Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-02-21

loop had begun, hut still ahead OF any OF
the American vessels, although farther |
outside. The Texas the next ship to the
Brooklyn, either was or conceived herself
to be put In such jeopardy by the Brook
lyns turn toward her that she backed her
engines coming almost or quite to a
standstl!, so that both the Oregon ana
the Iowa which were originally to the
eastward of her passed her ana 1t was
some time after she again started peiore
she regained her former position relatively
to the Spanish vessels. The spanish yes
sells had Strengthened out in column for
the west, the Colon going inside or the
others and gradually forging ahead OF
them without suffering much damage
The two torpedo boats which had loilo"-
ed them out OF the harbor, were now de-
stroyed by the fire of the rearmost OF the
American big vessels and OF the GlolceS-
ter, which headed straight IN ior mem
paying no more heed to their quick hie
guns than to the heavy artillery of the
forts, to which she was also exposed.
The Running Fight.
In the running fight which followed UNI
I'll the Teresa. Ouuendo and Niscaya were
destroyed, the Indiana gradually dropped
behind, although she continued to tre UNI
til the last of the three vessels Went
ashore. The Brooklyn was ahead OF any
of the other American vessels on course
outside theirs. she was nearly proadsihe
on to the Spaniards. The oregon, iowa
and Texas were all close together and ac-
tiva,v angared throughout this running
tebt The Rroolelvn and Oregon, followed
at some distance by the Texas, then con-
tinued In chase of the Colon which went
nearly thirty miles farther before sne
also went ashore. During this chase OF
the Colon there was practically no tight
ing
Thase GRO ,ha racts ae set forth above
t., 49,, .otn,.,ts - tha cantaips and else
n,hara w thair ofTctnl renorts and testi-
49,, Tbo, iaava M room for doubt on
49, ynorto,t ,,oint
The question Of command is In this case
ron,,nsI and technical. Admiral Samp-
sous chin the New York. was seen at the
outset of the firht from all the other ships
oUoo,,t tha RrooLlyn Four of these five
shin cantains have testified that they re-
90 rdad him MS present and in command
He signaled CLOSE in to the fleet as soon
| as the first Spanish ship appeared, but
| his signal was not seen by any American
vessel. He was actually under fire from
| the forts and himself fired a couple or
shots at the close of the action with the
| torpedo boats. in addition to signaling the
| Indiana Just at the close of the action,
but during the action not single order
| from him was received by any OF the
ships that were actively engaged.
| Admiral Schley at the outset of the ac-
ton hoisted the two signals of Clear
| ship" and "Close in, when was SIMPLY
CARRYING out the standing orders of Adj
| miral Sampson as to what should he
| done If the enemys ships attempted to
| hrsak out of the harbor. Until after thu
| close of the first portion of the lght at
tho mouth of the harbor and until after
| hn =
shins were fleeing to the westward not
another American ship noticed sigma
| from him. When the western pursuit nae
hepun the Oregon, and the Oregon only
noticed and repeated one of his signals OF
command. The captain of the Oregon
then regarded him as in command, bu
did not in any shape or way execute any
movement or any action of any kln'
whatsoever in accordance with any orde
from him.
A Nominal Question.
49, c,,,astion os To which of tn
-" $50 A1,,iral Samnson or Admira
~p .n0 a. tho time in command is O
ocnisy' i,.I character TECHNICAL
Sa,,nsor commanded the fleet and Schley
'a.p 80 western division. The actua
49,. ;unortant fact. Is that afte
tho battle was Joined not a helm wa
en n...ns ~ :. Gun was fred. not a poun
snli,eu' Nv. D.. an IN tho engine roor
~ s arw sbin actively engaged in ODE
1.",n - tha order of either Sampson @
enhio,, s.va IN their own two vessels
So oantains, 6pht.
wa" Tsrora tho credit to which each c
49,. t,.,o Is an,itled rests on matters apa,
80. ~. c,aim of nominal command owe
.lo"' a a"s for so far as the actus
en1 as concerned neither one nor til
ns IS ~, f.ct exercised any comman,
S.no, was hardly more than technica
a III 80 eght His real claim for cred
, ~. 80 h,s work as commander
ls S;e, u lnnn the excellence of the bIocl
onaoA, 40 nrenaredness Of the squap
~ u ,,'or the arrangement of the shil
' .on 49, T., q semicircle around the harbc
. heao ui IA nding orders in accordan,
a wh,ch thew instantly moved to tt
.taoL ~ the Standards when the latt
$ appeared, For all these things the cred
/, is his
e ADMIRAL Schley is rightly entitled as
cantain Cook, to the credit of what I'll
= Rrooklvn did in the fight On the who
h she did we'll, but | agree with the unar
t nous finding of the three admirals WI
+ composed the court of inquiry as to Il