Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-08-02

opportunity to distinguish herself
Much to the chagrin of every man in
the flagship, however, Cervera's ships
were observed turning westward, and
the New York used her best endeavors
to reach the scene of action.
"When it was discovered aboard the
Brooklyn-the swiftest American boat
then on the scene OF action-that Ger
vera was coming out, Commodore
Schley started ahead at a speed OF IL
knots. In five minutes the forward
turret guns had opened on the enemy's
leader. Observing that this ship, the
Infanta Maria Theresa, was making in
his direction, Schley hastily ordered
the helm aport-all the other large
American ships having put their helms
to starboard.
"You mean starboard, sir?' the
navigator Of the Brooklyn ventured to
inquire.
8" No; port was Schley's rejoinder.
sc But that will carry us into the
Texas said the officer.
LET THE TEXAS TAKE CARE OF
HDRSELF,' WAS THE HEARTLEss REPLY,
AND THE SHAMEFUL SPECTACLE OF AN
AMERICAN wARsHIP, SUPPORTED BY A
FORCE SUPERIOR TO THE ENEMY's--A
wARsHIP WHOSE COMMANDER HAD EN-
PENDED SUCH VAST QUANTITIES OF AM.
MUNIrION IN TARGET PRACTICE IN THE
PRESENCE OF A FASHIONABLE HOTEL AT
HAMPTON ROADS IN ORDER TO MEET A
WORTHY FOE-DELIBERATELY TURNING
TAIL AND RUNNING AWAY, WAS PRESENT
ED.
According TO his own official re-
port. Schley was at close quarters with
the possibly 10 minutes; and it was
in that 10 minutes that the Brook
lyn received the bulk of her much
boasted injuries. To any one who
reads consecutively Commodore
Schley's official reports from the be-
ginning of this naval campaign, May
22-it not being necessary to bring in
the indisputable facts advanced by his
alleged enemies-his conduct at this
crisis seems pre-eminently character.
istic. And a. to the question of the
Commodore's enemies, let it be ad-
ded that Schley has no enemies in
America excepting himself and COT
erie Of iniudicious friends.
Speaking Of schley's evasion OF
duty, the late Rear Admiral Philip
said to the writer: The Texas At
this time was doing her best to close
on the Spaniards, when, to my sur
prise and CONSERVATION, saw the
Brooklyn swing round with port helm
when al the other American war.
ships had used the starboard-away
from the Spaniards and place herself
directly in our course. 1 was com.
PEELED to stop and reverse our engines,
and even then came nearer to COLI
sion than could wish. On account
Of this circumstance the Texas lost .
splendid chance Of closing with the
enemy
"At first Scbley attempted to justi-
fy his maneuver by saying that he
feared ramming. If such was the
case it is strange that he turned to
port, 80 as to actually run away from
the enemy, instead of turning to star
board, ~ each OF the other American
ships did, where he could have avoided
ramming, not only as we'll, but better
Ito say nothing of avoiding the dan
ger of collision with his consorts, and
at the same time have brought his
ship into the best position for engag.
ing the enemy. That his first excuse
was untenable is shown by the fact
that Schley himself afterward endeav-
ored to substitute for it the explana-
ton that he turned to starboard 90 as
not to blanket the fire of the other
American ships. This second excuse
is even more unmanly than the first.
after making wide circle, which
landed him broad off to sea and placed
the Oregon, Iowa and Texas between
him and his enemy, Schley put on
full steam and tenaciously held po-
sition to the south, or outside of all
our pursuing ships, except the Vixen.
"Much has been said OF the many
missiles that struck the Brooklyn, as
proof that she had been in the thick
est of the fight. At the beginning of
the action this cruiser was, much
against her commanders will, in the
thickest Of the battle; possibly 10
minutes as Schley himself officially
reported it. which seems quite in
keeping with his "seven minutes and
IS seconds" bombardment of the
MORO at distance OF 1900 to 10000
yards-practically out of harms way.
But, as We have seen, be promptly be.
took himself out OF it, against the re-
spectful protest OF his astounded navi-
gator. The Brooklyn undoubtedly
was struck by more missiles, or frag.
ments of missiles. than any other
American ship on July 3. but that her
injuries were less serious than those in
our other leading ships is shown by
the fact that the repairs to Schley's
ship cost only $1,303.15. while the re-
pairs on the Texas, Iowa and Indiana