New-York tribune., 1902-02-20
THE scHLEY VERDICT SUSTAINED.

THE SCHLE1 NEhDIOt SO A-AA~'f1A'
In entertaining Admiral Schley's appeal from
the findings of the court Of inquiry approved py
the NAVY Department, in thoroughly investigat-
ing the representations on which 1t was paseu
and in rendering the decision which is published
this morning, President Roosevelt has been
actuated solely by a desire to do justice to all
concerned. and in so doing TO terminate con-
troversy which for more than three years has
demoralized the naval service and discredited
the country. 1t is, perhaps, too much TO hope
that his purpose will be Immediately realized,
but there Is reason to believe that the dispute
will now begin TO languish and that the end OF
il will not be long delayed. Congress has power
to prolong IT, but it is understood that the lead
ers in Congress are resolved to discourage all
attempts TO nullify the Presidents judgment
Beyond a doubt his decision ought to be ap-
proved by the country and accepted in silence
by Admiral Schley, though it must be bitter
disappointment to him and his incorporate
friends The last brief of his lawyers, purpOrt-
ing to set forth conclusive reasons why the
President should review and reverse the ind
ings Of the court, though trivial in substance.
was audacious in FORM and they apparently
hoped that it would evoke from those who had
already shown phenomenal ignorance or disre-
gard Of the evidence against Admiral Schley
demonstration in his favor of which the Presi-
dent would think it prudent to take heed. II is
true that the Presidents character lends no sup
port TO that suppositiOn. but there is no other
explanation of a piece of special pleading which
largely consisted of disproved assertions There
may also be irrational antagonists of Admiral
Schley whom this final adverse decision viii
not satisfy. yet in some important particulars
1t is severer than the findings Of the court,
which ION the whole did substantial Justice"
Thus the President decides that the court
should have specifically condemned the fail
''ure to enforce an efficient night blockade at
Santiago while Admiral Schley was in com
"mand." though, on the other hand, he thinks
there is a reasonable doubt whether the squad
ron did not move from port to port with suffi-
cient expedition. Again, in his comments on
the much discussed loop by which the distance
of the Brooklyn from the enemy in the battle
Of Santiago was increased and the Texas de-
layed and imperilled. the President goes fur
ther than the court went. That movement was
defended in behalf of Schley on the ground that
If the Brooklyn had kept her course she would
have come into dangerous proximity to the
enemy The Presidents conclusion Is that such
proximity would have been as dangerous TO the
enemy TO the Brooklyn, and that the Brook
lyn's turn, opening gap through which the
Spanish ships steamed westward with added
chances of escape, was the one grave mistake
made by any American ship that day" That
error, due perhaps TO perturbation,
tainly not due to cOwardice, of which Admiral
Schley was never reasonably suspected, and Of
which. TO the great satisfaction of the coun-
try. he has been officially acquitted.
With reference to Admiral Schley's conduct
prior TO the battle the President holds that il
does not require his consideration, whatever
au1 70 huvo tod hoFo +bo
rival Of Admiral Sampson having been officially
condOned. We have always thought that the
department, being dissatisfied with SchIey's
conduct during that interval ought to have
taken steps to determine the facts at the ear
liest opportunity and entered Judgment accord
ingly, instead of benevolently avoiding action
and thus initiating a long scandal. If that is
the Presidents implication he is unquestiOnaby
right but as respects the proceedings now
closed it is to be remembered that they were
invoked by Admiral Schley himself to whom
restriction of their scope would have been I'M
satisfactory They included one point to which
we think. 1t is TO be regretted that the Presi
dent does not refer. The court touched lightly
too lightly, 1t appeared to us. on Schley's
injustice" TO Lieutenant Commander Hodgson
whose formal denial of an occurrence regarded
as discreditable he published, but whose accom-
be set right he suppressed. Concerning that
transaction there is no possibility of dispute
The facts uncontradcted. and they leave an
ineffaceabe stain on his reputation as an officer
and a gentleman
As to the question Of command in the battle
of Santiago. the Presidents decision was clearly
foreshadowed in Secretary Longs order of re-
tirement addressed TO Admiral Sampson n fort
night ago. which embodied President McKin-
ley's letter of March b. 1899, explicitly recog
nizing Admiral Sampson commander-in-chief
Under the circumstances it~Nas scarcely con-
ceivable that the Secretary of the Navy had of
fcially sent such communication TO Sampson
without acquainting the President with its
contents in advance. In that regard the
record has been finally attested The
Judgment of President Mckinley is con-
nrmed by his successor. The battle of San
tiago was fought under the technical command
OF Admiral Sampson, and strictly according TO
his predetermined plan excepting for single
anu not fatal neglect OF opportunity by Ad-
miral Schley, who otherwise bore his part
'manfully and we'll" But as a matter of fact
during the action nothing was done in obedI
ence to the immediate order of either SAMPSON