Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-02-27
A CAPTAINS FIGHT
THIS is THE PRESIDENTS VIEW
OF THE SCHLEY CASE.
Thinks that Neither Admiral Is Entitled to the
full Credit for the Battle of Santiago
Brooklyn's Loop was dangerous - En-.
dorses McKinIey's Recommended atoms, and
Hopes Controversy Is at an End

Washington, Feb. 20.-The president
yesterday made public his decision in
the Schley appeal. The following is a
brief review of the main facts:
White House, Feb. IS, 1907
have received the appeal of Admiral
Schley and the answer thereto from the
navy department. l have examined
both with the utmost care, as well as
the preceding appeal to the secretary of
the navy. l have read through all the
testimony taken before the court and
the statements of the counsel for Adj
miral Schley and Admiral Sampson;
have examined all the official reports
of every kind IN reference to the Santi-
ago naval campaign, copies of log books
and the testimony before the court of
claims, and have also personally had
before me the four surviving captains
from the five ships, aside from those of
the two admirals, which were actively
engaged at Santiago. 1t appears that
the court of inquiry was unanimous in
its findings of fact and unanimous in
its expressions of opinion on most OF
its findings OF fact No appeal is made
to me from the verdict of the court on
these points where it is unanimous.
l have, however, gone carefully over
the evidence on these points also.
am satisfied that on the whole the court
did substantial Justice.
1t should have specifically condemned
the failure to enforce an efficient night
blockade at Santiago while Admiral
Schley was in command. On the other
hand, feel that there is a reasonable
doubt whether he did not move his
squadron with sufficient expedition
from port to port.
The court is united in condemning
Admiral Schley's action on the point
where it seems to me he most gravely
erred-his "retrograde movement"
when he abandoned the blockade and
his disobedience of orders and misstate-
ment of facts in relation thereto. 1t
should be remembered, however, that
the majority of these actions which the
court censured occurred five weeks or
more before the fight itself, and it GER
tainly seems that if Admiral Schley's
actions were censurable he should not
have been left as second in command
under Admiral Sampson. His offenses
were in effect cOndoned when he was
not called to account for them
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 ships except the Brooklyn. Four of
these five ships captains have testified
that they regarded him as present and
in command. lie 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 fired a couple of shots at the
close of the action, at the torpedo
boats, in addition to signalling the In
diana 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
action, hoisted the two signals of "clear
ship" and "close in,' which were
simply carrying out the standing orders
of Admiral Sampson as to what should
be done if the enemy's ships should at
tempt to break out of the harbor, and
until after he had made his loop ard
the Spanish ships We're fleeing to the
westward, not an American ship no.
ticed a signal from him.
When the western pursuit had begun
the Oregon, and the Oregon only, no.
ticed and repeated one of his signals of
command. The captain of the Oregon
then regarded him as in command,
cute any movement or any action of
any kind whatsoever in accordance with
any order from him.
In short the question az to which of
the two men, Admiral Sampson or Adj
miral SchIev, was at the time in COM
mand, is of merely nominal character.
Technically, Sampson commanded the
feet, and Schley, as usual, the western
division. After the battle was plan
a {
was fired, not pound of steam was put
on 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
captains fight.
In concluding their report the mem
bers OF the curt of inquiry, Admirals
Dewey, Benham and Ramsey, unite in
stating that they recommend that no
further action be had in the matter.
With this recommendation l must
heartily concur. There is no excuse
whatever from either side for any fur
Their agitation of this unhappy controv-
ersv To keep it alive would merely
do damage to the navy and to the coun-
try. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Two Firemen Killed.
Milwaukee. Feb. 2l-Two tiremen