Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-12-20
FINDINGS OF THE COURT
IN THE SCHLEY INQUIRY.

Admiral Dewey Gives SchIey the Credit
Of the Santiago victory-The other two
Members Of the Court Stand by the
Navy Department-The Verdict Much
Criticised.
The report of the Schley Court of
Inquiry was promulgated by Secretary
Long Friday night. There are two
reports. Admirals Benham and Ram
say concurriDg in the first, which is
signed by Admiral Dewey also as a
matter of form, but he make a sepa
rate report.
The majority opinion fluids in brief
that Admiral Schley should have pro
ceeded with the utmost dispatch to
| Cienfuegos and maintained a close
blockade; that be should have endeav-
ored to have obtained Information OF
the Spanish squadron there; that be
should have proceeded to Santiago
with dispatch; that be should not have
made the %retrOgade movement; that
be should have carried the Depart
ment's instructions out; that he should
have endeavored to have captured the
Spanish vessels in Santiago; that be
did not do his utmost to destroy the
Colon; that he caused the squadron
to lose distance in the loop of the
Brookly; that he thereby caused the
Texas to back; that he did injustice to
HOdgSon; that his conduct in the cam
paign was characterized by v%accillatiOn
and dilatOriness anG lack of enterprise;
that his official reports on the coal sup
ply were misleading and inaccurate;
that his conduct during the battle was
e lfpossessed, and he encouraged in
Lis own person his subordinate officers
and men.
THE DEWEY REPORT.
In the opinion of the undersigned,
the passage from Key West to Glen
fuegos was made by the Flying Squad
ron with all possible dispatch, Commo-
dore Schley having in view the i'm
pOrtance of arriving off Cienfuegos
with as much coal as possible in the
ships bankers.
The blockade of Cienfuegos was eff.
fective. Commodore Schley in per
hitting the steamer Adula to enter the
port of Cienfuegos expected to obtain
information concerning the Spanish
squadron when she came out.
The passage from CienfuegOs to a
point about % miles south of Santiago
was made with as much dispatch as
possible while keeping the squadron a
unit. The blockade of Santiago was
effective.
Commodore Schley was the senior
officer of our squadron off Santiago
when the Spanish squadron attempted
to escape IN the morning of July 8,
1898. He was in absolute command,
and is entitled to the credit due such
commanding officer for the glorious
victory which resulted in the total
destruction of the Spanish ships.
GEORGE DEWEY,
Admiral q. 8. Navy.
Mr.. 1sidor Rayner, whose defence of
Admiral Schley has won him the ad-
miration of the people, when appraised
of the findings of the court, said it
was a terrible blow to him, but his
manner, no less than his words, gave
indication that this is not to be the
end, on the contrary, he will counsel
and aid Admiral Schley to fight to the
last ditch for the vindicatlon that has
been denied him by two admirals who
have never fired a gun in a war as it
must be conducted today
"My honor has been vindicated and
I AN satisfied with the decision of the
court" This was the only comment
Admiral Schley would make after
hearing a synopsis of the two reports
of the court of inquiry.