The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-04
RAINIER DEFENDS
 ADMIRAL SCHLEY Claims His Action at Santi-
 ago Saved Day HIS WIDOW IS IN NEED Maryland Senator Advocates Pension of $50 Month Instead of $50
 as Reported in the Bill.
 Senators Clash
HIS WIDOW IS IN NEED

Washington, June 3.-Senator Rayner oi Maryland told the Senate today that the famous order for what Is known as the loop of the cruiser Brooklyn in the battle of Santiago, given upon the spur Of the moment and In the heat of battle, decided that conflict and saved the day for Amer ican arms. Senator Rayner sought to make this point clear in speech accom- panying an amendment which he offered to the pension appropriation bill so as to provide a pension of $50 month, in- stead of $50 month. to the widow of Admiral sehley.
 Senator Rayner said that the govern ment is now paying nearly s2o0,ooo,ooo a year in pensions. He said that Admiral Schleys widow was in dire need of the pension and lacked even the means Tor erecting a suitable memorial on tae ad- nirars grave.
 Excoriates Schely's Critics
 MT. Rayner excoriated critics of Ad- miral Schley, saying that critic generally is a person without reputation who ex- poets to rise in public estimation upon the ruins of those whom he attempts to hu- initiate. He said that Admiral Sehiey was universally idolzed and challenged the admirars enemies to point to a single instance where he ever wavered when duty summoned him. Senator Rayner said Schley was surrounded at Santiago by band of heroic captains. Referring to the Brooklyns loop as saving the day at Santiago. he said:
 Then came the Viscaya, and she made a desperate turn toward the Brooklyn and the Oregon that were pursuing her, but as she did this she was struck by a shell from one of the vessels, and hauling i1er colors down, she was beached at Acer- raderos. The Colon, the last of the ships, was then making toward the Torqumo river. Schley signaled the Oregon, under the command of Clark, to try his 13 inch gurs upon her and with the combined fire Of the Brooklyn and the Oregon upon the ship, and with no possible chance of es- cape, and with her human cargo doomed to certain death if the fighting continued, her commander ran his ship ashore at the mouth of Torquino river, fired his leeward gun, lowered his flag and the colors of Spain went down before the colors of the union upon the western continent.
 Answers Charge
 There is another charge that Schfey had to meet that I desire briefly to refer to, and that was that In the conduct of the fleet along the Cuban coast he had disobeyed orders of the navy department This was not the first time that Schley in his military career had found it neces- sary to disobey the orders of his superior officers.
 During the civil war at the siege of Port Hudson when he was in charge of the Monongahela. the signal was raised upon Farragut's vessel to re- treat. The quartermaster reported to Schley that 1t was impossible for him to see the signals. The order had been previously given to storm the battery. This was the signal that Schley saw and instead of retreating he leveled his guns against the fortfcations. He was reprimanded by Farragut. but af- terward the admiral called him into his private cabin and congratulated him.
 The time has passed when secre- taries of war or secretaries of the navy who have never perhaps ob- served any military tactics except a dress parade. and who could hardly tell the difference between a revenue cutter and a battleship can fight bat ties with lead pencils and rulers and India rubber thousands of miles away from home.'
 And now all of these transactions have closed and Schley Is gone. He de- livered his country as great victory as she ever gained upon the sea and she accepted 1t with ingratitude The greatest struggle he ever passed through was not amid the shot and shell at Santiago; 1t was when the shafts of malice and hatred were lev eled at his breast; but he stood with head erect"