The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-08-07
Hs Thinks Admiral SchIey Ac.
compIished Fully tho
WORK ALLOTTED TO HIM.
And Therefore, 1t Ooss Not ssem
to Him That There Is Any
Room for Adverse
Criticism.

upon the charges and criticisms against
Rear Admiral Winfeld SCOTT Sohley
concerning his conduct during the
great naval campaign off Santiago the
! New York Journal ordered it's special
correspondent in Paris to interview
Admiral Oervera, who commanded the
Spanish feet that met destruction in
that memorable conflict. The inter.
view with the illustrious Spaniard is
here presented:
When l presented myself to the illus
trlous Spsnish warrior, Admiral Ger
vera, with word Of commentator
from the Marquis de Noailles, first SEQ
rotary of Spain's embassy in Paris, the
warm grasp Of the old sea dogs hand
vas such as would favorably decide ap y
doubtful voter.
| l conveyed to the admiral the kind
inquiries from his numerous friends in
| America.
D5yiDing the purpose of my visit, he
remarked:
"f ou know your meter WELL"
49," rejoined; Il took post
graduate course at Madrid before the
war"
After this, expressed in the picture.
sque language of Spain, the house was
| mine.
II have large family" said the az. .
miral, and L am taking sulphurous
baths an drinking the waters of Vichy.
trying to get rid of liver com plant
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, highforeheaded "a Shakes
peare, Admiral Oervera would be lion
IN city many times larger than this
Auvergnisn to vn that is famed the
world over for its mineral waters.
The sdmirisl Is staying at the Hotel
des Alpes, a modest hostelry with a
large garden and profusion of flowers.
DE rece-N sc me in Q drawing room,
which for lis specklessness and sim
plioitySSSemed to have been patterned
after a. lppist monastery.
When Ifhe conversation had yeered
to the s1bj cct that is uppermost at the
present timo In the minds of Amcri
cSns, the admiral said:
Actions speak. The good old pro-
verb is Actions speak louder taan
words, Why not apply it to Admiral
Scaley?
Understand that what | say is in
light Of this distip ion. AS Spani
ard | look upon that war as being as
usJust as the war which Eaglaad is
now Wagiing against the Boer republics
Personally, [ shSll never forget the
generous and courteous treatment that
wss accorded to me by the Americans
aud particularly by Admiral Schley
He Impressed me as a gallant off
Ger and high minded gentleman to the
fullest sense of the phrase.
A prlori, | should say that man of
noble principles and generous impulses
cannot be a coward To such men
would look rather for Castilian BRAY
cry.
The naval battle of Santiago as
short and deoisive-3o short that there
was no time for any exchange of com.
pl'ments; so decisive that | can hard
ly believe that cowardice was thinkable.
The hight was over In about three hours
and three quarters.
Had | been captured in the days of
ancient Rome my back might have
been used as a stepping place for the
conqueror mounting his horse.
" Admiral Sohley 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 running fight with the
Viscays and the Colon. When the
Brooklyn and the Oregon got within
range OF the Colon they opened fire and
the latter wSs compelled to run ashore.
The Christobal Colon struck her colors
to the Brooklyn and the Oregon.
The Brooklyn, holding the western
blocksding position, was within range
of our ships and batteries all the time,
though our shiIs lacked certain things
necessary for full effectiveness. Ad-
miral schloy showed ability and
thoroughnes5.
1t is case of demonstrated yalor
against possible bravery. 1t is case
of The difference between the act an d
the possibility, or, as the old philoso-
pliers used to say, between the esse and
the posse
The philosophical axiom whicl l
learned in my school days, namely, "A
posse sd RctUm non valet consecutio
cto be able to do thing is not the
same as doing it'1, probably applies to
this case.
| Il don't know Admiral Sampson and
| 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 to him, and, there
Tore, 1t does not seem to me that there
is any room for adverse criticism at
least, from the American side.
SOME MORE TESTIMONY.
The Madrid representative of The
journal and Advertiser has obtained an
interview from Captain Disz Moron.
who commanded the Cristobal Colon
during the naval conflict off Santiago.
Says Captain Moreu in reference to the
movements of Admiral Sohley:
All the American officers, without
exception, did their duty in tho naval
battle off Santiago. So did we, al
though 1t is certain that We were van
quished by superiority Of force. 1t is
absurd and unpStriotio to make any
exception in the case of Admiral Schley.
Ii is absurd because the Brooklyn was
! n the thick of the fight throughout
She was at the mouth Of the hsrbor
when We tried to pass out and engaged
us with terrific fire, doing frightful
4 4. AZ