The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-07-27
The schley Inquiry.
From philadelphia Ledger, July Is.

Rear Admiral Schley has at last demanded
an inquiry into his conduct during the war
with Spain, that the matter under discussion
may be brought under the clearer and calmer
review of his brothers in arms, and Secretary
Long gives hearty approval to the suggestion.
Rear Admiral Sampson is also glad that there
is to be an investigation, and hopes that it
will be thorough one. Admiral Dewey has
been selected as the head of the Court of
Inquiry, and has accepted. That gives assur
ance OF an impartial trial of the case, and If
Secretary Long should select the other mem
bers of the court from the list of Rear Admit
rails on the retired list the court will be so
constituted as TO have the entire confidence Of
the American people. Rear Admiral Crown
inshield should not be consulted in the matter
or allowed to have anything to do with the
trial, for he is partisan bitterly opposed to
Schley, and if he should figure in the inquiry
the controversy may be kept alive indefinitely.
The trial will be before the American people,
the Court of Inquiry being simply the agent
Tor collecting facts which judgment may
be made up, but the court can settle the con-
troversy forever ard silence the partsans of
Sampson and Schley by holding its sessions in
public and making thorough investigation.
TO what extent Admiral Sampson and Ad-
miral Schley are responsible for the ugly
quarrel that is now to be settled by Court of
Inquiry cannot now be determined, but both
have suffered from the zeal of their friends.
The appointment of Sampson as Commander
in-Chief constituted Schley's first grievance;
but the latter was given an independent COM
mand, that of the Flying Squadron, and all
went well until Cervera's feet arrived in the
West Indies. Then both Sampson and Schley
were subjected to hostile criticism, Sampson
in the newspapers, Schley in the Navy De-
partment, where Sampson was strongly up
held.
Schey was fortunate enough to be in COM
| mand of the squadron th,t bottled up Ger
| vera at Santiago, but Sampson soon arrived
and took command. A month of blockade
| duty followed, and then Schley had another
| stroke of good fortune Admiral Sampson
went off with the New York one morning,
leaving Schley again in command, and while
the Commander in Chief was away Cervera
came out with his ships, and the battle of
| Santiago was fought. No one man was en-
| titled TO any special credit for the brilliant
| victory there won in few minutes, for the
Captain of each vessel acted as he thought
best, without specific orders from either
| Sampson or Schley, but Schley was the actual
commander in the fight and Sampson was
only the nominal commander, arriving upon
| the scene after the action was over or Just as
| it ended.
however, for, as at Gettysburg, there was
glory enough to go round, F" but for the un
| fortunate wording of Sampson S despatch tell
ing of the destruction of Cervera's fleet, i'll
which he assumed the credit of the victory
and ignored Schley. The American people
resented this, and hence arose the Sampson
Schley controversy. The Navy Department
aud the President continued to support Samp-
son opposed TO Schley. Every officer con-
cerned in the fight was promoted, the Com
mander-in Chief receiving the first promotion,
Schley as second in command the second, and
so on. But Schley's friends objected to this;
confirmation of the nominations was delayed
for long time, and ultimately Sampson was
deprived of the honors that would have been
his if the CONTROVERSY had not arisen. Samp-
sons friends were not idle, however. They
attacked Schley with unexamped malice,
which is reflected in Macays history. where
in Schiey is denounced as a catiff, liar and
coward and held up to the scorn of his coun-
trymen.
The charges against Schley are these:
That instead of going on to Santiago he
fingered for several days at Cienfuegos with
out ascertainng that Cervera was not there,
until the arrival of Captain McCalla. But
the reason for this delay has just been dis
closed by Rear Admiral Evans, who says
that all the Captains had been given code of
signals with which TO communicate with the
rebels OH shore except the Captain of the
Brooklyn and Commodore Schley, Why
Schley was kept in ignorance of the signals
and code is one OF the points of inquiry to
come before the court.
That, having almost reached Santiago, he
turned back, dIsobeying an order to coal at
sea, but afterwards coaltd and returned. TO
this Schley makes answer by producing let
| IL
pondence officially published. in which Samp
son expressed the opinion that if Cevera had
gone TO Santiago he would have to come out
and make for Cienfuegos, or Havana, and di-
recting Schey to guard Cienfuegos.
That in The battle the Brooklyn ran away
from the Spanish vessels. This charge is
based upon the handling of the vessels. I'M
der the direction of Schley the Brooklyn de
scribed circle, temporarily turning away
from the foe to avoid hlanketing the fire of
other vessels and to get commanding posi-
ton from which to head off the escaping YES
sels Cervera and other Spanish officers ad
nit that the maneuvres of the Brooklyn frus-
trated their plans.
1t is not worth while now to discuss the
case, nor to do anything more than state the
principal issues. The Ledger" is well
pleased that an inquiry is to be held, and
hopes that it may be made so thorough and
comprehensive as to furnish reliable history
of the operations Of the navy in and about
Cuba and do exact justice to all men.