Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-03
CAUSTIC REPLY
To SCHLEY'S
REQUEST.
JUDGE LEMLEY AND SOLICITOR
HANNA DECLARE COURT WAS
TO FIN THE BLAME NOT
TO LAUo VICTOR.

WASHINGTON. January 5l-The APP
peal for the review of his case. Med with
tshe president by Admiral Schley, mas
drawn out caustic comment from Judge
Advocate Lemley and Solicitor Hanna.
The comment severely arraigns Schley
FOR his conduct OF the hattie Of Santiago
and declares the Investigation for the
court OF inquiry TO make was FOR the
purnoSe OF fixing the blame rather than
directing the honor.
They say the chief features OF the case
were the retrogTade movement. dis
obedience or orders" Inaccurate and
misleading official reports failure 10
DESTROY vessels OF the enemy lying within
sight and injustice TO a brother OF
ficer~ These matters are all grave
Fled From Enemy.
The first was that the finest aggrega-
rion ef American naval vessels under one
commaEd was. BY scnley direelon'
turned about and headed for Key West
uore than 7C0 miles distant. when within
= miles OF Santiago. where the enemy ;
Tbe second was that Schley deliberate
r. and knowingly disobeyed the secre-
tary's o-der over taking MIN IN MS retro
grade movement
The third was that Schley's reason Of
fered officially for the retrograoe move
ment and disobedience OF orders, l. e..
that the flying squadron was short o.
coal was not true
The fourth was that for three DAYS
some OF the Spanish ships lay WITHIN
reach OF the flying squadron ana no
sufHcient effort was made 70 destroy
them
The fifth involves the point OF hohOI'
The. commentators say;
Court Was Unanimous.
s.r-,on All the above named features.
believed nv Us 10 be the most important
n not the only important matter INTO
which the court made inquiry, the con-
duct OF Admiral Schley was condemned
pv that most distinguished tribunal Al
nfraI Dewey and Resr Admirals behhaIii
and Ramsay united in their innings anu :.
oninfou upon all % these several points
The commentators charge that Admiral
schiev now ignores all the grave matters
and bases his appeal upon relatively I'M
important matters OF the case
THE commentators say they recognize
the fact that Admiral Schley devoted oy
far the largest part Of his appeal 10 the
Question OF command. and consequently
give that question a prOportionate space
in their comment They declare tnat the
question Is between Sampson and Schley,
both alike interested and TO investigate
Il fairly both should be heard II Is
admitted that the precept was broad
enough TO nave uermANAeM AAE NuNAN ~
20 into the question. but II is recalieo
that. although the judge advocate ex-
messed a willingness 10 enter upon II.
the court did not deem II necessary or
proper 10 do 50. The judge advocate,
they say. might have shown that Il was
Admiral Simpsons plan OF night block
ade that forced Cervera 70 come out IN
the DAYLIGHT. and Captain Clark is quoted
. 10 support that statement They quote
Admiral Schley in his testimony 10 the
effect that the American ships charged
in according 10 the original plan 10
sink the enemy in the channel" and that
that plan failed because the enemy sue
ceeded really in passing the battle line"
Flight Of the Brooklyn.
They ask: why did the enemy sue
ceedg and declare: The Brooklyn. hav-
ing abandoned her position on the left OF
the line thereby left an unguarded Open
ing along the western shore. through
which the Spanish fleet passed our ships
and attempted 10 escape
The courts opinion is quoted 10 the
effect that the Brooklyn lost distance in
position by the loop" and delayed the
Texas.
To sustain their contention that Samp-
son was In command the Commentators
quote from Schley's report Of July 6, 1898.
as follows:
srThe dense smoke Of the combat shut
Gloucester. but as these vessels were
closer 10 the flagship no doubt their
part In the conflict was under his serious
observation"
Thet remark:
History Appealed To.
Nobody has ever disputed Grants title
OF the victory at AppOmattOx. although
then lying sick some miles from the
place Of surrender-so far that IL was
feared he could not be reached within
the period OF armistice Though Howard
was senior officer present AT the capture
OF Savanna. and Sherman absent on one
Of Admiral Dahlgren's gunboats. nobody
has attacked Sherman's famous report
10 Lincoln. I beg 10 present you, as
Christmas gift. the city Of Savannah
And as showing Schley's own opinion
q who was in command they quote this
passage from his dispatch OF July 10. lSss.
70 the secretary OF tia navy;
Feel some mortIfic ion rat the news
paper accounts OF July have attributed
victory Of July 4 almost entirely TO me.
Victory was secured by force under the
command commander In chief. north At
lantic squadron. and To him the honor is
due
Further they quote Schley's letter Of
December Is. 1901. TO Secretary Long. jus