The Washington times., 1901-08-02
The Battle That sampson Avoided.

AS a doctor of applied criticism.
Sampson needs to remember the admo-
milton: Physician, heel thyself!" He
should be indeed well heeled when the
time comes for him to defend his thesis
that everything done by Admiral SchIey
in the Cuban campaign was wrong, and
everything done by himself was right.
1t is true that he has the Navigation
Bureau conspiracy and the good will
and aid of the Administration behind
him, but that does not quite make him
omnipotent, for the ascertained facts
and the truth are against and will con-
found him. The seventh article of the
precept issued for the guidance of the
Court of Enquiry directs it to ascer-
tain:
Whether or not every effort incumbent upon
the commanding officer of feet under such
circumstances was made to capture or destroy
the Spanish cruiser Colon as she lay at anchor
in the entrance to Santiago HarbOr May q to
81. inclusive, and the necessity for or advisa-
bility of engaging the batteries at the entrance
10 Santiago Harbor and the Spanish vessels at
anchor within the entrance to said harbor, at
the ranges used, and the propriety OF Com
modore Schley's conduct in the premises"
1t will not be difficult to determine the
question of the propriety of Commo-
dore Schley's conduct in the premises.''
Pursuant 10 the orders of the Navy De-
partment, the record shows that on the
afternoon of May 81, 1888. he made a
reconnaissance o" the harbor mouth in
order to develop the fact that Ger
vera's squadron was inside. if possible
to ascertain it's strength and that OF
the land batteries, and TO inflict dam
age on the Cristobal Colon if she should
be found barring the entrance, as had
been reported. Commodore Schley ef-
fected the movement and ran in close
enough to learn that Cervera's ships
were in the inner harbor, sheltered be-
s hind an island and out of the effective
reach of his guns. For failing to dis
cover the enemy in a position more
favorable for action, Sampson has Sc
verely criticised the Victor of Santiago.
Judging from appearances, Sampson
has resented every failure to save him
from the possibility of having to engage
Cervera himself.
AS We have stated, the reconnaissance
made by Commodore Schley occurred
on May 81. On the next morning at
o'clock of June l. Sampson appeared
on the scene. The latter, in his official
report of the campaign, says that i'm
mediately after his arrival Il steamed
down past the entrance to Santiago
Harbor and saw lying close within the
Cristobal Colon and one Of the ViZcaya
class. Both of these got up steam and
moved up into the harbor out Of sight"
The natural inference from this state
ment is, and no doubt was intended TO
be that the two enemy vessels retired
so quickly that Sampson did not have
time TO fire on them. There is appar-
entity incontrovertible evidence that he
had plenty of time to attack them, and
utterly and amazingly omitted to avail
himself of the opportunity. The log of
the Colon tells the story. 1t is therein
written:
-Four to eight u. m, June l: The enemys
squadron in sight passing the mouth OF the
harbor from east TO west, aftcrward from west
10 east, at n great distance and beyond range
OF our guns; they-SppeIr to have been re-en-
forced BY several vessels At nine u. IN. sent
men TO coal the Furore At twenty minutes
past ten a. m, by order Of the commandant gen
eral of the squadron, cast Of the springs. AT
twenty-five minutes 20 eleven Il. m. got under
way and. under direction of the commanding Of
acer cast to astarboard and under slow speed
passed between Punia Corda and the bow of the
0quendo. Directed course into the inner
harbor until ten minutes to twelve a. m, at
which time csine TO anchor
The above excerpt from the log Of the |
Colon shows that instead of running
away instantly at the sight of Samp- |
sons flagship with its train OF re-en-
forcements. the Spaniards waited for |
four hours and twenty minutes before
moving out of what would have been
the range of his guns II the New York
had been as near the harbor mouth as
his report would make the country be-
lieve. On the face of the record he is