New-York tribune., 1901-12-14
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
BENHAM AND RAMSAY CENSURE
SCHLEY ON ALL POINTS, BUT FIND
HIM NOT A COWARD.

Washington. Dec 13.-The opinion Of the ma
lows:
Commodore scbIey. In command of the Fly
Ing Squadron should have proceeded with
utmost dispatch of Cienfuegos- and should
have maintained close blockade of that
port
He should have endeavored on May 2:i Rt
CienfueRos, to obtain information regarding
the Spanish squadron by communication
with the Insurgents mt the place desiGnated
i'm the memorandum delivered to him s:15
n M. of that date.
He should have proceeded fron CIenfuegos
so Santiago de Cubn with all dispatch. and
ShonId have disposed his vessels with "A view
of i'm &c ercepting the enemy a ny attempt q
the Flying Squadron
He should not have delayed squadron
for the Eagle.
He should not have made the retroGrade
turn westward with his squadron.
He should have promptly obeyed Navy
Departments order of May -.
He shouId have endeavored to capture
destroy tBe Spanish vessels anchor
the entrance of santiago Harhor on May ID
aud Sd. .ft ts
He did his with force
under his command to capture or destroy
the Colon and other vessels of the enemy
which he attacked ON May 81
BY commencing the engagement July
with the port battery. and turning the
BROOKLYN around with port helm. Commo-
dOre >chiey caused her to lose distance and
position wi he Spanish vessels, especially
with the VIIcayn Colon.
The turn of the BROOKLYN to starboard YVES
made to avoid getting her into dangerous
proximity to the spanish vessels The turn
was made toward the Texas. and caused
TINT vessel to stop and to back her engines
avoid possible collision.
Admiral SchIey did injustice to Lfeutenant
Commander a. &. HodgsOn in publishing only
portion of the correspondence which
passed between them.
Commodore SchIey'< conduct n connection
with the events of the Santiago campaign
prior June 4, 1898, characterized by
vnci1lation diIatoriness and lack of enter-
prise.
His official reports regarding the coal sup
ply and the eoaiinG facilities of the Flying
Squadron were inaccurate and misleading
His conduct during the battle of July 3
was seIf-pOssessed. and he encouraged. In
his person. his subordinate officers and
men to fight cournGeously-
The text of the report on which the opinion
is based, is as follows:
Court of Inquiry Mclean Building No. 1517
H-s1,5 + 5ooS n w. Washington q c. December
The court having by the authority Of the Navy
Department occupied rooms Nos and 10 Nc
Lean Building, No. 1.311 HIST. n w. Wash
ingtOn, d. C.. while celebrating upon its pro-
ceedings. and the members thereof having as
sembied daily since Monday. November II. with
the exception of Sundays and holidays and hav-
ing concluded the Investigations. reports it's pro-
CeedingS and the testimony taken, with full
and detailed statement of all the pertinent facts
its opinion and recommendation In the premises.
FACTS.
The Flying Squadron consisting of the Brook
lyn the Massachusetts. the Texas and the Scor-
pion under the command of Commodore W. s.
Schley u. s. NJ, sailed from Key West about
a. M of May 10. 1898 with orders from the
Navy Department. and from the Commander-i in
Chief of the North Atlantic Station, to proceed
with dispatch (utmost) off Cienfuegos to capture
the enemy off that port. il possible or 10 block
ade him and to maintain the blockade as close
possible
The FLYING Squadron arrived of Cienfuegos on
the morning of May -. and established block
at various distances in no particular order. AT
night they formed in column Of vessels, headed
off shore and moved at only sufficient speed
for keeping positions. The small vessels per-
formed picket duty inshore of the large ships
DELAY ON VOYAGE To CIENFUEGOS.
Commodore SchIey did not proceed with
utmost dispatch OF CIenfuegos and blockade
that port close as possible
At 10 o'clock a. m. May %. the Dupont ar
rived at Cienfuegos with dispatch from the
dated Key West May 20.
1898 which informed Commodore Schley OF the
probability of the Spanish squadron being in
Santiago de Cuba. and ordered him 70 hold
until the receipt of more positive in
formation
Cienfuegos and at D. m. of the same date the
Scorpion left Cienfuegos for Santiago.
At SIS of May % Commodore Schley received
bv the dispatch vessel Hawk the following dis
patch and memorandums from the CoTnmander-
in Chief:
Dispatch mo 50, dated Key West. May Fl.
1895 which states that the Spanish squadron
Was probably mt Santiago. and ordered Commo-
lore SchIey If he satisfied that the Spanish