The Washington times., 1901-08-22

The NAVY Conspiracy.

We desire to ask President Mckinley
this pointed question. DO you think 1t
just to the service or to the credit of
your Administration to keep Captain
and ex officio Rear Admiral CrOwnin-
shield at the head of the Navigation
Bureau, and practically in control of
the Navy Department and the navy. in
view of the startling developments OF
the past day or two? The country is,
to be sure. more angered than sur
prised but all the same it is looking for
and demands prompt and drastic exec
utive action in the premises.
In the course of the examination of
naval records and documents bearing
upon his case it has been discovered by
Admiral Schleys counsel that altera-
tons and omissions have been resorted
to by somebody, in order TO discredit
him. The telegram he sent to the de-
partment some time before his victory
over Cervera, and upon which the
charge of "disobedience of orders in
Mr. Longs ''precept" to the Court of
Enquiry is based, read: Much to be
regretted, orders of department cannot
be obeyed. Have striven earnestly.
On the Navy Department files this mes
sage has been altered by striking out
the words. have striven earnestly" In
short Admiral Schley, having been Ar
dered TO do something impracticable.
could not be successfully accused of
disobedience if he had ''striven earnest
ly' to comply with his instructions. so
the fact OF his efforts to obey has been
carefully suppressed. Can Mr.. Mckin-
ley imagine that the American people
will stand that sort of thing forever?
Again, it appears that the log CT the
Vixen las been tempered with, appar-
emily in order to make it appear that
the New York. with Sampson on board,
was within signaling distance VIXEN
the Vizcaya and Colon surrendered, re-
spectively, at Hes and HIS O'Clock On
the morning of July 3. 1855. AS printed
by Crowninshield in the Navy Depart
ment report. the log of the Vixen is
made to say:
AT l1:0l the yizcaya ported helm and head
ed about east, the Texas firing forward gun.
Iowa and View York c,ose Cd shore. and torpedo
boat asteTn OF New York about mile.
AT Il .Oi Nizcaya starboarded and stood close
insfore. At II :o5 Vixen opened IRE Nizoaya.
and at 1i:g7 her colors down and orders
were given On board the Vixen to Cease hring.
There seems to be little doubt that
some one in the Navy Department
"doctored'' the log Of the Vixen to make
it appear to show that Sampson's ship.
the New York, sin company with
the Vixen, and therefore to be consid-
cred as in the battle 1t is said that at
the Court of Enquiry it will be proven
that the real log OF the Vixen read as
follows:
AT 11:05 the yizcaya turned TO run ASSURE,
and did 20 10 the west Of Santiago, with ;he
New York eight miles away from her. and the
Colon thirteen miles away from the New York"
The board of officers of the feet who,
after the action, reviewed the move
ments OF the vessels engaged found
that, when the Colon surrendered at
lis, the New York was still nine miles
away from her Possibly MIR. Mckinley
and the members Of his Administration
may think that the country will toler-
ate Justification, fabrication, and for
gerry as means of robbing a gallant and
victorious officer of his battle laureis,
that they may be wickedly given to
another whom the facts of history
prove to have been absent and utterly
unconnected with the Santiago engage
ment. If so, they make a monumental
mistake. 1t is time for the President TO
show his hand, and to convince the peo-
pie that he at least desires to see justice
and fair play in the case at bar In no
way can he do this other than by re-
moving the officials who stand for
Sampsonism in the department, and
they include Long, Hackett, and
Crowninshield