Evening star., 1901-12-16
VIEWS OFoTHE COURT
How Rear Admiral Schley's Judges
Decided.
THE PRgCEPT AND ANSWERS
Admiral Dewey's Net Judgment
According to the Documents.
THE FINDINGS ANALYzED

THE FINDINGS ANALYZED
| The following statement Of the findings of
| the naval court In the Schley case presents
| the verdict in topical form, showing how
| each officer held in answer to the specific
points of the Navy Departments precept:
The Precept:
| 1. His conduct. in connection with the
events of the Santiago campaign.
The Court,
Commodore Schleys conduct in connec-
| tion with the events of the Santiago cam
paign prior to June l. 1898, was character
| lied by vacillation, dilatoriness and lack of
enterprise.
His conduct during the battle Of July
was self-possessed, and he encouraged in
| his own person. his subordinate officers and
men to fight courageously.''
The Precept:
2. The circumstances attending the rea-
| sons controlling, and the propriety of the
| movements of the flying squadron off Glen
| fuegos in May, 1898.
Rear AdmiraIs Benham and Ramsay:
Commodore Schley, in command of the
| flying squadron, should have proceeded with
utmost dispatch off Cienfuegos and should
| have maintained close blockade of that
| port.
HE should have endeavored on May %,
| at Cienfuegos to obtain information re-
| garding the Spanish squadron by communi-
eating with the insurgents at the place
designated In the memorandum delivered to
| him at SIS am. Of that date
Admiral Dewey.
"In the opinion Of the undersigned, the
passage from Key West to Cenfuegos was
| made by the flying squadron with all possi-
BILE dispatch Commodore Schley having in
view the Importance of arriving off Glen
fuegos with as much coal as possible in the
ships bunkers.
1.-THE blockade Of c1enfuegos was effective.
Commodore Schley, in permitting the
steamer Adula to enter the port of Glen
fuegos, expected to obtain Information con-
cerning the Spanish squadron from her
when she came out.
The Precept,
g. The circumstances attending, the rea-
sons controlling and the propriety of the
movements of the said squadron in proceed
ing from Cienfuegos to Santiago.
Rear Admira1s Benham and Ramsay,
HE should have proceeded from Cienfue-
gos to Santiago de Cuba with all dispatch
and should have disposed his vessels with
a view of interceptfng the enemy in any at
tempt to pass the flying squadron.
He should not have delayed the squadron
for the Eagle"
Admiral Dewey,
"The passage from Cienfuegos to a point
about twenty-five miles south Of Santiago
was made with as much dispatch was
possible while keeping the squadron unit
"The blockade of Santiago was effective"
The Precept:
f. The circumstances attending the ar
rival of the flying squadron off Santiago,
the reasons for its retrograde turn west
ward and departure from off Santiago, and
the propriety thereof.
The Court,
HE should not have made the retrograde
turn westward with his squadron"
The Precept,
|, 3. The circumstances attending and the
reasons for the disobedience by Commodore
Schley of the orders by the department
contained in it's dispatch dated May rs,
1898. and the propriety Of his conduct in
the premises
He should have promptly obeyed the
Navy Departments order Of May 25
The Precept,
6. The condition OF the coal supply Of the
flying squadron on or about May a. 1893,
its coaling facilities the necessity. If any,
for or advisability Of the return Of the
squadron to Key West for coal. and the ac-
curacy and propriety of the official report
made by Commodore Schley with respect
to this matter.
The Court,
His official reports regarding the coal
supply and the coaling facilities of the
flying squadron We're inaccurate and mis-
leading.
The Precept,
Z. Whether or not every effort incumbent
upon the commanding officer of fleet
oh rSoy, nnAa %
capture or destroy the Spanish cruiser
Colon as she lay at anchor in the entrance
of Santiago harbor May 27 to 81. inclusive,
and the necessity for or advsability Of en-
gaging the batteries at the entrance to San
tiago harbor, and the Spanish vessels at
anchor within the entrance to said harbor
at the ranges used. and the propriety Of
Commodore Schley's conduct in the prem
iSeS.
The Court,
He should have endeavored to capture or
destroy the Spanish vessels at anchor near
% and 80.
He did not do his utmost with the force
under mis- command to capture or destroy
the Colon and other vessels Of the enemy
which he attacked on May 81.
The Precept.
s. The necessity, If any, for and the ad-
visibility of withdrawing at night the fly
ing squadron from the entrance of Santi-
ago harbor to a distance at sea, IL such
shall be found to have been the case, the
extent and character Of such withdrawal,
and whether or not close or adequate
blockade Of said harbor to prevent the es-
cape Of the enemy's vessels therefrom was
established, and the propriety of Commo-
dore Schley's conducts in the premises.
The Court,
The flying squadron did not withdraw at
night from the entrance to Santiago har-
Dor to a distance at sea. The blockade was
maintained at an averaae distance Of about
six to seven mites from the harbor en-
trance during the Day, And probably some-
what nearer durinkotheShight. Two vessels
performed picket tuty-st nighr two miles
inside of the line OF vessels
snTsS S-4of4s
Thes,Prekept,
9, The pOSitiop naa ty1ss RrookJyn on tho