The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-02-21
NO ONE REALLY /
IN COMMAND
OF Santiago, Since Sampson
Was Away. Says President.
Gives Credit to Cap
tains.
THE DECISION IN BRIEF.

Briefly summed up, President Roose-
velt's final decision in the Schley case
is that Sampson is entitled to credit
for good work as commander-in-chief
and Schley for the plucky way in which
he fought the Brooklyn, although the
"loop' is condemned as bad tactics,
endangering the Texas.
So far as the question of command
during the battle is concerned the
president holds that neither admiral
exercised any command and that
Sampson was only technically present.
1t was a captains fight pure and
simple.
The president concludes that Com
mander Wainwright of the Gloucester
was the real here of the fight, with
Capt. Clark OF the Oregon close sec
ond.
The president thinks that If Admiral
Sampson really considered Schley
guilty of ''reprehensible conduct dur
ing the early weeks of the campaign,
he should have removed him from his
place as second in command and that
by retaining him in that capacity the
commander-in-c chief condoned any of
his subordinate shortcomings.
He says that Schley moved the fly
ing squadron with promptness, but un-
qualifedly condemns the ''retrograde
movement"
Washington, Feb. 20.-President
Roosevelt's decision upon the appeal
of Rear Admiral Schley from the ver-
dict of the court of inquiry was made
public at the white house last night.
1t contains some crumbs of comfort
for Schley, but on the whole is n dis
appointment to him. The two chief
points in the presidents meroraudum
are that he reverses Admiral Dewey's
minority opinion that Schley was ac-
tually in command Of the American
fleet during the engagement with the
Spanish squadron at Santiago on July
3, 1898, and that Schleys "reprehensi-
BILE conduct" previously was virtually
condoned by the fact that he was con-
tinued as second in command after
Rear Admiral Sampson took charge
of the campaign which eliminated in
the destruction OF Cervera's ships.
THE COURT WAS RIGHT.
II is the Judgment of the president.
reached after most careful deliber-
alton and thorough investigation, that
on the whole the court of inquiry did
Schley substantial justice. He con-
ours in that tribunals condemnation
OF the retrograde movement from San
tiago and it's accompanying disobe-
dience of orders from Washington,
and also in its criticism of the famous
loop which Schley's flagship. the
Brooklyn, made during the battle to
the great danger OF the Texas.
On two minor points he differs with
the court. First, he says Schley' S
failure to enforce An efficient night
blockade at Santiago should have been
specifically condemned; and, second,
that there was some doubt whether
Schley did not proceed with dispatch
from Cienfuegos to Santiago, On this
latter point the court declared the
rear admiral was too slow.
In the closing paragraph cf his
statement the president takes strong
stand against continuing the unhappy
controversy" as he characterizes the
: Sampson-Schley feud. and 1t seems
quite certain that congress will sustain
him by refusing to act upon any of the
many bills that have been introduced
by partisan members.
Now that the president has passed
upon the rear admirafs appeal 1t is
expected Secretary Longs retirement
from the cabinet will soon be an
nounced and a new secretary Of the
navy will be appointed.
SAMPSON IS CRITICISED.
In the decision which Is quite
lengthy, the president. In criticising
the action of Sampson in not reporting
cchley's alleged shortcomings earlier,
Gays:
Admiral Schley's offenses were in
eject condoned when he was not call
ed to account for them. Admiral
rampson. after the fight. In an q iclal
letter TO the department, alluded for
the first time to Admiral Schley's rep
rcIc1siblc conduct six weeks previous
ly. II Admiral schley was guilty oil
raprehansille conduct OF kind which
called for such notice from Admiral
Sampson. then Admiral Sampson ought
pos 10 have left him ls senior officrr
or the blockading squadron on tho 3ra
~ July. ~nep he (sanlpzon) steamed
away On lis proper errand Of com