The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-02-28

the majority of the court acted with en-
tire propriety in not expressing any
opinion on these points The matter
| has, however, been raised by the presi-
| dent of the court Moreover, it is the
point upon which Admiral Schley in his
appeal lays most stress, and which he
especially asks me to consider. / have,
| therefore, carefully investigated this
matter also and have informed myself
upon it from the best sources Of infor-
nation at my command.
M'KINLEY's VERDICT.
/ "The appeal of Admiral Schley to me
is not, as to this, the chief point he
raises, really an appeal from the de-
| cision of the court of inquiry. Five
| sixths of the appeal is devoted to this
question of command and credit; that
is, to matter which the court of inquiry
did not consider. 1t is in effect an APP
peal from the action of President Nc
Kipley three years ago, when he sent
| in the recommendations for promotion.
| What | have to decide, therefore, is
whether or not President Mckinley did
! injustice in the matter. This neaes-
sarily involves comparison of the
actions of the different commanders en-
| gagged. The exhaustive official reports
| of the action leave little to be brought
out anew; but as the question of Ad-
miral SIMPSONS right to be considered
| in chief command, which was de-
termined in his favor by President Nc
Kinley and later by the court of claims,
has never hitherto been officially raised,
! / deemed it best to secure statements
| from the commanders of the five ships
(other than the Brooklyn and New
York, the fiagships of the two admirals.)
which were actively engaged in the
fight. Admiral Philip is dead. / quote
extracts from his magazine article on
the fight, written Immediately after it
occurred, closing with an extract from
his letter to the secretary of the navy
of February 81, 1892
ADMIRAL PHILLIPS STATEMENT.
1t was the blockade that made the
battle possible The battle was n
direct consequence of the blockade, and
upon the method and effectiveness of
the blockade was very largely de-
pendent the issue of the battle.
Under the orders of Admiral Sampson
'ho "iooh''"o m"7 'o W"
success eAeinpliheo ny otlers. Auiiii,ai
sampson was coinuanaer-ln.chiel oe'
lore, during ana a1ter Che action.
CAPTAIN CLARK's STATEMENT.
CAPTAIN ClarlSs statement is as fol-
lows: The credit of the blockade which
led M TO the fiphtis. of course. Admiral
SIMPSONS. During the first stage l
did not see the BROOKLYN or receive anv
SIGNALS from her. | considered Com
modore Schlev in responsible command
DURING this running fight and chase
so far as I was concerned. and ac-
knowledped and repeated a signal he
had fvlnp for close action or some
thing of the kind. AS. however. the
problem was perfectlv simple. namely.
to pursue the Spanish ships. as | had
been doing before | saw the BROOKLYN.
he did not as matter OF fact exercise
any control over any movement or ac-
tlon OF the oregon nor ula perform
any action OF any KIND IN obedience TO
any order from thes brooklyn, helOher
as to my course nor as TO my Speed nor
as TO my gunhre' during the nght or
chase.
ADMIRAL EVANS STATEMENT
The following is Admiral Evans
statement: The credit for the block
adc, for the arrangement of the ships
at the opening of the fight, and for the
first movements forward into the fight,
must, of course, belong to Admiral
sampson, whose ORDERS we were put
.ms Az -. IS S" 49, shin ~ No.,
S"ni nuii 70; 90 S1a; o;a.bt '"'Pi ny NV.
turning 10 oVerGahe us throughout