The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-02-28
SAMPSON WAS TIE COMMANDED
ALTHOUGH THE BATTLE WAS
FOUGHT WITHOUT ORDERS
FROM EITHER.
LOOP WAS A GRAVE MISTAKE
NO EXCUSE FOR ANY FURTHER
AGITATION OF THIS CON-
TROVERSY.

Roosevelt yesterday made pubic his
decision in the appeal of Rear Admiral
Schley. He says:
1T appears that the court of inquiry
was unanimous in it's findings of fact
and unanimous in it's expressions of
opinion on most of Its findings Of fact.
No appeal is made to me from the ver-
dict Of h court OF these points where
It was unanimous. I have, however,
gone carefully over the evidence on
these points also. / am satisfied that
on the whole the court Gid 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 I feel that there is
q reasonable doubt whether he did not
move his squadron with sufficient ex-
petition from port to Fort to port. The
court Is a unit in condemning Admiral
Schloy's action on the point where 1t
seems to me he most gravely erred:
his "~retrogrcde movement" when he
abandoned the blockade, and his dis
obedience OF orders and misstatement
OF facts in relation thereto. It should
Be remembered, however. that the
Majority Of These Actions
which the court censures occurred ive
weeks or more before the fight itself,
and 1t certainly seems thai II Admiral
Schley's actions were c~ensurable 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 accoun for
them. Admiral Sampson, after the
fight. In an official letter to the depart
ment alluded for the first time to Ad-
miral Schley's 'reprehensible conduct
six weeks previously. II Admiral
Schley was guilty OF re~prehensible con-
duct of q kind which called for such
notice from Admiral Sampson, then
left him as senior officer Of the block
aiding squadron on the Sd Of July when
he (Sompson) steamed away on his
proper errand Of communication with
Gen. Shafter.
1--WE can. therefore. for our present
purposes dismiss consideration Of SO
much Of the appeal az relates to any
thing
Except the Battle.
A. regards this, the point raised In the
appeal Is between Admiral Sampson
and Admiral Schley, as to which vas
In command, and to which was entitled
the credit, is either Of them was really
to any unusual and pre-emi-
credit by any special exhibition
of genius. skill and courage. The ques-
ton Of command is in this Ease NOM
and technical. Admiral SIMPSONS
ship. the New York, was seen at the
outset Of the tight from ell the ships
except the Brooklyn. Four Of these
live ship captains have testified that
they regarded him as present and in
He signalled close In to
the fleet as soon - the frst Spanish
ship appeared. but his signal was not
seen by any American vessel. He was
actually under fire from the forts and
fired . couple OF shots al the
close Of the action with the torpedo
beats in addition to signalling the In-
diana 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. Ad-
.iral 0chley at the outset of the action
the two signals clear up and
close In which was simply carrying
put the standing orders Of Admiral
4ampcon ~ to what should be done
Y the ensmy's ships attempted to break
put Of the harbor. Until after the close
az the first portion OF the fight ut 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 ship noticed a signal
him. When the western pursuit
began the Oregon. and the Oregon only.
and repeated one Of his signals
of command. but did not in any shape
" way execute any H0vement or any
action Of any kind whatsoever In ac-
cordance with n order from him. in
short, the question as to which OF the
two men. Admiral Sampson or Admiral
echley was at the time In command, is
Of merely nominal character. Tech
ideally
Sampson Commanded
the fleet and schley. as usual. the
western division. The actual fact, the
fact. II that after the battle
was started not q helm was shifted
not . gun was fired. not a pound OF
steam was put on In the engine room
Any SHIP 0CuVely engaged III
obedience to the order Of either Samp-
son or Schley, ave on their own two
vessels. It was q captains fight.
Therefore, the credit to which each
" the two IL entitled rests on matters
apart from the claim OF nominal COM
mAnd over the squadron: for so far as
n. actual hight was concerned neither
one nor the other In fact exercised any
cen mand. Sampson was hardly more
than technically in the tight. His real
claim for credit rests upon his work az
commander-in-chie pon the excel
lenos Of the blockade: upon the pre-
~paredness Of the squadron: 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 at
tack OF the s~paniards when the latter
appeared. For all these things
The Credit IL His.
admiral schley 10 rfghtfully enti-
tled-as II Capt. Cook-to the credit OF
what the Brooklxn did In the fight. On