The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-08-07
He Thinks Admiral Schley Ac-
compiished Fully The
WORK ALLOTTED TO HIM.
And Therefore, 1t Does Not Seen
TO Hin That There is Any
Room for Adverse
Criticism.

the court Of inquiry that is to pass
upon the charges and criticisms against
Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley
concerning his conduct during the
great naval campaign off Santiago the
New York Journal ordered its special
correspondent in Paris to interview
Admiral Cer7era, who commanded the
Spanish feet that met destruction in
that memorable conflict. The inter
view with the illustrious Spsniard is
here presented:
When presented myself to the illus
trious Spsnish warrior, Admiral Ger
vera, with q word of commentator
from the Marquis de Noailles, first sec.
retaIy Of Spain's embassy in Paris, the
warm grasp Of the old sea dogs hand
WAS such as would favorably decide any
doubtful voter.
I conveyed to the admiral the kind
inquiries from his numerous friends in
America.
Ds7lnlng the purpose Of my visit, he
remarked:
"Ycu know your meter we'll"
"Yss," l rejoined; Il took post
graduate course at Madrid before the
war"
After this, expressed in the picture.
sque language cf Spain, the house was
mine.
81 have large family" said the ad-
miral, ''and / am taking sulphurous
baths am drinking the waters Of Vichy,
trying to get rid of liver complaint
contracted during the Spanish-Ame1i.
can wal"
Rugged as Thomas Carlyle, sun
Drowned as the ideal sailor, loosely
dressed as the country squire among
his oxen, highforshesded as Shakes
peare, Admiral Cer7era would be lion
in city many times larger than this
Auyergnian to 7n that is famed the
world over for its mineral waters.
TIE sdmirial is staying at the Hotel
des Apes, modest hostelry with a
large garden and profusion Of flowers.
ae received me in a drawing room,
which for lis specklessness and sim
plicity seemed to have been patterned
after a Trappis5 monastery.
When the conversation had 7eered
to the subject that is uppernost at the
present time in the minds Of Amcri
cans, the admiral said:
factions speak. The good old pro-
verb is ACTIONS speak louder tnan
words, Why not apply it to Admiral
Schley?
Understand that what I say is in
light Of this distir csion. AS Spani-
ard I look upon that war as being as
uEjust as the war which England is
now wsging against the Boer republics
Personally, I shall never forget the
generous and courteous treatment that
was accorded to me by the Americans
and particularly by Admiral Schley
''He impressed me as a gallant off,
Ger and a high minded gentleman to the
fullest sense Of the phrase.
"a priori, I should say that's a man Of
noble principles and generous impulses
cannot be a coward. To such men I
would look rather for Castilian brav-
cry.
"The naval battle Of Santisgo was
short and decisiVe-so short that there
was no time for any exchange Of COM
pliments; so decisive that I can hard
ly believe that coWardice was thinkable.
The fight was over in about three hours
and three quarters.
"Ead l been captured in the days Of
ancient Rome my back might have
been used as . stepping place for the
conaueror mounting his horse.
Admiral 5ohley treated men on
terms Of absolute equality.
His flagship, the Brooklyn, was
west in the blockading line, and was
therefore the most exposed. She was
engaged in a running fight with the
Vigcaya and the Colon. When the
Brooklyn and the Oregon got within
range Of the Colon they opened fire and
the latter was compelled to run ashore.
The Christobal Colon struck her colors
to the Brooklyn and the Oregon.
''1,he Brooklyn, holding the western
bloclading position, was within range
of our ships and batteries sll the time,
though our shirs lacked certain things
necessary for full effectiveness. Ad-
miral Schley showed ability and
thoroughness.
cit is a case of demonstrated valor
against possible bravery. It is case
Of the difference between the act an q
the possibility, or, as the old philoso:
piers used to say, between the es5e and
the posse.
"The philosophical axiom which I
learned in my school days, namely, "A
posse ad sctum non valet consecutio
('to be able to do thing is not the
same as doing it}, probably applies to
this case.
II don't know Admiral Sampson and
I have no comment to make upon him.
Your ships went stright to work, prob
ably without much commanding.
Admiral Schley accomplished fully
the work allotted 20 him, and, there.
fore, it does not seem to me that there
is any room for adverse criticism--at
least, from iae American side"
SOME MORE TESTIMONY.
The Madrid representative Of The
Journal and Advertiser has obtained sn
Interview from Captain Diez Morsu,
who commanded the Cristobal Colon
during the naval conflict off Santiago,
Says Captain Moreu in reference to the
movements Of Admiral Sohley:
oAll the American officers, without
exception, did their duty in the naval
battle of Santiago. So did We, al
though it is certain that va were van
quished by superiority Of force It is
absurd ard uDpstriotic to make any
cepsion in the case Of Admiral SchleY.
IL