Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-08-02
HISTORIAN" MACLAY.
WHAT THE BASTARD SAYS OF
THE HERO OF SANTIAGO.

The most scathing and drastic com
ment is to be found in the followin.
excerpts, which are the basis for the
naval board of inquiry, which ha'
been ordered by Secretary Long:
"The urgency of the situation il
clearly brought out by Secretary Lonl
in his dispatch OF May q: 'Tht
most absolutely urgent thing now il
to know positively whether the Span
ish division is in Santiago de Cubs
harbor, rs, if 50, immediate movement
against it and the town will be made
by the navy and division of about
10000 United States troops, which art
ready to embark. You must sur
mount difficulties regarding coalinf
by your own ingenuity and persever
ance. This is . crucial time, and the
department relies upon you to give
quickly information as to Cervera'.
presence, and to be all ready for con-
certed action with the army Two
days later Long cabled Schley: 1T is
your duty to ascertain Immediately il
the Spanish feet is in Santiago and
report. UD would be discreditable tc
the navy if that fact were not ascer.
tanned Immediately. All military and
naval movements depend upon that
point
"On May % Schley cabled to the
department., Much to be regretted
cannot obey orders of the department.
Have striven earnestly; forced to pro-
coed for coal to Key West by way oil
Yucatan channel. Cannot ascertain
anything respecting enemy positive.
AND TURNED THE cAITIFF FLIGHT FROM
THE DANGER SPOT TOWARD WHICH DUTY,
HONOR, AND THE WHOLE AMERICAN PEO.
PILE WERE MOST EARNESTLY URGING
HIM. VIEWED IN WHATEVER LIGHT IT
MAY BE, THE FOREGOING DISPATCH
CANNOT BE CHARACTERIZED OTHERWISE
THAN AS BEING WITHOUT EXCEPTION,
THE MOST HuMrIIATIN0, cowARDLy AND
LAMENTABLE REPORT EVER PENNED BY
AN AMERICAN NAVAL OFFICER.
"The Sd day of July, 1898, dawned
with heavy mist enveloping the har.
Dor and city of Santiago and the near.
by hills. though seaward the haze was
not 90 pronounced. In general the
Gordon of war craft that for q month
had tenaciously held its grip ON the
mouth Of Santiago harbor occupied
the same relative positions. Unfortu.
nately for their gallant people, the
Massachusetts, and Suwanee, shortly
before dawn, had left their stations 70,
Guantanamo to coal, leaving on guard
the New York, Brooklyn. Iowa, Indi'
ana. Oregon, Texas, the torpedo boat
Ericsson, and the yachts Gloucester
and Vixen. A council of war between
our navy and army commanders had
become imperative. Shafter, i'll with
the fever, could not come to Sampson
so Sampson, with extreme reluctance
decided to leave his station off Santi
ago and have 40 interview with Shaitel
on land. Captain Chadwick, repre-
senting Sampson, had visited Shaitel
the day before, and had found the sit.
uation-so grave that Sampson decided
to consult with Shafter in person
The Admiral had even resolved, and
perhaps. perfected his plans, TO force
the entrance Of Santiago harbor with
out the assistance Of our land forces
if such course proved necessary te
save the army from disaster. The
transport Resolute, Commander 10
seph Giles Eaton, was on hand with 8
complete countermining outfit and
$4,000 pounds of gun cotton ready te
assist in tho forlorn attempt-anothel
illustration OF the tireless care and
forethought OF tho navy department..
Accordingly, at 10 minutes before
8 o'clock on the morning OF July 3
Sampson caused the signal Disregard
movements commander-in-chief" te
be displayed from the New York, and
with the Ericsson, Lieutenant Nathan
iel Reilly Usher, moved leisurely to
ward 6iboney, where he was to land
and, after proceeding several miles in
land, meet Shafter. Just as the bar
rem hills of Siboney, brown and rug
ged, were standing ont distinctly of
the port bow Sampson stood on the
quarterback Of the New York to take
q parting look 1t the feet. At thii
moment q man on the signal bridge
cried out:
"Smoke in tho harbor!
"An instant later he fairly yelled
The fleets coming outp
"Glasses were at once trained or
the dull, yellow streak which faintly
indicated the position Of the MORO.
"'Yes, they are coming out calmly
replied Sampson. Hoist two-ffty'-
that signal meaning 'Close in toward
the harbor entrance and attack YES
sels.' The fagship's course eastward
was promptly checked, and swinging
round she retraced her course with the
Ericsson, using her best speed to gel