The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1901-12-27
PASSING
EVENTS
OF Men and Things in the
Public Mind.

In as much as the Schey-Sampsoi
controversy as to who was the re0
hero at the battle of Santiago, and il
as much as the court of inquiry ap
pointed by the secretary of the nav,
has rendered it's decision in the mat
ter, which decision is not wholly &C
cepted by the general public, the Re
publican has concluded to give It's
readers the benefit of the exact diff
ferenees OF opinions of the members
of the court of inquiry as to actual
facts Of the engagement and the part
Admiral Schley played therein, as
taken from the most salient questions
and the decisions of the Judges OIL
each point:
l. Did Schley proceed with all dis
patch to Cienfugegos? Ramsey and
Benham-No. Dewey-Yes, having III
view the Importance of arriving with
as much coal as possible.
2. Did he maintain a close block
ade of Cienfuegos? Ramsay and
Benham-No Dewey-The blockade
was. effective
3. Did he use all possible means to
ascertain whether Cervera was in
Cienfuegos? Ramsey and Benham-
No. Dewey-He expected to ascertain
by the Adula
4. Did he proceed with all dispatch
from Cienfuegos to Santiago? Ramsay
and Benham-No. Dewey-With as
much dispatch as possible while keep
ing the squadron a unit.
5. Should he have delayed for the
Eagle? Ramsay and Benham - No
Dewey-Apparently, no; but see his
answer to No. 4.
s. Did he dispose his vessels with a
view to intercepting the enemy IN any
attempt to pass him? Dewey, Ram
say and Benham-No.
Z. Was he forced to return to Key
West for -coal?" Dewey, Ramsay and
Benham-No.
S.Could he have coaled off Cienfue-
gos and Santiago? Dewey, Ramsay
and ,Benham-Yes.
-. Was the retreat from Santiago
} justified? Dewey Ramsay and Ben
ham-No.
TO- Did he leave Santiago wholly
unguarded for twenty-three hours, and
guarded only by an unarmored ship
lDtcr twenty-five hours? Dewey, Rarl-
say and Benham-Yes.
H. Did he give Cervera chance
to escape? Dewey, Ramsay and Ben
ham-Yes.
12. Did he make any effort to as
certain whether Cervera was in San
Rtiago2 Dewey, Ramsay and Benham
NO.
Is. Was his failure to obey the
order of May 25 Ito ascertain that
factl justified? Dewey, Ramsay and
Benham-No.
IA Did he endeavor to capture or
destroy the Spanish vessels at anchor
near the Santiago harbor entrance on
May 29 and 80? Dewey, Ramsay and
Benham-No.
15 Did he do his utmost to capture
or destroy the Colon or other vessels
which he attacked on May 81? Dew
ey, Ramsay and Benham-No.
16. Was his blockade of Santiago
after his return there effective?
Ramsay and Benham state character
of blockade but express no opinion.
Dewey-It was effective.
II. Did the Brooklyn's loop cause
her to lose distance and position with
the Spanish vessels? Dewey, Ramsay
and Benham-Yes.
IS. Was the loop made to "avotG
getting into dangerous proximity to
the Spanish vessels? Dewey Ramsay
and Benham-Yes.
49, Did the loop cause the Texas 70
stop and back her engines to avoid
danger of collision? Dewey Ram
say and Benham-Yes.
20. Was the Brooklyn's loop justI-
fed? No opinion is directly express
ed, but see answers to Nos. II, Is and
10.
OF nid q oouvorcotiOn rapar rdinp tho
proximity of the Texas take place be
tween Schley and Hodgson at the time
the loop began? Dewey, Ramsay and
Benham-Yes.
%. Did Schley do Hodgson injustice
in publishing only part of their cor
respondence about the conversation?
Dewey, Ramsay and Benham-Yes.
%. Was Schley's conduct during the
battle of July 8 self-possessed, and did
he encourage his crew to fight cour-
ageously? Dewey, Ramsay and Ber-
ham-Yes.
"a. Were his official reports regard
ing his coal supply and coaling facili-
ties inaccurate and misleading? Dew
ey, Ramsay and Benham-Yes.
25. Was his conduct in connection
with the events of the Santiago cam
paign prior to June / characterized
by vacillation, dilatoriousness and
lack of enterprise? Dewey Ramsay
and Benham-Yes.
To the foregoing Admiral Dewey
has seen fit to add his opinion that
Schley was in absolute command
when Cervera attempted to escape on
July and 'is entitled to the credit
due such commanding officer for the
glorious victory"
AS the court refused to hear any
evidence upon this point, and repeat
edly declared that the question of
who was in command was not at issue,
Admiral Dewey's opinion is evidently
what the civil courts call an ''Obiter