The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-28

Cnntnin CInrI, of thc nrcrnn-

About the only reason thus far given
by Secretary Long for rewarding and
honoTinE CroWninshield with the COM
manG of the European Squadron, is
that To the present head of the Bureau
of Navigation belongs the credit of
bringing the Oregon from the Pacific
Coast, and making her a part of the
fleet operating in Cuban waters Crown
inshield is said 10 have suggested il.
To layman il seems like a perfectly
natural suggestion. After the destruc-
ton OF the Spanish fleet at Ma
Mia, the great battIeship was not
needed in the Pacific. and she was
needed on the Atlantic side. The
thought of having her make the pas
sage around cape Horn was all wen
enough, but il was hardly a service
which calls for the recognition that is
10 be bestowed
The really remarkable thing connect
ed with the OTeEon's voyage was the
making OF it. and for this we have 10
thank partly the good ship herself. and
partly the gallant officer who com
manded her. not only during the Iou-
and arduous journey, but in the bril-
liant battle which resulted i'm the de
structiOn of CcTvera's fleet To CAPTAIN
Clark belongs the glory Of the voyage
and to him also. next To Admiral
Schley. belongs the glory of Santiago.
Doubtless all Of the captains in com
mand Of vessels off the harbor at the
time OF Cervera's dash did the best
they could under the circumstances.
But as the Spanish ships turned TO the
westward in their flight. the slower
vessels OF the American feet were iaft
50 far behind in the race that the bruut
Of the battle rested upon the Brooklyn
and TIE Oregon. II is morally certain
that but for these two ships the most
Of the Spanish squadron would have
escaped-probabiy the whole Of it
would. excepting only the torpedo
boats 1t was the Brooklyn that lei
the chase with the Oregon a Close sec
ond. and the other vessels So far in
the rear as scarcely TO be discernib-e
when the Colon hauled down her flag.
The evidence upon this point is abs1-
lutely conclusive.
Captain Clark brought his ship safely
through voyage that was the admit
ration Of the whole naval world. ana
then fought her with rEsurT assed gal
laItry and skill in the battle which Viz
tually ended the war with Spain. No
commander of a single snip in That war
made finer record, perhaps ucn- 50
fine. but sun h is only plain captain
while one who was merely carpet
knight in that conflict is given the
credit Of Captain Clarks magnificent
voyage upon the score that n is said
to have suggested it,
Probably it is upon some such theory
as this that the Nav Department has
hailed Sampson as the victor OF san
tiago. He at one time SO it is alleged.
suggested that if the Spanish ships
came out of Santiago Bay. they should
b. attacked They were attacked. and
destroyed, without any OF his help, but
he suggested that it be done, and there
fore. according to Navy Department
philosophy. the glory should be- his And
while referring 10 the matter of sug-
gestions, why stop here? Somebody
suggested sending Dewey in search Of
d Spanish fleet and somebody suE-
gested despatching another feet into
Cuban waters. where the final blows
were struck Why not give all the
glory 10 the suggesters and be done
with it,