The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-26
Circulation Statement.
The Forged Vixen Log.

If the Sampson ring in the Navy De
partment ever thought that it could de-
lude the American public into the belief
that Admiral Sch}ey had the smallest
chance of fair play II its hands, it must
have surrendered the notion by this
time. The exposure of the Justification
of the Vixen's log. to make it appear
that Sampson was present at the sur
render of Cervera, when the genuine
leg shows that his flagship did not
heave in sight until half an hour after
the last Spanish vessel had submitted.
has satisfied the country that certain
enemies of the victor of Santiago in the
service are not above committing for
gerry in CIDER to crafty their spite and
wrath against him.
The Vixen revelation has excited
both surprise and Indignation through
out the United States and amazement
in EuI -pe. Senator Depew, who, on
Saturday. returned from a trans-Atlan-
tic outing, says that abroad there is
contempt and derision toward the
American Navy" There is nothing of
that sort here, but there certainly is
throughout the country extreme dis
gust over the naval administration of
Secretary Long, and the nest of con-
spirators against gallant officers and
the honor of the service he has allowed
to exist under his eyes.
Aside from what may happen to them
as result of developments before the
Schley Court of Enquiry, it is alto
sether probable that they will hear
from Congress not long after its meet
ing in December. The Senate especial
ly very likely will have a large-sized
bone to pick with whoever is RESPONSE
BILE for sending TO that body an altered
and faIsified log of the Vixen. in con-
nectioH with the report of the sea bat
tie off Santiago which it had called
upon the Navy Department to furnish.
Fortunately the original log is now in
the hands OF Admiral Schley's counsel,
and it is not nice reading for Long,
Hackett Crowninshield, and other
avowed partisans of Sampson.
The forged log would make it appear
that the Vixen and the New York were
in close company during the later part
of the e. .agement. The genuine log
shows that the New York was still
eight miles away vixen the Colon, the
last of Cervera's squadron TO surrender,
struck her flag. The forged log gives
the impression that the Vixen-with
the New York close off shore'-was
in the thick of the fight. The truth is
that. at the time in question, Sampson
was behind the horizon" and the
the enemy. The commander of the Vix-
en-, Lieut.. Alexander Sharp, jr., as ap-
pears in the genuine log. seeing that his
vessel was too badly outclassed to take
a prominent part in the engagement
ordered Lieutenant Harlow to make
notes If the battle as it progressed
Lieutenant Harlow did so, and among
other interesting professional observa-
tons, noted that Commodore Schley's
famous loop headed OFF the Spanish
ships, and resulted in a speedy end to
the fight
The Sampson navy ring have all
along insisted that all they wanted was
that Admiral Schley should ask for
Court of Enquiry. when they would
show the ,sS~ld what they could do to
him Well, he has asked for the court.
and they have their wish. But their
position is not the triumphant one they
expected. Their preparations. devices.
falsifications, and forgeries have not
worked as smoothly as they might. and,
several weeks in advance of the first
sitting of the court. it is obvious that
somebody other than Admiral Schley
is to be on trial