The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1911-10-14
ADMIRAL SCHLEY AND
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
Comment On the Santiago Naval
Battle That Caused Contro-
versy With Sampson

Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley
fell dead while walking on the street in
New York City last week. His remains
were taken to Washington and buried
with full naval honors at Arlington
Cemetery. The Salt Lake Telegram in
an editorial commenting on the contro.
versy Of extreme bitterness that fol.
lowed the destruction of the Spanish
fleet off Santiago, says:
When the war with Spain was de-
olared fleet was given Admiral Samp-
son to operate against the Spanish in
Cuba. When he was lying outside of
Havana message was received that
Admiral Cervera had left Spain with a
powerful feet for America.
This caused great alarm all up and
down the Atlantic coast. Another fleet
was fitted out which was to be flying
squadron to look after Ceryera and in
cidentally patrol the coast. When def
mite news came that Cervera was oc-
cupying Santiago harbor, Sampson was
ordered there, and SO soon as Schley
could be reached he was ordered there
also. Schley did not believe that the
Spanish fleet was there and did not
hurry, but finally took his place outside
the harbor with SIMPSONS fleet.
Schley's flagship, the Brooklyn, was on
the extreme left; Simpsons ship, the
New York. on the right. Sampson was
the ranking officer and issued general
order that should the Spanish feet ap-
pear, coming out the harbor, no com.
mander should wait for further orders,
bat make directly against the hostile
fleet. Next to the Brooklyn lay the
Texas. then the Iowa, then the Oregon,
then the Indiana, then the Massa-
chusetts, with smaller craft intermixed.
There they lay for 80 days. Ga the
morning Of the day that the Spanish
fleet came out. Sampson signalei the
fleet that he was going up the coast to
consult with General Shafter; that
should the feet appear. to proceed as
per the original order.
1t did come out and together the fleet
made a rush for it. No new order was
given or needed; the Brooklyn received
the first fire of the enemy; then the
Texas joined in; then the Iowa; but
right then the Oregon came roaring past
the Texas aud Iowa and pulled along
side the Brooklyn, aud the two ran
down and beached the Viscaya and
Colon, the best two of the enemy 3
ships. The Oregon, l61a knot battle
ship, kept with the Brooklyn. a 81 knot
ship. while Bob Evans, on the Iowa.
sister ship of the Oregon, could make
but 10 knots. The Indiana was soon
away coaling aud did not reach the bat.
tie ground at all. When the firing began
Sampson rushed the New York with all
speed, but did not catch up with the
Brooklyn and Oregon until the last
ship. the Colon, was bsached. What
made the extreme bitterness was Samp-
son dispatch to Washington in which
he declared that the fiset under his
command had won a great victory.
which was true but not generous.
What finally stopped the controversy
was petition from SIMPSONS family
that it should be stopped. they averring
that for long time the admiral's mind
had on some subjects been astray.
Admiral Schley, ON the night after
the battle, expressed the true sentiment.
which was that "There is glory enough
for us all"