The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-25
SAMPSON .E&g GALL.
Ee Claims That Ee Was in Command
at the Santiago Fight.

The objection Of ". 7. Sampson to
that part Of Admiral DsEey's report Of
the Schley court Of inquiry in which
be says tina! Schlcy vas in command st
the battle of Santiago and is entitled to
tie credit for tie victory, Vas Il ed 9Th
Secretary Long Friday. Tho document
follows:
"As counsel for Rear Admiral Samp-
con, We hs7e the honor to II quest that
the department strike cut, or apacif:al-
~ diaeppro7e, Of thst portion Of Ad-
nirai Dewey's opinion fled io oo0nsc-
tion With the proceedings C he SeA:ey
court cf irq1iry in wh;oa he s:a~es
that his vltw. uosld be tast Comno-
do1e Schley IVES in sbsoluse command
at the Ds7al battle Of Santiago. Com
nodcrc Schley vas lot in eomnsrG at
that battle.
The President Of the United S :ates
and tha Navy Department had d d.oided
thst Admiral Sampson was il command
OF the ha..l3 and Sohley was second II
commscd. Yhe question IS 20 who
commanded So Saetiago IVES net re-
ierTed to TIE court for consideration,
and the ev.i:-cs cesrirg On the poinr
wss eZ3!RGe1. Sahiey gss rot il ooa-
maDd st he bzestie. The disposition oe
tie forc:s at the beginning 0; tao bit,
tie, scso1GiIg to Sch.eys oga State
mea5, places Sampson IN command.
The B:ooklyn AID tao Vgxan were
the Eestsr0mass ships Of the fl .eE. Ihe
Ipdlana ana Gloucester Wero Es.tcra.
most. The NeT York was nearer both
than vas the latter ard tie Brooklyn,
and nosably at the time when tie In,
diana vas heavily engaged, st TIE be.
ginning Of TIE scsion, and whsn the
Gloucester Ras epg=gad Snh the Furor
a2d Plutoa."
"Schley Gays: The Indians and
Gloucester we're cicser to ycuc ships
than to The Brooklyn W. hava, tneo,
the case Of . f .sa II regular formation,
wish commaadec.ie chief wishia zig.
asl distance and olcscr to large aun.
Der Of ships than bis sscond II csn-
mana.
''It is true that the conmscdsr in
chief coald not have reached ehs most
distant vessels By signals exc.p. BY
cauains them to be reported by al IL
sernedials 7oss:i, 81 entirely u.ual
course, but it is squally true shss the
second in comnand could net have
resched the rcmote vesssls Of the iael
(,ansly, the Indians and the Glouces-
eer) without likewise repeating the
signals. In this state Of affaira tie
| traditions Of the Gsvy and customs q
shs aga place absolute conma3d and
fall responsibility Il tie secior oGser.
"The Brookiyl's maneu7ers during
| the action destroyed any claim thst
Sahley might have had to connsrd.
The io6ing and op;nio2 show that, to
avoid danger to his oTn snip: hs ma
| reu7sred without Tar1ias TO the rest
of she aq1aoTon and in disrasard Ct the
hsst forna5ion.
''Tae q1.stioa as 10 E5o ao2nsa5s3
as Santiago sas Eog referred to the
court fcr consideration. E ideuce he&r
Ing upon shat point Eas excluded Il
Sohlsy Waz il conmsrd, Aop;sal Ssnp-
sc1 va. not, and If the question Tas 10
bo considered By tbs court, eufeig
Sampson wss entitled to hearing,
which Tas Eepsa'sdl5 refused rim.
"Ghe iaDguay, Of tho pceoept ex.
ciudes she q7asaion as 20 wac com
zaa2dsd at the bAetje. Il d;raets the
court to .;rq1:re into ths conduct Ct
Advirai Sonisy, rot ;nso lis status or
az to whether Re Has y comma ID,
and 20 rspczsits conclusion upon his COZ
duct il connection E.th tlo Santiago
campaign"