The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1902-02-26
DECISION
Secretary Long Says Its Gratifying
to The Navy Department.
scHLHY AND COUNSEL KEEP MUM.
Brief Review of the Presidents
Memorandum on the Appeal
OF the Admiral-Com-
ment on the Case.

Washington, Feb. 20-Isacor Ray
nor, counsel for Rear Admiral w. S.
Schley. arrived here from Baltimore
He declined to comment upon Presi-
dent Roosevelt's decision in the mat
ter of Admiral Sehley's appeal from
the findings of TIE court OF inquiry.
Admiral Schley s declined to dis
cuss the decision.
Secretary Lo. referring to the
presidents statement upon the appeal
of Admiral Schley, said: Il have no
comment to make on the presidents
ruling upon the appeal of Admiral
Sch5ey except to express my apprecia-
ton OF its thorough. conscientious.
straightforward character. It Is. of
course, gratifying that the navy de-
partment is sustained. The decision
will be read as no other document
would be. and believe will direct
public opinion and tend to close the
whole matter
President Roosevelt, in his memoir
andum on the appeal of Admiral
Schley, sustained the decision of the
court OF inquiry. He reviewed the tes-
timony by the captains of the war
ships operating at Santiago and con-
cluded:
In short, the question as to which of
the two men, Admiral Sampson or Adj
miral Sehley, was at the time in COM
mand, is of merely nominal character
Technically, Sampson commanded the
feet, and Schley, as usual. the west
ern division. The actual fact, the i'm
portant fact. is that after the battle
was Joined not a helm was shifted
not gun fired, not a pound of steam
was put on in the engine room aboard
any ship actively engaged in obedi.
ence &c the order of either Sampson
or Schley, save on their own two yes
sells. 1t was a captains fight.
Therefore the credit to which one
of the two is entitled rests on matters
apart from the claim of nominal com
mand over the squadron; for, so far
as the actual fight was concerned,
neither one nor the other in fact exer-
cised any command.
Admiral Schley is rightfully enti-
tled-as is Captain Cookie the
credit OF what the Brooklyn did in the
fight. On the whole she did we'll: hut
! agree with the unanimous finding of
the three Gdmirals who composed the
court of inquiry as to the loop" 1t
seriously marred the Brooklyn's o.Aer-
wise excellent record. being. in fact,
the one grave mistake made by any
American ship that day.
But after the loop had once been
taken Admiral Schley handled the
Brooklyn manfully and well. She and
the Oregon were thenceforth the head
most of the American vessels, though
the Iowa certainly, and seemingly the
Texas also. did as much in hammer
ing to standstill the Viscaya, Oquen-
do and Teresa; wkile the Indiana did
all her eastward position and crippled
machinery permitted. In the chase OF
the Colon the Brooklyn and Oregon
share the credit between them.
Under the circumstances, 1t 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 recommendations.
In short, as regards Admirals Sam
son and Schley, find that President
Mckinley did substantial justice, and
that there would be no warrant for
reversing his action.
10Th Admiral Sampson and Admiral
Schley are now on the retired list. in
concluding their report the members
of the court Of inquiry, Admirals
Dewey, Benham and Ramsay, unite in
stating they recommend that no fur
Their action be had in the matter. With
this recommendation I most heartily
concur. There is no excuse whatever
from eiLher side for any further agita-
ton of this unhappy controversy. To
keep it alive would merely do damage
to the navy and to the country.