The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-02-26
PRESIDENTS VERDICT.
Decision Rendered In Samp-
son-Schley Dispute.

Many lnjured-Sodiers Not Cruel.
Prince Henry = Country Produce
High-Manila School Teachers.
President Roosevelt has issued his
decision in the Schley case. He ap-
proves the findings of the court and in
concluding an extensive review of the
dispute says;
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 charac-
ter. Technically, Sampson command
ed the fleet, and Schley, as usual, the
western division. The actual fact, the
important fact, is that after the bat
tie was joined not helm was shifted,
not a gun was fired, not pound OF
steam was put on in the engine room
aboard any ship actively engaged in
obedience to the order of either Samp-
son or Schley, save on their own YES
sells. 1t was a captains fight.
Therefore, the credit to which each
of the two is entitled rests on matters
apart from the claim Of nominal COM
mand over the squadron; for so far
as the actual fight was concerned
neither one nor the other, in fact, ex-
ercised any command. Sampson hard
ly was 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.
rom upon the arrangement of the
ships head-on in semicircle around
the harbor, and the standing orders
in accordance with which they in
stantly 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 well; but agree
with the unanimous finding OF the
three admirals who composed the
court of inquiry as to the loop 1t
seriously marred the Brooklyn's other
wise excellent record, being in fact the
one grave mistake made by any Ameri-
can ship that day. Had the Brooklyn
TUNED to the westward, that is, in the
same direction that the Spanish ships
were going, instead of in the con-
trary direction. she would undoubtedly
have been in more dangerous prox-
unity to them. But it would have
been more dangerous for them as
well as for her! This kind of danger
must not be too nicely weighed by
those whose trade it is to dare greatly
for the honor of the flag.
But after the loop had once been
taknn Admiral Schley handled the
Brooklyn manfully and well. She and
the Oregon were thenceforth the head
most of the American vessels.
Though the Iowa certainly, and seem
ingly the Texas also, did as much in
Oquendo and Teresa; while the Indi-
ana did all her eastward position and
crippled machinery 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 recommendation Of
President Mckinley were eminently
proper and that so far as Admiral
Sampson and Schley were concerned
II would have been unjust for him to
have made other recommendations
Personally, feel that in view of Cap
tain Clark's long voyage in the Oregon
and the condition in which he brought
her to the scene of service, as we'll
as the way in which he actually man
aged her before and during the fight,
it would have been well 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 II
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 Admirals
Sampson and Schley, | find that Pres
ident Mckinley did substantial Justice
and that there would be no warrant
ior reversing his action"
Reception Of Prince Henry.
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