Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-12-19
OPINION OF
SCHLEY COURT
Not What Public Expected or his
Friends Wanted.
MAJORITY REPORT AGAINST HIM.
Admiral Dewey Makes Supplemental
Report Favorable to Admiral
Schley.
MAJORITY REPORT AGAINST HIM.
The follow Is the OPINION Vi 'ne

Commodore SCuley, III OOu
fiying squadron, should have proceeded
with the utmost dispatch OF Cienuegos
and should have maintained close block
ade of that port.
He should have endeavored On May
o3rd at Cienfuegos to obtain info' nation
regarding the Spanish squadron by COM
mnn,cs,iug with the insurgents at the
Mace designated in tie memorandum
delivered TO hun at SIS a. NJ o' thS'
day.
He should have proceeded from Glen
freoos fo Santiago de Cuba with all dis
patch and should have disposed his ves-
sells with a view of intercepting the enemy
in any attempt to pass the flying squad
ron.
He should not have delayed the squad
ron for the Eagle,
He should not have made the retro
grade movement with his squadron.
He should have promptly obeyed the
Navy Departments order Of May 20
He should have endeavOred to capture
or destroy that Spanish vessels at anchor
near the entrance of Santiago harbor on
30 and go
4 He did not do his utmost with the force
4 under his command to capture or destroy
the Colon and other vessels Of the enemy
which he attacked on May 81.
By commencing the engagement on July
8 with the port battery and turning the
BROOKLYN around with port helm, COmmo'
dore Schley caused her to lose distance
and posjt,on with the Spanish vessels
especially with the Viscaya and Colon
The turn of the Brooklyn to starboard,
was made to avoid getting her into dan
gerous proximity to the Spanish vessels
The turn was made toward the Texas and
caused that vessel to stop and back her
engines to avoid possible collision
Admiral Schley did injustice 10 Ieuten-
ant Commander A. G. HodgsOn in pull
fishing portion of the correspondence
which passed between them.
Commclore Schley's conduct in con-
nection with the events Of the Santiago
campaign lniyr To June lst, 1898, was
characterized vaccillatiOn, dilatoriness and
- lack of enterprise.
His official reports regarding the coal
supply ami tie coalins facilities OF the fiy'
inc soua5 IRON were inaccurate and mislead-
ing.
His conjuct during the battle of July 81
4 was selfpossessed and he encouraged IN
hhls own person, his subordinate officers
EMsn to fight courageously.
GEORGE DEWEY,
AGal, U. S. n, President
SAN. c. LEMIY.
& RE Schley havinI
Bdore Schley in permitting th
IN Adula to enter the port of Glen
expected to obtain information
pserning the Spanish squadron from he
khen she came out.
kChe passage from Clenfuegos to a poln
80 miles south of Santiago was mad
much dispatch as was possibl
kepiug the squadron a unit.
- Eockade of Santiago was effective
Eodore Schley was the senior Off
&r SQUADRON off Santiago when tn
= = Z||5 squadron attempted to escape q
Irning of July 81, 1898. He was il
T. h,e command and is entitled to tt
III due to such commanding officer IL
ne glorious victory which resulted in tn
y total destruction of the Spanish ships.
GEORGE DEWEY,
Admiral U. S. N.
SAM. G. LEMLY,
Judge Advocate General U. S. N.
Judge Advocate
RECOMMENDATION.
In view of The length of time which bs
elapsed since tie occurrence Of the event
of the san ago campaign the court recon
mends no further proceedings be had
the premises.
(Signed,) GEORGE DEWEY
Il Admiral U. s. N.
SAM. G. LEMLY,
~ Judge Advocate General U. S. N,
Judge Advocate
Spirited Contest for Coal Lands.
About one month ago two tracts OF co