Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-02-28

can vessels steadily approached ont
another and the fighting was at it,
hottest.
"Then the already damaged Span
ish ships turned to the westward
while at the same time the western
most American vessel, the Brooklyn
which was nearest the Spanish line
turned to the eastward, making a loor
OF three-quarter circle. At the enc
she again headed westward, farther of
from and farther behind the Spanish
vessels than before the loop had be-
gun. but still ahead of any of the
American vessels, although farther
outside. The Texas, the next ship tc
the Brooklyn, either was, or conceived
herself to be, put in such jeopardy by
the Brooklyn's turn toward her that
she backed her engines, coming al.
most or quite to standstill; so that
both the Oregon and the Iowa, which
were originally to the eastward of her,
passed her and it was some time after
she again started before she regained
her former position relative to the
Spanish vessels. The Spanish vessels
had Strengthened out in column for
the west, the Colon going inside of
the others and gradually forging ahead
OF them without suffering much d am
age. The two torpedo boats, which
had followed them out OF the harbor
were now destroyed by the fire of the
rearmost Of the American vessels, and
the Gloucester, which headed straight
in for them, paying no moro heed to
their quick fire guns than to the
heavy artillery OF the forts, to which
she was also exposed.
"In the running fight which fol-
lowed, until the Teresa, Oquendo and
Viscaya were destroyed, the Indiana
gradually dropped behind. although
she continued to fire until the last of
the three vessels went ashore.
The Brooklyn Was ahead of any OF
the other American veesels, on q
course outside theirs; she was nearly
broadside onto the Spaniards. The
Oregon, the Iowa and the Texas were
all close together and actively en-.
gagged throughout this running fight.
The Brooklyn and the Oregon, fol.
lowed 1t some distance by the Texas,
then continued in the chase of the
Colon. which vent nearly 80 miles
farther before she also went ashore.
During the chase OF the Colon there
was practically no fighting.
"These are the facts as set forth in
the statements Of the Captains and
elsewhere in their official reports and
testimony. They leave no room fol
doubt on any important point.
1.-THE question Of command is in
this case nominal and technical. Ad.
miral Sampson's ship, the New York
was seen at the outset by all the ships
except the Brooklyn. Four of the
ships captains have testified that they
regarded him as present and in com
mard. He signalled Close in to the
fleet as soon a. the fret Spanish ship
appeared, but his signal was not seer
by any American vessel. He was &C
tually under fire from the forts and
himself fred = couple Of shots at the
close OF the action at the torpedo
boats, in addition to signaling the
Indiana. just at the close Of the action
But during the action not q single
order from him Was received by any
of the ships that were actively en-
gagged.
Admiral Schley at the outset OF the
action hoisted two signals of 'Cleal
ship and 'Close in,' which were sim.
ply carrying out the standing orders
of Admiral Sampson a. to what should
be done il the enemy's ships attempted
70 break out OF the harbor. Until
after the close OF the first portion ol
the fight at tie mouth Of the harbol
and until after he had made his looT
and the Spanish ships were fleeing te
the westward, not an American shiT
noticed signal from him. When the
western pursuit had begun the Oregon
and the Oregon only, noticed aud re
peated one of his signals Of command
The captain Of the Oregon then re
garded him - in command, but die
not in any shape or way execute any
movement or any action OF any kind
whatsoever from any command from
him.
"In short, which one OF them, Ad
miral Schley or Admiral Sampson
was ct the time in command is o.
merely nominal character. Techni
cally, Sampson commanded the fleet
and Schley, - usual, the western divi
sion. The actual fact-the important
iact-is that after the battle wal
planned not helm was shifted, not
gun Was fred, not . pound Of steam
was put on in the engine room aboart
any ship actively engaged in obed
ience to the order OF either Sampson
or Schley, save on their own two YES
sells. It WAS . captains fight.
Therefore, the credit to which eaci
of the two is entitled rests on matter
apart from the claim OF nominal com
mand over the squadron; for 60 far o.
the actual fight was concerned neithe
one or the other, in fact, exercised an!
command. Sampson was hardly NOR
than technically in the fight. Hi