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

"OAA 40 SotuthouuCI'lu CuicI, uPOu
the excellence of the blockade
upon the preparedness Of the squad
ron, upon the arrangement OF head on
OF the ships in q semicircle around the
harbor and the standing orders in ac-
cordance with which they instantly
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, sho did we'll, but agree
with the unanimous finding of the
three admirals who composed the
Court OF Inquiry IS to the loop 1t
seriously marred the Brooklyn's other.
wise excellent record, being in fact the
one grave mistake made by any Amer
ican ship that day.
Had the Brooklyn turned to the
westward, that is, in the same direc-
tion the Spanish ships were going, in
stead Of in the contrary direction, she
would have undoubtedly been in more
dangerous proximity to them. But it
would have been more dangerous for
them as we'll as for her. This kind of
thing must not be too nicely weighed
by those whose trade it is to dare
greatly for the honor OF the flag.
Moreover. the danger was certainly
not as great as that which. in the self
same moment, marked Wainwright's
fragile craft a. he drove forward against
the enemy. 1t was not in my judg-
ment az great as the danger to which
the Texas was exposed by the turn, as
actually made. It certainly caused
both the Brooklyn and the Texas ma
terially to lose position compared to
the fleeing Spanish vessels.
"But after the loop had been taken,
Admiral Schley handled the Brooklyn
manfully and we'll. She and the Ore
gon were thenceforth the foremost Of
the American vessels-though the
Iowa certainly, and seemingly the
Texas, did as much in hammering to
q standstill the Viscaya, Oquendo and
the Teresa; while the Indiana did all
her eastward position and crippled ma.
chinery 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 recommendations of
President Mckinley were eminently
proper and that 90 far as Admiral
Sampson and Admiral Schley were
concerned it would have been unjust
to them to have made other recon-
mendations. Personally, I feel that
in view Of Captain Clark's long voy.
age in the Oregon and the condi-
ton in which he brought her to the
scene of service, as we'll as the way in
which he actually managed her before
and during tho fight, it would have
been we'll to have given him the same
advancement that was given VAIN
wright. But, waving this, it is evi.
dent that Wainwright WAS entitled to
receive more than any OF the other
commanders and that it was just to
Admiral Sampson that he should re.
ceive s greater advantage in numbers
than Admiral Schley. There was
nothing done in the battle that war
ranted any unusual reward for either.
In short, as regards Admiral Sampson
and Admiral Schley l find that Presi-
dent Mckinley did substantial justice
and there would be no warrant for re.
versing his action.
"Both Admirals Sampson and Schley
are now on the retired list. In con-
cluding their report the members Of
the Court of Inquiry, Admirals Dewey,
Benhsm and Ramsey, unite in stating
that they recommend that no further
action he had in the matter. With
this recommendation I must heartily
concur. There is no excuse whatever
from either side for any further agita.
ton OF this unhappy controversy. To
keep it alive would merely do damage
to the navy and to the country.
"THEoDORE ROOSEVELT"