The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-03-06
HENDERSON. N. c.. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1902

ened out in column for the West, the
Colon going inside OF the others. and
gradually forcing ahead of them,
without suffering much damage. The
two torpedo boats, which had follow
ed them out OF the harbor, were now
destroyed by the rearmost Of the
American big vessels and the Glou-
cester, which headed straight in for
them, paying no more heed to their
quick firing guns than to the heavy
artillery Of the forts.to which she was
also exposed.
SCHLEY's FLAGSHIP AHEAD.
In the running fight which follow
ed, until the Teresa, Oquendo and
Viseaya were destroyed, the Indiana
gradually dropped behind. although
she continued to fire until the last
Of the three vessels went ashore. The
Brooklyn was ahead of any Of the
other American vessels on q course
outside theirs; she was nearly broad
side on to the Spaniards. The Oregon,
Iowa and Texas were all close to-
gsther and actively engaged through
out this running fight. The Brook
Iyn and Oregon, followed at some
distance by the Texas. then continued
in chase of the Colon, which went
nearly 80 miles farther before she
also went ashore. During this chase
of the Colon there was practically no
fighting.
| These are the facts rs set forth
above in the statements OF the cap
tains and elsewhere in their official
reports and testimony. They leave
no room for doubt on any important
point.
THE QUESTION OF COMMAND.
The question of command is in this
case nominal and technical. Admiral
Simpsons ship, the New York, was
seen at the outset Of tho fight from
all the other ships except the Brook
lyn. Four of these five ship captains
have testified that they regarded him
as present and in command. He
signaled 'Close i'm to tho fleet as
soon as the first Spanish ship appear
ed, but his signal was not seen by
any American vessel. He was actual
ly under fire from the forts, and him.
self fired a couple of shots at the cl ose
Of the action with tho torpedo boats,
In addition to signaling the Indiana
Just at the close Of the action. But
during the action not a single order
from him was received by any
of the ships that were actively en-
gagged.
Admiral Schley at. the outset of the
action hoisted the two signals of
"Clsar ship" and "Closs in," which
was simply carrying out the standing
orders OF Admiral Sampson as to
! what should be done if the
enemy's ships attempted to break
out of the harbor. Until after the
close of the first portion of the fight
at the mouth of the harbor, and until
after he had made his loop and the
Spanish ships were fleeing to the
Westward, not another American
noticed signal from him. When the
Western pursuit had begun the Ore
gon, and the Oregon only, noticed
and repeated one of his signals OF
command. The captain of the Oregon
then regarded him as in command.
| but did not in any shape or way exc
cute any movement or any action Of
any kind whatsoever in accordance
with any order from him.
1T WAS A CAPTAINS FIGHT.
In short, the question as to which
of the two men, Admiral Sampson or
Admiral Schley, was at the time in
command, is of merely nominal char
acter. Technically, Sampson COM
manded the fleet, and Schley as usual
the Western division. The actual
fact, the important fact, is that after
the battle was joined not helm was
shifted, not gun was fired, not
pound OF steam was put on in the
engine room aboard any ship actively
engaged, in obedience to the order of
either Sampson or Schley, save on
their own two vessels. 1t was a cap
tains' fight.
Therefore the credit to which each
Of the two is entitled rests on matters
apart faom the claim Of nominal COM
mand over the squadron; for so far as
the actual fight was concerned. neither
one nor the other in fact exercised
any command. Sampson was hardly
more than technically in the fight.
His real claim for credit rests upon
his work as Chief.
upon the excellence OF the blockade;
upon the preparedness Of the squad
ron; upon the arrangement OF the ships
head-on in semi-circle around the
harbor. and the standing orders in
accordance with which they instantly
moved to the attack Of the Spaniards
when the latter appeared. For all
these things the credit is his.
MARRIED THE BROOKLYN's RECORD.
Admiral Schley is rightly entitled
as is Captain Cookie the credit Of
what the Brooklyn did in the fight.
On the whole she did well; but ! agree
with the unanimous finding of the
three Admirals who composed the
Court of Inquiry as to the ..loop-" 1t
seriously marred the Brooklyn's other
wise excellent record, being, in fact.
the one grave mistake made by any
American ship that day. Had the
Brooklyn turned to the Westward
that is, in the same direction that the
Spanish ships were going. instead Of
in the contrary direction-she would
undoubtedly have been N more dan
gsrous proximity to them. But it
would have been more dangerous for
them as we'll as for her!
This kind of danger must not be
too nicely weighed by those whose
trade it is to dare greatly for the
honor Of the flag. Moreover. the dan,
ger was certainly not as great as that
which, in the selfssme moment, men,
: anced Wainwright's fragile craft al
I be drove forward against the foe. II
, was not, in my judgment, as great
t as was the danger to which The
r Texas was exposed by the turn
: as actually made. 1t certainly
r caused both the Brooklyn and thu