Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-20
NEITHER WERE HEROES
SAYSPRES. ROOSEVELT
Battle of Santiago a Cap
tain'S BattIe-Wai1-
wright the Real
Hero.

WASHINGTON. Feb. oo-President
Roosevelt announced his decision on the
Echley appeal last. night The decision
= substantially as follows:
The president believes that Admiral
EchIey fought with great bravery at San
tiaro. but that his courage Is no more
20 be commended than that OF the other
officers engaged.
The president holds that the retrograde
movement had no effect upon the battle
OF Santiago. He declares that even II
SchIey could be blamed for vacillating
conduct during the period he was in in
dependent command prior TO the arrival OF
Sampson no reproach should now attach
20 him. as the navy department condoned
his offense.
The president contends that schley's
action before the arrival Of Sampson
should have been punished BY removal
from command or else entirely overlooked
he does not go into the feature, for the
reason. he. SAYS that Secretary Long s
failure TO relieve Schley OF command Der
fermined that question forever. and II
should not have been reopened. II the ret
rograde movement was a serious error OF
judgment. Il was followed by no evil con-
sequences. and should not be brought for
ward 70 dim the lustre OF a subsequent
brilliant action.
In summing uo the president deals only
with the battle OF Santiago. This. he
holds. Is the only point at issue. He con-
tends that Schley was not in command
during the battle and made no such claim
for himself until recently Sampson, the
president finds, was technically IN com
mand and his responsibility was not les
Eened BY the fact that he was absent
The president finds that the battle Of
Santiago was fought BY the captains OF
the various vessels engaged on general
lines laid down BY Sampson be holds
that IN no instance did any one OF the
ships act under any general orders Of
SPECIFIC signals from Schley.
The president believes Schley was guilty
CT a serious tactical blundsr In making
the Brooklyn's famous loop, which might
have been taken advantage OF BY an alert
enemy with serious consequences. He de-
cldes that the Brooklyn was not in dan
ger OF being rammed. but that as the loop
bad no bad results IA can be easily over
looked IN view OF the glorious results OF
the battle.
In conclusion. the president finds Schley
entitled @ great credit for personal bra
very. GOODNESS and general professional
conduct under IRE.
Asked As To Political Effect.
The conference at the white house.
about which there was 50 much secrecy,
was principally on the Schley matter. The
president had Senatods Allison, Aldrich
and SpoOner. Speaker Henderson and
penrezentatf lives GrosTenor and Cannon
there Is talk uifh hlEn about the political
effect 81 the decision.
He told them the gist OF the findings
and said he had reached conclusions based
on the facts as ne saw them He knew
that neither side would be satisfied, and
asked these wise politicians what they
thought the effect on the country would
be.
They said. frankly. that the presidents
conclusions would prove disappointing 10
the great mass OF people. who now regard
Echley as a popular hero. They said,
however. that after the first indications
Of disapprovaI had passed away they
thought the people would adopt the views
entertained BY the president as reasonable
and right and that no disastrous political
effect would result