Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-02-21

Admiral Sch1ey, was at the time in
command is OF merely nominal char
acter. Technically Sampson COM
manded the fleet. and Schley, as usual,
the western division. The actual fact,
the important fact, is that after the
battle was joined. not helm was
shifted, not gun was fired, not a
pound of steam was put on in the en-
CINE room aboard any ship actively
engaged, in obedience to the order of
either Sampson or Schley, save on
their own two vessels. 1t was cap
tain's fight.
Therefore the credit to which each
is entitled rests on matters apart
from the claim of nominal command
over the squadron; therefore, so far
as the actual fight was concerned,
neither one nor the other in fact ex-
ercised any command. Sampson was
hardly more than technically in the,
fight. His real claim for credit rests
upon his work as commander-in-chief;
upon the excellence of the blockade;
upon the preparedness of the squad
ron; upon the arrangement of the
ships, head-on in a semi-circle around
the harbor, and the standing orders in
accordance with which they instantly
moved to the attack of the Spaniards
when the latter appeared. For all
these things the credit is his.
admiral Schley is rightly entitled,
as is Captain Cook, to the credit of
what the Brooklyn did in the fight
On the whole she did we'll; but agree
with unanimous findings of the three
admirals who composed the court of
inquiry as to the loop 1t seriously
marred the Brooklyn's otherwise ex-
cellent record, being in fact the one
grave mistake made by any American
ship that day. Had the Brooklyn
turned to the Westward; that is, in
the same direction that the Spanish
ships were going, instead OF in the
contrary direction, she would undoubt-
eddy have been in more dangerous
proximity to them. But it would
have been more dangerous for them
as we'll as for her.. This kind OF dan
ger must not be too nicely weighed
by those whose trade it 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 WainWrlght's
fragile craft as he drove forward
against the foe. 1t was not, in my
Judgment, as great as the danger to
which the Texas was exposed by the
turn as actually made. 1t certainly
caused both the Brooklyn and Texas
materially to lose position, compared
to the fleeing ships. But after the
loop had once been taken Admiral
Schley handled the Brooklyn manful-
ly and WELL She and the Oregon
were thenceforth the headmost of the
American vessels, though the Iowa
certainly anu seemingly the Texas
also, did as much in hammering to
a standstill the Viscaya, Oquendo and
&ho
eastward position and crippled ma
chinery permitted. In the chase of
the Colon the Brooklyn and Oregon
share the credit between them.
Under such circumstances it seems
to me that the recommendations OF
President Mckinley were eminently
proper and that SO far as Admiral
Sampson and Admiral Schley were
concerned it would have been unjust
for him to have made other recon-
mendations. Personally feel that in
view of Captain Clarks long voyage
in the Oregon and the condition in
which he brought her to the scene of
service as we'll as the way he actual
ly managed her before and during the
fight. it would have been we'll to have
given him the same advancement that
was given Wainwright. But waving
this, it is evident that Wainwright was
entitled 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 battle that
warranted any unusual reward for
either. In short, as regards Admir-
ais Sampson and Schley. l find that
President Mckinley did substantial
hot ho
warrant for reversing his action.
Both Admiral Sampson and Admiral
Schley are now on the retired list. In
concluding their report the members
of the court of inquiry, Admlrals
Dewey, Benham and Ramsay, unite in
stating that they recommend no fur
Their action be had in the matter.
With this recommendation most
heartily concur. There is no excuse
whatever from either side for any
further agitation of this unhappy con.
troversy. To keep it alive would
merely do damage to the navy and to
the country.
(Signed.) Theodore Roosevelt
One morning after the hand-organs
got hold of his washington Post
March," John Philip Sousa ran across
an Irishman playing the march at a
dlrge-like pace, which set his teeth
on edge. Snatching the handle of the
organ away from, him Sousa exclaim-
ed, angrily: my heavens, man! Why
don't you play it with little energy.
There's nobody dead on this block
The Irishman stood by, open mouthed
wonder, as Sousa dashed through the
measures at rafting pace. who are
you, anyhow" he exclaimed at length.
II am Mr. Sousa," explained the band
master; II composed that march. Don't
mind my giving you friendly
pointer" The Irishman retired with
his features wreathed in smiles. Next
morning an enormous placard ap-
peared about his neck. 1t was printed
in red ink, and ran as follows: "a
pupil of Sousa."