The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-21
ADMIRAL sAMPS0N's0 OBJECTION
c,sims That He Was in Command and schIey
SecoGd ii Santiago.
(Rr Associated Press,

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Decembe-. 20.
The objection of Admiral sampson, to
Admiral Dewey's report of the Court. o.
inquiry, IN Which he saysethat5 Adlnlsa
5chley was III command at santiago an
entitled to the credit Of the victory, wa
Iiled with Secretary Ions. TODAY, at the
Navy Department.
The document was brought to the Navy
Department by Mr.. e. S. Theal, Of coun.e
sci for Admiral Sampson, anu handed to
the Secretary. 1t follows:
$50 Broad Street, New York, Dec. l?,
1901
..Sir.-As counsel for Rear-Admiral
SAMPSON. we Lave the honor to request
that the department, for the seasons. be-
low stated, strike out of speclncallY dls-
approve that portion of Admiral Dewey S.
opinion fled i'll connection With the pro-
ceedngs of the Schley Court of Inquiry,
in which he stated his views TO, be that
Commodore Schley was in absolute COM
nand at the naval battle OF Santiago.
II. Commodore Sclley was not in COM
n,and at that battle
"rhc disposition sf the forces at the
beginning of the battle, according to
Commodore Schley's own sta sment
II ce Adm raj Sampson III command.
The Brooklyn an6s ViXer. we're the 5west-r-
most Sims of the fleet, and the Glouces-
was nearer both Of tie latter than was
The BROOKLYN. and notably at The, time
when the ln6iana was. heavily engaged
at the beginning of the action, ana Wllei
the Gloucester was engaged with TIE eu-
ro,. a1d Pluton. Commodore oc.iieE says:
q he Indiana and Gloucester We're
closer to Your flagship than to the Brook-
,yn.' We have then the case Oh 4 meet
;, regular formation with the commander
IA -f-,,- -
"a :, large number of the ships than is
tho second in command. 1t is true that
l-,ha communicating hicf coulo not have
reached The most distant vessel by Sig
ais. except by causing them 10 be re-
peatc,s by an intermediate ressci-sn en-
tirelv unsual course but it is equal.Y
r-3a that the second in commando could
not have reached The. remote vessel OF
inc ,lcet-.lamely, the indiana ana the
loucestcr-without likewise repestti.is .iis
;,pals an tI.is state OF affairs the reSu-
a7ions of the navy and the customs OF
nc sen Mace the absolute command
| nd The iulls responsibility in the senior
| pEicer
| ..rrbe Brooklyn,ss n,enauvTe during the
! r,t:on DESTROYS any claim that Co:amo-
| lore Schley might. haze had to- tue conf
,nand The factsss,s to the loop are lou;l1
/ nv. tho court. The finding and opinion
50 lilll- 10 ~ oA>.s ~, 20 - =. az
! no n.aneuyered without warning to The
! st CT the squadron and IN d1sr esard OF
! he fleet formation
1 III. The President of. tho United States
1 md the Eayw Department had decided
! that Admiral Sampson was in command
1 1t that battle and O. mmodure3 SchlcS
.ccolad in. command.
This fact was before. the court; FOL
| The secretaTiy's letter to the Senate
! dated February G, 1891 states that the
/ iSranisl. squadron was destroyed by oul
1 aeet rrde,. his tsampsons, command.
md the advancement of Commodore
i Schley was proposed in recognition OF
his services as next in rank at tite VIC
i tory of Santiago.
i iii. The question as to- who com
i the cosrt for considerations Evidence
bearing en- the point was excluded.