Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-16

will change enough minds TO pay for
the trouble of writing Mr.. Schley's
story. Before the court of inquiry he
acted as man and a fighter. He told
the story of his part in the fight with
out ostentation and allowed the jury
to draw conclusions. Now he has lost
before that jury. but without word
in his own defense the great majority
of the American people believe him
the real hero of the battle. 1t may be
clear to naval authorities that Admiral
Sampson, twenty, thirty, forty miles
away, could direct the American
fleets movements on that memorable
day, but to the layman who knows
nothing of superiority of rank, it
seems that Admiral Schley, by Drawing
the Spanish guns. chasing the Spanish
ships and whipping the Spanish fight
ers, won the battle himself.
Modesty. though probably not a
characteristic Of the hero is an admir-.
able one when it occurs together with
heroism. Schley has had a reputa-
ton for modesty until the appearance
of this article in the magazine, but
hereafter. he can lay no claim to it.
Had he Let the case as it was after
the close of the inquiry he would have
lived longer in the memory of the
American public as hero and as a
leader of men, than he will now.
The story by Schley is remarkable
for its directness. Among other things
he says:
THE theory upon which all military
organization is based, whether souad
or squadron. is that no element of
such organization can be left without
responsible commander. There must
be some on on whom the responsibility
of success or defeat can be imposed.
From a confidential document OF
the navy department it is discovered
that the commander in chiefs move
ments to siboney that morning were
under orders from the departments to
meet General Shafter. This order sup.
plies evidence of temporary assign.
ment to new duty and fixes incon-
testably the status of the commander
OF the second squadron (Schley) as
senior officer present in command OF
Santiago after SIMPSONS withdrawal
History will always grant the
guerdon of battle to that commander
who fights and wins the battle. If the
battle here had miscarried or. ii
through mismanagement, Cervera OF
any OF his ships had escaped that day
there would have been no difficulty
whatever about who was in command
or who would have had to bear the
censure. 1t was as certain. in thai
event. that there would have been nc
effort to prove that the New York
was within signal distance, no claim
that it was captains battle nor any
other of the sophistries that were in
vented in the aftermath of controvers,
about this great victory.
mo instance is recalled where grea,
success was won in battle when every
participant was not anxious to share
In the glory. but no instance is remem
bered where any subordinate ever de
sired to share with his superior the
odium of defeat Santiago alone would
, be unique as one of the worlds great
battles won without anybody being il
/ command. If defeat had occurred the
commander of the second squadron
would have had to take his medicine
just the same
Although this is for the most par
true it were better unsaid by Schley
Some historian could have written the
words and they would have been vel
received by the millions who admire
the admiral. Now he is to be set dowr
my many as bigot-whether justly
or not does not matter.