The Washington times., 1901-11-08

- 1ce of orders may be an impera-
I'd glorious duty. but, il it he not
d by the facts. it cannot he con-
by terming il an error of Judg-
This was not an error of judg-
IT vas an error Of condnct
Llnging the squadron back to Santiago
the Judge advocate said nothing was
done toward attacking the enemy unui
the 3Ist Of May. when the reconnaissance
or bOmbardmeut was made. the total time
Of all firing then being seven minutes and
thirtv-five seconds. THE Colon was nus
destroyed or disabled; and with the pos
sible exception of one shot all fell saoIl'
ONLY three vessels of the force available.
the Massachusetts. the Iowa. ana the
New OIleans were employed in the affair.
the others being engaged in coalihS. J ne
applicant cannot now success stullE piCdu
that he did not know how close ms YES
sells went in II was his duty to KNOW
and during the hombarimont he Wig
vagged to the Iowa. at 2:t9 p. M 10
not go in any closer. ,.. 81
1T has been claimed that the nbJtcI ~
this graiI of Nav 81 was to develop IN
.,utmN-. batteries. and that this was &c
cnnpIiSbcd There is. however, a great
deal OF Goubt. in view nt the varying slE-
ra}s and statements made by the CVIl-
m0duvo both before and after the |filoh
as to- what was the real object, Wntthcr
a reconnaissance or an attempt 10 &c
stroy tho Colon.
CrI;iciSes the Reconnoissnncc-
"Rogald ng it as a reconnaissance. could
the strength of the cnemy's fire and the
caiihre Of his guns have been successfully
developed by such distant firing? Had
the enemy heavy guns unknown to the
attacking force he should not have been
tempted to show The fact in view of the
range employed. His game would have
been to deceive his assailants into coming
closer. either then or on another occa-
sion. But the weight Of the evidence is
that even as a reconnaissance the aitalf
was futile.
..The defence o the failure to go in
closer on May 81. by. pleading az lhls
time the cautionary order OF April ., dots
not appear TO he sufficient, even II tue
commodore WAS acquainted with its con-
tents The order modifies itse!t, ana from
first 10 last clearly indicates that or
ifeet was 10 he kept for the Spanish ships
and that the destruction OF the-Iattef
was its paramount mission
I-pon the subject Of the battle the Judge
advocate said:
adduc,d confirms my view in this respect,
that the Brooklyn, rs a ship, did consplc-
uous duty in this battle. on the other
hand. submit that the evidence snow
that it was a captains fight, and, with
out disparaCeme 10 Commodore SchleY
personal conduct on that occasion, thdt
there was no such concerted action oisthe
vessels engaged as to indicate their con
trol by any one person All GNluenIE
strove TO do their utmost and thus was
accomplished one Of the grandest naval
Victories ever Won.
the harbur entrance when it was dlScoN-
cred that the enemys vessels We're max
ing n Sortic. Such was not only liei,
prescribed duty but their natural ana
proper course in such circumstances. m
like manner when the Spanish Meet STOOD
westward. il was the duty of our vessels
to follow, whether or not the signal 4 OIL
low flag was made
The BrooI1Iyn's Loop.
Speaking Of The Broolllyn's loop Cap
tain Lemly expressed t.Ie opinion, based
Juon evidence. that in turning TO star
board when all the other American YES
sells turned to port the Brooklyn endan-
gered not only the Texas. but other YES
sels as well. It was, he said, closely es-
tablished that the Texas stopped and that
she reversed one if not both of her en-
cines The responsibility for this move,
he argued. rested entirely upon COmmo-
dore Schiey. sud it could not be delegated
to any one hy him as squadron com
rnander. Captain Cooks evidence on TINS
point seems as a whole, he SAID. 10
indicate that he considered himself IN a
naval duel and initiated the turn TO
the starbuard without so much as asking
the commodore, within lew Nesl OF MN;
whether he approved "A step Ihat lhNolveu
the squadron movements rms coiihiiuS
enlarged. that +hc battle Of Santiago was
4 captains fight. At best the loop was a
trems sndous risk. and. submit without
ADEQUATE Justification. Whatever as
fance the BROOKLYN ran in making this
turn he cnntended that she did turn from.
Instead of toward, the enemy II would
seem" lie said, that she should have
adopted the other course. If not Tor the
purpose of placing herself nearer Ger
vera-s ships AT least in order to escape
any possibility Of endanserinS or delay
ing the other vessels of our squadron
Fer had she reen more imperiied IN
Giyidually by staIhosrdins her helm. no
injury TO her from the enemy could have
epuaied the dire results OF two nlted
States Ships virtuIliE committing suicide.
II is wen known that unexpected injury
from friends is far moro dcmoralzing III
action than from the eTemE, always 10
be expected and think of the effect upon
the enemy Of tltrn with starboard helm
" hich ap9ears to haVe been disre garded-
Taking the distance at the time the turn
Nas be- CUR at the lowest figure given, say
! .nl3 Yards the Brooklyn would not have
her entire tactical diameter toward the
enemy if she had turned to port, partic-
uiarly i she had backed the port engine
iu turning
Cleared of Coysardice.
After discussing briefly the Hodgsou in
cideut ana Commodore Schleys alleged
"D-u the Texas which. he
said. he did not consider a very grave
matter. Captain Tsemly closed his speech
and the entire argument Of the case with
he following words:
From my knowledge Of the man, hav-
tug served under his command on two
cruises / have never believed, nor do
claim from the evidence, that personal
misCouduCt-or. TO call spade 2iade,
c1WaUdice was exhibited by Commodore
Schley in any part OF his career as com
mander-in-Chief Of the Flying Squadron.
But J submit with regret that In the
passage from Key West to tienfueGoS,
vi nile at the latter port, en- route to tn.
SouihWaId OF Santiago. without Sett~
destination in the r. rstrOgrade movement.
ia the T turn TO the vicinity of Santiago
and in the affair Of Nav 81 the comInu-
durc exhibited unsteadincSs in purpose
nd push and failure to obey orders The
cbarftcte erization Of this conduct Is, how
yer. TOR the Court ! trust that ! may
a- paTdaDed if J remind you. gentlemen,
that the first Importance of the matters
before YOU is not As they relate To ans
individual but a = they concern the naval
ard of conduct 20 be followed In futur,
.luiIar cases-a standard such as that sci
v our great naval commanders. Ike John
Paul Jones Decatur, Perry. Farragut. tn,
-.sIt,rs. and others. a sense Of prophet.
Corhids my mentioning the living
There was no attempt al applause when
capt Lemly concluded. although m.
crowd VAS large. lie was not on tho
popular side Of the case. and this fact
.,as apparent to him. The spf cLators saw
aOtniug IN his remarks to call forth any
demonstrations of approval although
heg gay, him close and careful attention.
he read his entire address from type
y, but with no attaupt at dramatic q
-,cr ila 9uUrtCiatsl fhr prpDTIvti,G Gi