New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-14
CHADWICK TO RAYNER
Takes Exception to Senator
Remark on Battle of Santiago.

Rear Admiral French f. Chadwick re-
tired has sent an open letter to Senator
1sidor Rayner of Maryland in which he
takes exception to certain statements made
by the latter in a speech printed in the
Congressional Record. The letter which
is dated Newport. r. l., June IL. is in part
as follows:
Sir: / observe in the Congressional Rec
ord of the Sd inst remarks made by you
with reference to the handling Of the
Brooklyn at the naval battle OF Santiago.
in part as follows:
Il propose to show that the ia
nous order for what is known as the
loop OF the Brooklyn that Schley gave
upon the spur Of the moment and in the
heat of battle decided the conflict and saved
the day for the American arms. After
years of silence upon the subject by all
who witnessed the event Admiral Chad
wick, the captain of Admiral Simpsons
flagship. has proclaimed this fact to the
world"
The public character of these statements
dictates the propriety Of an open reply,
and I'm addressing you | am transmitting
copies OF this letter to the press.
| have never expressed commentator OF
Commodore Oater Rear AdmiraD Schley's
handling of the Brooklyn I'm the Santiago
battle.
No doubt YOU we're misled to make the
statements to which I refer, through the
appear di't ~ II newspaper OF SOME III
accurate headlines in connection with a re-
view of my history of the Spanish Ameri-
can War. made an emphatic and explicit
denial Of the newspapers statement, which
denial the paper published. Our highest
naval authority I'm tactics and strategy
writing to me regarding this matter says:
! mo such expression occurs nor any basis
for such an expression" in the history re-
viewed.
With regard to the loop" / concur with
the opinion rendered in this matter by the
Court of Inquiry Of 1901. viz:
THE turn of the Brooklyn to StarbOaTd
was made to avoid getting into dangerous
proximity TO the Spanish vessels The turn
was made toward the Texas and caused
that vessel to stop and back her engines
| to avoid possible collision" All three of
the distinguished admirals. Dewey Ramsay
and Benham. VINO composed the court, con-
cured in this opinion
Further; you say that this turn decided
the conflict and saved the day for the
American arms" What did the three ad-
mirals Of the court say? Their unanimous
opinion as shown by the record Of the court
is as follows:
by commencing the engagement on July
3 with the port battery and turning the
BROOKLYN around with port helm, Commo-
dore Schley caused her to lose distance and
position with the Spanish vessels. especially
tho Niscaya and Colon
The turn" I'm fact, took the Brooklyn a
mile and half TO the eastward and at
least half a mile to the south She was
temporarily out of action Her log says
when we came around again heading to
the westward the Maria Teresa had run
for the beach: put hors du combat by the
fire OF the other ships. The statement of
the late lamented Admiral Taylor quoted
by the President OF the United States I'm
his review Of the case. Is wholly to the
point: III instead of making this loop the
BROOKLYN had stood straight In toward the
Spanards, as the other American ships did
II seems To me the fight would have been
settled then. without need OF the long
chase"
I wish finally to say that | desire that
nothing herein shall be- construed as oppo-
stion to the pension proposed. My only de-
sire is to declare anew the great and Inn
portant principles which the navy holds in
honor and to which IL requires the. ODE
dienCe of those I'm the service.