Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-02-28

way passed to him by reason OF Sanlp-
sons distance from the scene Of the ac-
tual fighting. Therefore Sampson must
stand in history AZ the responsible CONF
mander.
AS to the question Of credit for the bat
tie. independent Of the question Of tech
nical command. the President holds that
Sampson must have fret credit because
Of his excellent blockade and his reslOn-
sibility. Sampson commanded the feet
and Schley the we,tern division. BIT in
the Presidents opinion neither is entitled
to credit for meritoriOus or important
service In the battle itself.
"The actual fact. the important fact"
says the President. "is that aftef the bat
tie was joined not IL helm Was shifted.
not a gun vas fired. not II pound Of steam
was put on in the engine room aboard
any ship actively engaged in obedience to
the ordy, Of either Sampson or Svhley.
save on their own TWO vessels. 1t was
q captains fight.
Verdict Is Sustained.
President Roosevelt slstains the YER
dict Of the court of inquiry. which he
declares was unanimous in its findings
on all important points. This leaves the
censure unanimously passed by the court
standing of full force upon the records.
While the President does not upset the
verdict of the court in my particular. he
points out that all Of Schley's alleged
derelictions while in command of the lly-
ing squadron were in effect cOndoneL BY
his superiors ut the time. Thus dismiss
ing this part Of the case, he passes ON
to the battle.
He points out that the questions Of
command in the battle anil OF credit for
part in the battle were not raised before
the court, but were ruled out unnni-
mously. 1.-THE majority of the court act
ed with entire propriety in not express
Ing any opinion on these points,"
But Admiral Dewey having raised this
new question. though it was not investi-
gated by the court of which he was presi-
lent. and Schley having made it the chief
subject Of his appeal. the President de-
with the result as already stated.
Hence Admiral Schley has lost ground
as a result of his appeal to the President.
The court decided unanimously against
him on other questions. and the Presi-
dent permits their decision to stand.
Dewey was for him on this question of
command, the other two admirals being
silent. and public opinion was very large
" inclined to follow Dewey. Now the
President definitely decides against
Dewey. Thus a new question. not con-
sidered by a majority Of the court. is
now settled by the commander-in-chief of
the military forces of the nation. and set
tied unfavorably to the contentious of
Admiral Schley.
Loop Was a Blunder.
The most sensational paragraph OF the
Presidents memorandum is that in which
he refers to the famous loop of the
Brooklyn during the battle. 1t contains
a plain intimation that in the Presidents
opinion Commodore Schley was ut tina,
moment afraid to run closer to the enemy.
He significantly holds Schley's c%on,luc,
at this juncture in contrast with that of
Wainwright. The Presidents language
Il as follows:
admiral Sshley 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 ad'
mirals who composed the court of inquiry
as to the loop 1t seriously married the
BrOoklyn's otherwise excellent record. be
ing in fact the one grave mistake mad.
by any American ship that day. Ha,
the Brooklyn turned to the westward
that is, in the same direction that til.
Spanish ships were going. instead Of IT
the contrary direction. she would I'm
doubtedly have bren in more dangerous
proximity to them. But it would hav.
been more dangerous for them. IA vel
as for her. This kind Of danger mus,
not be too nicely weighed by thosc whose
trade 1t Is to dare greatly for the h0nol
Of the fiag. Moreover. the danger wa,
certainly not as great as that which. II
the self-same moment menucel Vain
wright's fragile craft as he drove forwar.
against the foe. 1t was moi. In my judg
ment. az great as the danger to which tn,
Texas was exposed by the turn as &c
tually made. 1t certainly caused boil
the Brooklyn and the Texas materially I,
lose position compared to the tiepin,
Spanish vessels. Blu after the loop ha.
once been taken Admiral Schley handle.
the Brooklyn manfully and WE'LL"
In one other particular Admiral Schle,
loses ground al a result of his appeal I,
the President. The court Of inquiry pass
ed no Judgment upon the.charactpr Of tn,
night blockade which Schley maintnine.
at Santiago before the arrival Of Samp
son. and in his appeal the admiral con-
planned becausp the court had not passe
upon that point. The President doe
pass upon 1t. saying most point.diy tina
IN his opinion the court should have fcor
lemned the failure to enforce m esicier
aight blockade"
Refuses TO Bar Out rrusta.
Ilend house OF delegated ~.