New-York tribune., 1902-02-20

broadside on to the spaniards. The Oregon. the
Iowa and the Texas were all close together, and
actively engaged throughout this running fight.
The Brooklyn and the Oregon. followed at some
distance by the Texas, then continued in chase
of the Colon which went nearly thirty miles
further before she also went ashore During
this chase Of the Colon there was practically no
lighting
These are the facts as set forth above in the
statements of the captains. and elsewhere in
their official reports and testimony. They leave
no room for doubt on any important point.
ONLY NOMINAL QUESTION OF COMMAND.
The question of command is in this case nom
tnaI and technical Admiral SIMPSONS ship, the
New-York, was seen at the outset of the tight
from all the other ships except the Brooklyn.
Four of these five ship captains have testified
that they regarded him present and in COM
mand He sgnalled Close in to the Meet as
soon the first Spanish ship appeared, but his
signal was not seen by any American vessel
He actually under fire from the forts. and
himself fired a couple of shots, at the close OF
the action with the torpedo boats, in addition
to signalling the Indiana 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.
Admiral Schley at the outset of the action
hoisted the two signals Of CLEAR ship and Close
in" which was simply carrying out the stand
ing orders of Admiral Sampson to what
should be done If the enemy's ships attempted TO
break out Of the harbOr. Until after the close
Of the first portion of the fight at the mouth OF
the harbOr and until after he had made his loop
and the Spanish ships were fleeing to the west
ward, not another American ship noticed a
signal from him. When the western pursuit
had begun the Oregon, and the Oregon only,
noticed and repeated one of his signals or com
mand The captain OF the Oregon then regarded
him in command. but did not in any shape or
way execute any movement or any action or
any kind whatsoever in accordance with any
order from him.
II short. the question as 10 which of the two
men, Admiral Sampson Admiral Schley, was
at the time in command, is of merely nominal
character. Technically, Sampson commanded
the fleet and Schley usual the western di-
vision The actual fact, the important IaCJ, Is
that after the battle was Joined not helm was
shifted not a gun was fired not a pound of
steam was put on in the engine room aboard any
ship actively engaged, in obedience TO the oruer
of either Sampson or Schley save on thelr own
two vessels 1t a captains night
Therefore the credit to which each OF lhe CMo ~
is entitled matters apart from the clhiLI
OF nominal command over the squadroH' itsr Iott 81
far the actual fight was concerned heIIlIe'
one nor the other in fact exercised any com
manC. Sampson hardly more than JeCu-
nically in the fight. His real claim for crediI
rests upon his work commander-ln-chleI'
u0on the excellence Of the blockade; upon Ihe
preparedness Of the squadron; upon the ar
rangement of the ships head on IN SEMI
circle around the harbor and the standing or
ders in accordance with which they instantly
moved 10 the attack of the Spanlards When tne i
latter appeared. For all these Things Ile creui'
! is his.
Admiral schIev is rightly entitled-as is Cap
tain Cook-to the credit of what the Brooklyn
did in the fight on the whole she did we'll; but
/ l agree with the unanimous finding or the three
| admirals who composed the court of inquiry as
| 10 the loop" II seriously marred the Brook
| lyn's otherwise excellent record, being IN tact
/ the one grave mistake made by any American
ship that day, Had the Brooklyn turned 20 tLe ie
westward. that is, in the same direction LhaC IHe
/ Spanish ships going. instead OF in the con-
/ trary direction. she would undoubtedly nave
! been in more dangerous proximity 10 Iheili
/ But il would have been more dangerous TOT
! them we'll for her! This kind OF danger
| must not be too nicely weighed by those whose
/ trade Il is TO dare greatly for the honor OF the
| flag Moreover. the danger was certainly not aS
/ great that which. in the seltsame moment
/ menaced Wainwrights fragile craft as he drove
! forward against the roe II was uot, III u ~
/ Judgment as great as the danger to Which tne
! Texas was exposed by the turn as actualIy
/ made. II certainly caused both the broohISh
/ and the Texas materially to lose position com
pared TO the fleeing Spanish vessels But atter
/ the loop had been taken Admiral Schley
! handled the BROOKLYN manfuly and we'll She
] and the Oregon were thenceforth the headmoSt
/ of the American vessels-though the Iowa Ger
! tainly and seemingly the Texas. also. did as
/ much in hammering 70 a standstiu the Niscaya,
! Oquendo and Teresa; while the Indiana did all
her eastward position and crippled InacniheEs @ e,
! permitted. In the chase or the Coon Cle
! Brooklyn and oregon share the credit between
them.
RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED.
! Under such circumstances it seems to me that
/ the recommendations Of President Mckinney
] were eminently proper. and that so far as Ad-
/ mirals Sampson and Schley were concerned II
! would have been unjust for him 10 have made
| ether recommendations. Personally, l feel that
] in view Of Captain ClarkS long voyage in the
! Oregon and the condition in which he brought
! her 70 the scene Of service. as well as the way
! in which he actually managed her before ana
/ during the fight, il would have been well TO
/ have given him the same advancement that was
/ given Wainwright. But waving this. II is evil
! dent that Wainwright was entitled 10 receive
/ more than any Of the other commanders, ana
! that IL Just 10 Admiral Sampson that he
/ should receive q greater advance IN numbers
| than Admiral SChley-there was nothing done
| in the battle that warranted any unusual re-
/ ward for either. In short. regards Admirals
| Sampson and Schley, I find that President
Mckinley did substantial justice. and that there
! would be no warrant for reversing his action
| Both Admiral Sampson and Admiral Sch!ey
| the retired list In concluding their
| report the members of the court of inquiry,
! Admrals Dewey. Benham and Ramsay unite
| in stating that they recommend that no further
! action be had in the matter. With this recon-
| mendatfon l most heartily concur There is no
| excuse whatever from either side for any
| further agitation of this unhappy controversy.
| To keep il alive would merely do damage to the
! navy and To the country
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT.