The progressive farmer., 1902-02-25

any kind whatsoever in accordance
with any order from him.
BUT IT WAS A CAPTAINS FIGHT.
In short, the question as 80 which
of the two men, Admiral Sampson or
Admiral Schley, was at the time in
command, is of merely nominal
character. Technically Sampson
commanded the feet, and Schley, as
usual, the western division. The
actual fact, the important fact, is
that after the battle was joined not
helm was shifted, not gun was
fred, not pound of steam was put
on in the engine room aboard any
ship actively engaged, in obedience
TO the order of either Sampson or
Schley, save on their own two ves-
sells. Is was captains fight.
Therefore the credit TO which each
of the two is entitled rests on mat
ters apart from the claim of nominal
command over the squadron for so
far as the actual fight was concerned
neither one nor the other in fact ex-
ercised any Command. Sampson
was hardly 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
she squadron upon the arrangement
of the ships head on in a semi circle
around the harbOr and the standing
orders in accordance with which
they instantly moved to the attack
of the Spaniards when the latter ap
peared. For all these things the
credit is his.
CENsURED FOR THE LOOP.
Admiral Sohley 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 oompoeei
the Court of Inquiry as to the
loop" It seriously m4rred the
Bcooklyn's other wise excellent rec
ord, being in fact the one grave mis-
take made by any American ship
that day.
LET THE MATTER REST.
Under such circumstances it seems
to me that the recommendations OF
President Mckinley were eminently
proper, and that SO far as Admirals
Sampson and Schley were concerned
it would have been unjust for him
TO have made other recommends
tiOns. Personally feel that in view
of Captain 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 managed her be-
fore and during the fight, it would
have been we'll to have given him the
same advancement that was given
Wainwright. But waving this, is
is evident that Wainwright was en-
titled so receive more than any of
the other commanders; and that is
was just to Admiral Sampson that
he should receive
A GREATER ADVANCE IN NUMBERS
than Admiral Sohley-there was
nothin done in the battle that war
ranted any unusual reward for either
In short, as regards Admirals Samp-
son and Sohley, find that President
Mckinley did substantial justice,
and that there would be no warrant
for reversing his action.
Both Admiral Sampson and Ad-
miral Sohley are now on the retired
list. In concluding their report the
members of the Court of Inquiry,
Admirals Dewey, Benham, and Ram
say, unite IN stating that they recon-.
mend that no further action be had
in the matter. With this recon-
mendati0n l most heartily concur.
There is no excuse whatever from
either side for any further agitation
of this unhappy controversy. To
keep it alive would merely do dam
age to the navy and TO she country
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The arrest and approaching prose
cution of the Cherry Tree fakirs