Evening star., 1902-02-20

any kind whatsoever In accordance with
any order from him
In short. the question as to which OF the
two men. Admiral Sampson or Admiral
Schley, was at the time in command. Is Of
merely nominal character. Technically
sampson commanded the fleet, and Schley,
as usual the western division. The actual
fact, the important fact, Is that after the
battle was Joined not q helm was shifted,
not gun was fired, not q pound OF steam
was put on in the engine room abroad any
snip actively engaged. In obedience to the
order OF either Sampson or Schley, save on
their own two vessels. It was captains 8
fight.
Therefore the credit to which each Of
the two Is entitled rests on matters apart
from the claim of nominal command over
the squadron; lor so far as the actual fight
was concerned neither one nor the other In
fact exercised any command. Sampson was
hardly more than technically In the fight
His real claim for credit rests upon his
work as COMMUNICATIVE chief; upon the ex-
ceilence OF the blockade; upon the prepared
ness OF the squadron; upon the arrange
meht Of the ships head-on in a semi-circle
around the harbor. and the standing or
ders In accordance with which they in
stantly moved to the attack Of the Span
1ards when the latter appeared. For all
these things the credit Is his.
The "Loop" Considered.
Admiral Schley is rightly entitled-as is
Capt. Cook-to the credit of what the
Brooklyn did In the fight. On the whole
she did we'll; but I agree with the unani-
nous finding Of the three admirals 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 Ameri-
can ship that day. Had the Brooklyn turn
ed to the westward. that Is, in the same
direction that the Spanish ships were go
ing, instead Of In the contrary direction,
she would have undoubtedly been In more
dangerous proximity to them. But 1t
would have been more dangerous for them
as We'll as for her This kind of danger
must not be too nicely weighed by those
whose trade Is to dare greatly for the
honor Of the flag. Moreover, the danger
was certainly not as great as that which,
IN the self-same moment, menaced VAIN
Wright's fragile craft as he drove forward
ment as great as the danger to which the
Texas was exposed by the turn as actually
made. 1t certainly caused both the Brook
lyn and the Texas materially to lose posi-
tlon compared to the fleeing Spanish ves-
sells. But after the loop had once been
taken Admiral Schley handled the Brook
iyn manfully and well. She and the Ore
gon were thenceforth the headmost of the
American vessels-though the Iowa GER
talnly, and seemingly the Texas also, did
as much In hammering to a standstill the
vlscaya. Oquendo and Teresa, while the
Indiana did all her eastward position and
crippled machinery permitted. In the chase
OF the Colon the Brooklyn and Oregon share
the credit between them.
McKinley's Recommendations Proper.
Under such circumstances 1t SENS to me
that the recommendations Of President Nc
kinley were eminently proper. and that so
far as Admirals Sampson and Schley were
concerned 1t would have been unjust for
him to have made other recommendations.
Personally / feel that In view of Capt
Clark's long voyage in the Oregon and the
condition In which he brought her to the
scene OF service, as well as the way in
which he actually managed her before and
during the fight, it would have been well
to nave given him the same advancement
that was given Wainwright. But waving
this, 1t Is evident that Wainwright was en-
titled to receive more than any OF the
other commanders; and that It was Just to
Admiral Sampson that he should receive a
greater advance In numbers than Admiral
Schley-there was nothing done in the bat
tie that Warran nted any unusual reward for
either. In short. as regards Admra1s
Sampson and Schley, find that President
Mckinley did substantial justice and that
there would be no warrant for reversing
his action.
Both Admiral Sampson and Admiral
Schley are now on the retired list In con-
Guiding their report the members of the
court of inquiry, Admirals Dewey, Benham
and Ramsay. unite In stating that they
recommend that no further action be had
In the matter. With this Recommendation
most heartily concur. There Is no excuse
agitation Of this unhappy controversy. To
keep 1t alive would merely do damage to
the navy and to the country.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.