The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-20

Brooklyn, either was or conceived her
self to be put in such jeopardy by the
| Brooklyn's turn toward her that she
backed her engines, coming almost or
quite to a standstill; so that both the
oregon and the Iowa, which were origt-
nally TO the eastward of her, passed her,
and it was some time after she again
started before she reganed her former
position relatively TO the Spanish ves-
sells. he Spanish vessels had straiughten-
ed out In column for the west, the Colon
going inside of the others and gradually
| forging ahead OF them, without suffering
much damage. The two torpedo boats,
which had followed them out of the har-
Dor, were now destroyed by the fire of
the rearmost OF the American big YES
sells and of the Gloucester which headed
| straiught in for them. paying no more
heed 10 their quick-fre guns than to the
heavy artillery Of the forts, to which she
was also exposed.
| In the running fight which followed,
until the Teresa, 0quendo and Viscaya
| 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
| a course outside theirs; she was nearly
| broad3ide on 10 the Spaniards. The Ore
gon, Iowa and Texas were all close to-
gether and actively engaged throughout
| this running fight. The Brooklyn and
| Oregon, followed at some distance by the
Texas then continued in chase of the
| Colon, which went nearly thirty miles
| farther before she also went ashore
During this chase of the Colon there was
practically no fighting
These are the facts as set forth above
| in the statements of the captains, and
elsewhere in their official reports and
testimony They leave no room for doubt
on any important point.
The question of command is In this
case nominal and technical. Admiral
Simpsons ship, the New York, was seen
at the outset of the fight from all the
other ships except the Brooklyn. Four
OF these five ships captains have testified
that they regarded him as present and
in command. He signaled "Close in to
the fleet as soon as the first Spanish ship
appeared, but his signal was not seen by
any American vessel. He was actually
| under fire from the forts, and himself
hred couple of shots at the close of
the action with the torpedo boats, in ad-
dition to signaling the Indiana just at
the close of the action. But during the
action not single order from him was
received by any of the ships that were
actively engaged
Admiral Schley at the outset of the ac-
ton hoisted the two signals of CLEAR
ship" and CLOSE In" which was simply
carrying out the standing orders OF Ad- |
miral Sampson as to what should be
done II the enemy's ships attempted TO
preak 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
shlps were fleeing to the westward not
another American ship noticed a signal
from him. When the western pursuit
mad begun the Oregon, and the Oregon
only, noticed and repeated one of his
signals OF command. Tn captain OF the
oregon then regarded him as in con- A, and,
but did not in any shape or way execute
any movement or any action of any kind
whatsoever in accordance with any order
from him.
In short, the question as to which of
the two men, Admiral Sampson or Ad-
miral Schley, was at the time in com
mand, is of merely nominal character.
Technically Sapson commanded the fleet
and Schley, as usual, the western diyi-
sion. The actual fact the important
fact, is that after the battle was Joined
not a helm was shifted, not q gun was
hred, not pound Of steam was put ON
IN the engine room aboard any shin ac-
lively engaged. in obedience to the order
or either Sampson or Schley. save an |
their own two vessels. 1t was q can |
tain's fight.
es-mo ase ;tlAtt
Therefore the credit to which each Of
the two is entitled rests on matters anart !
from the claim of nominal command
over the squadron; for so far as the
actual night was concerned neither one
nor the other in fact exercised any com
mand. Sampson was hardly more than !
technically in the fight His real claim
Tor credit rests upon his work az Com |
mander-in- Chief; upon the excellence of
the blockade; upon the preparedness OF |
the squadron; upon the arrangement of
the ships head-on in a semi-circle !
around the h8rboI and the standing or. |
ders in accordance with which they in
stantly moved to the attack of the Span
iards when the latter appeared For all |
these things the credit is mis-.
Admiral Schley is rightly entitled-as
ic Captain Cook--to the credit OF what
the Brooklyn did in the fight. On the |
whole she did well; hut I agree with |
the unanimous finding of the three adrni |
rails who composed the Court Of Inquiry |
as TO the loop" 1t seriously marred the |
Brooklyn's otherwise 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 con-
trary direction, she would undoubtedly |
have been in more dangerous proximity |
10 them. But it would have been more |
dangerous for them as well as for her! |
This kind of danger must not be 100 |
niceN weighed by those whose trade 1t is |
to dare greatly for the honor OF the |