The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-20
president REFUSES
APPEAL OF SCHLEY.
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appeared, but his signal was not seen by
any American vessel He was actually
under fire from the forts and himself
hired a couple of shots at the close of
action with the torpedo boats. In addi-
ton to signaling the Indiana Just at me
close Of the action. But during the ac-
ton not a single order from him was re-
*ceived by any Of the ships that were
actively engaged.
HOIsTED SIGNALS.
Admiral ocnley, at the outset of the
action, hoisted the two signals of=.Clear
ship and Close in which was simply
carrying out the standing orders of Adj
miral Sampson as to what should be done
if the enemys ships attempted to break
out Of the harbor. Until after the close
Of the first portion Of the fight at the
mouth of the harbor, and until after he
had made his loop and the Spanish ships
were fleeing to the westward, not anoth-
Ser American ship noticed a signal from
him. When the western pursuit had be-
gun 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, but
did not in any shape or way execute
any movement or any action of any kind
whatsoever dCCOTuduCSe WIFI duY CIuCI
from him.
In short, the question as to which of
the two men, Admiral Sampson or Adj
miral Schley. was at the time in COM
mand, is Of merely nominal character.
Technically. Sampson commanded the
fleet, 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 a gun was
fired, not a pound Of steam was put on
in the engine-room aboard any ship ac-
lively engaged, in obedience to the order
of either Sampson or Schley, save on
their own two vessels. 1t was d captains
fight.
Therefore, the credit to which each of
the two is entitled rests on matters 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, exercised any command
Sampson was hardly moro than technl-
cally in the fight. His real claim for
credit rests upon his work as command
er-in-chief; upon the excellence Of the
blockade; upon the preparedness OF the
squadron; upon the arrangement OF the
ships head-on in a semi-circle around the.
harbor, and the standing orders, in ac-
cordance with which they instantly
--',c, tho latter appeared. For all these
things the credit is his
THE LOOP.
Admiral Schley is, rightly entitled-as
is Captain Cookie the credit Of what
the Brooklyn did i'll the fight. On the
whole she did we'll; but agree with the
unanimous finding of the three admirals
who composed the court of inquiry as to
tile ''looop.'' It seriously marre6 the
Brooklyn's otherwise excellent record, be-
ing, in fact, the one grave mistake made
by any American ship that day. Had the
Brooklyn turned to the westward-that
is, in the same direction that the Spanish
ships were going, instead Of in the con-
trary direction, she would undoubtedly
have 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 danger 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
rot as great as that which. in the self
same moment, menaced Wainwrights
fragile craft, as he drove forward against
the foe. It was not, in my judgment. as
great as the danger to which the Texas
was exposed by the turn as actually
made 1t certainly caused both the
bfOOhlS dllC lie 1tAdS lHsbtSiliiy "
lose position, compared to the fleeing
Spanish vessels. But after the loop had
once heen taken, Admiral Srhlev handled
the Brooklyn manfully and we'll. She
md the Oregon were thenceforth the
headmost of the American vessels
though the Iowa certainly. and seemingly
the Texas also. did as much in hammer
ing to a standst'1 the Viscaya Oquendo
and Teresa. White the Indiana did all
her eastward position and crippled ma
cllinery permitted. In the chase of the
Colon the Brooklyn and Oregon share the
credit between them
ENTIRELY PROPER
Under such circumstances it seems to
me thatrthe recommendations of Presi-
dent Mckinley were eminently proper.
and that SO far as Admirals Sampson
and Sch1ev We're concerned. it would
have been unjust for him to have -"
other recommendations. Personally. I
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 well as the way in which he
actually manager her before and during
the fight. it would have been well u
have given him tle same advancement
that was given WAINWRIGHT But walvin"
this it is evident that Wainwright was
entitled receive tiletii oily VI tii'
other comma nders. and that it was Jusf
to Admiral Sampson that he Should re-
ce7ve a greater advance in nurrhers than
Admiral Schlev. There was nothing done
in the battle that warranted any unus-
,al reward for either. In short. as re-
CARDS Admirals SAMPSON and Schley.
find that President Mckinley did sub
stantiaI justice. and that there would be
no warrant for reversing his action.
Roth Admiral Sampson and Admira'
Scl1lev are now on the retired list. II
concluding their report. the members Of
tte court OF innuiry--Admira!s Dewey
Renham and Rar1sav--nnite in STATING
that they recommend thatno further &C
ton be had in the matter. " III thic
recommendation I most heartily concur
There is no excuse wha tever from eithe'
side for arv further aeitatlon of this I'm
hapnv controversy. TO keep it alive
would merely DO Damage to the navy
and to the country.
- THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
BIG CAPTURE.