The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-09-28

Santiago alone would be unique as one
of the worlds great battles won with
out anybody being in command. II
defeat had occurred, the commander
of the Second Squadron would have
had to take his medicine just the
same"
The unshakable facts that the
Brooklyn was in the fight from start
to finish; that she was nearer to the
enemy from the beginning to the end
Of the action at every stage Of the
battle; that she was struck by thirty
OF the forty-tWo projectiles which
struck the American vessels engaged:
that she inflicted quite so per cent.
Of the damage sustained by the ships
of the enemy, although she constl-
tuted but one-ifth Of the attacking
American force; that she and Oregon
completed the battle by capturing the
Colon; that the only casualties on the
American side occurred on board the
Brocklyn-these facts are sufficient to
fix an unalteraole judgment Of the
issues"
And the finding of Admiral Dewey,
president Of the Board Of Inquiry,
who will be admitted to be a reason
ably good author ty in naval matters:
''Commodore Schley was the senior
officer Of the squadron off Santiago
when the Spanish squadron attempt
ed to escape on the morning OF July 3,
1898. He was in absolute command,
and is entitled to the credit due such
commanding officer for the glorious
victory which resulted in the total
destruction OF the Spanish ships.
In his pages Schley forbears from
direct condemnatory comment upon
the behavior Of Sampson. But the
facts speak for themselves. The dis
appointment Of Sampson at being ab-
sent when the supreme hour came
was as great as it was natural-but
he was not graat enough to rise above
it and do justice to more fortunate
comrade. He refused rec gnition OF
that comrades gallant and brilliant
services and allowed his friends.
in and out of official circles, to enter
UPON a campaign Of detract!oa which
will forever stain the history Of the
American Navy. The disappoint,
ment killed Sampson, but the detrac-
tion, the foul injustice to which he
has been subjected, has not enbitter.
ed Schley. He knows that history,
as the vast majority Of bis fello"
countrymen have done, will place the
laurel wreath where 1t belongs, and
that his honest fame will shine al.
the brighter as time clears away the
clouds with which envy has sought to
obscure it.
''Forty-fve Years Under the Flag
is a most readable book from the first
page to the disseminated, cheerful
manly, the book Ct a healthy-minded
highs spirited and chivalrous sailor.
I'm penning these memoirs" hs
says, In concluding, and his WORK
bears him out, There has been nt
wish to detract from the services o.
others, no desire to utter unkind, un
dignifed or rude words OF those who
may have differed in their views, bu1
to set forth the facts and services o.
a life that has been clean in it's devo
tion to home and to country and stead
fast in it's purposes from youth to it,
meridian in giving the best years O.
duty conscientiCusly done for all thai
is near and dear to man-honor, home
country
And the Volume, which is cestinee
to make a compelling appeal to tn'
mind and teart Of all fair Americans
clio es thus:
Neither the lapse Of time nor th'
change OF circum stances has wrough
any change of faith in the expressit
from the heart penned in those hrs
moments after the great battle o
July 3, 1898:
~ am glad that had an oppor
tunity to contribute in the least to
victory that seems big enough Tor al
Of US. ,"