and fairness Of the
judges. The verdict leaves Schley
discredited. condemned and rebuked :;
ard the recommendation Of the court is
that in view of the time that has
elapsed. no further proceedings be
had. The only further proceedings
that could we'll be had in view Of the
verdict, would be a court martial but
the lapse of time saves Schey from
that added sham"
But in all parts Of its verdict the
court is not unanimous Admiral
Dewey i'll note appended to the ver-
"'"i dissents, briefly but plainly. from
some "i III" findings OF his associates
Admirals I:cnham and Ramsey. From
It legal or naval point of view thi,
dissent u i minority Of the. court has
~ 'ftect on the verdict. but il wil
nave considerable effect ON uuhli,
opinion. on account Of The high statioI
and popularity Of the dissenting mem.
Der, and will be Il welcome salve t,
the wounded feelings of Admira
Schiey and his friends. on most OF tn,
POINTS in the verdict Admiral Dew,
APPARENTLY agrees with his associates
bIt he holds that some Of the DELAY %
A"miral Schey was justified to kec,
the squadron unit ana that III,
niorkades Of Cjenfuegos ard S,ntiar,
We're effective
Admiral Dewey also. with = l5in,r.s
Vi neart which does him credit rnc
YtN