Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-27

the majority Of the court acted with en-
tire propriety In not expressing any
opinion on these points, The matter
has, however, been raised by the presi-
dent Of the court, Moreover, II Is the
point upon which Admiral Schjey In his
appeal lays most stress, and watch he
especially asks me 10 consider, have,
therefore, carefully investigated this
matter also and have informed myself
upon II from the best sources Of infor-
nation ut my command.
MKINLEYs VERDICT
"The appeal of Admiral Schlcy TO me
Is not, as TO this, the chief point he
raises, really an appeal from the de-
cision OF the court of inquiry. Five
siXths Of the appeal Is devoted to this
question of command and credit; that
IL, TO matter which the court Of inquiry
did not consider. 1t is in effect an APP
peal from the action Of President Nc
Kinley three years ago, when lac sent
in the recommendations for promotion,
What | have 10 decide, therefore, Is
whether or not President Mckinley did
injustice in the matter This neccs
sarily involves comparison of the
actions OF the different commanders en-
gagged. The exhaustive official reports
Of the action leave little TO be brought
ont anew; but rs the question Of Ad'
miral SIMPSONS right to be considered
In chief command, which was de-
termincd in his favor by President Me-
| Kinlcy and later by the court of claims,
has never hitherto been officially raised,
deemed IL best TO secure statements
from the commanders OF the five ships
(other than the Brooklyn and New
York, the Aagships Of the two admirals,)
which were actively engaged In the
fight. Admiral Philip Ii dead, | quote
extracts from his magazine article on
the fight, written Immediately after 1t
occurred, closing with nm extract from
his letter to the secretary OF the navy
OF February @7, 1907
ADMIRAL PHILLIPS STATEMENT,
1t was the blockade that made the
battle possible. The battle was n
direct consequence Of the blockade, and
upon the method and effectiveness of
the blockade was very largely de.
pendent the issue of the battle,
Under the orders of Admiral Sampson
the blockade was conducted with u
success eXemplhcd by others, Admiral
Sampson was commandcr-in-chief be-
fore, during and after the action.
CAPTAIN CLARK's STATEMENT
Captain ClarlS's statement il MS fol.
lows: The credit Of the blockade which
led up TO the fight IL, Of course, Admiral
SIMPSONS, During the first stage
did not see the Brooklyn or receive any
signals from her, / considered Com
modore Schlcy in responsible command
during this running fight and chase,
so far as ! was concerned, and ac-
ltnowlcdgcd and repeated signal he
had flying for close action or some
thing Of the kind, AS, however, the
problem was perfectly simple, namely,
TO pursue the Spanish ships, as | had
been doing before saw the Brooklyn,
he did not rs n matter OF fact exercise
any control over any movement or ac-
ton of the Oregon, nor did perform
b any action of any kind in obedience TO
any order from the Brooklyn, neither
rs TO my course nor rs TO my speed, nor
as to my gunhrc, during the fight or
chase.
ADMIRAL EVANS STATEMENT,
The following Is Admiral Evans
b statements; The credit for the block
) AIDE, for the arrangement Of the ships
ut the opening Of the fight, and for the
first movements forward into the fight,
must, of course, belong to Admiral
= Sampson, whose orders we were put.
| ting into effect. When the fight be-
gan, Admiral SIMPSONS ship, the New
York, was in plain sight, saw her
turning to ovcrtalIe u.s. Throughout
the fight considered myself rs under
his command but | received no orders
, from him until the Viscaya was
aground. Nor did receive any orders
whatever from the Brooklyn, nor
should | have needed them If had
received them, innsmuch rs ! considered
{ Admiral Sampson TO be present and
in command.
ADMIRAL TAYLoR's STATEMENT,
At the beginning of the fight, tho
New York was about MS far to the
5 eastward OF me as the Brooklyn was to
, the westward The only signal re-
, ceived from the New York was at the
: very close Of the fight when she sig
nailed TO me TO return and guard the
} mouth Of the harbor, 50 that nothing
: should come out to attack our trans
ports, Ireceivcd no signal whatever
from the Brooklyn, and should not
have needed any II one had been made,
as considered Admiral Sampson pres
e ent and in command
| COMMANDER wAINwRIGIlT's STATEMENT
, At the outset Of the fight, the New
/ was not much further away from mt
----------------
win Close the whole Matter.