Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1901 — FACTS AND OPINIONS [ARTICLE]

FACTS AND OPINIONS

Sullying the Laurels. In approving Mr. Maclay’s history of the Santiago naval battle and indirectly confirming all the bitter things ■which that history says about Admiral Schley, Admiral Sampsofi seems to have imperiled whatever halo of heroism he may have had. For a large number of American citizens, who know little or nothing about navaJ maneuvers, but who have fixed ideas as to ordinary civility and fair play, this is Sampson’s finish. The gravity of the charges made by implication against Admiral Schley by his former superior officer is shown in the following extracts from the third volume of Maclay’s history: “In his report about the coal supply of the vessels under his command, Schley exhibited either a timidity amounting to absolute cowardice or a prevarication of facts that was intrinsically falsehood.” (Vol. in., p. 296.) “Schley on May 28, 1898, * * * turned in caitiff flight from the danger spot towards which duty, honor, and the whole American people were most earnestly urging him. Viewed in whatever light it inay be, the foregoing dispatch cannot be characterized otherwise than as being without exception, the most humiliating, cowardly and lamentable report ever penned by an American naval officer.” (Vol. III.; p. 298.) " "Let the Texas take care of herself,’ was the heartless reply, and the Shameful spectacle of an American warship, supported by a force superior to the enemy's—a warship whose commander had expended such vast quantities of ammunition in target practice in the presence of a fashionable hotel at Hampton Roads in order to meet a worthy so turning tall and running away was presented.’.’ (Vol. TIL, p. 364.) “Schley was perfectly willing to avoid blanketing the fire of the American warships, even at the risk of a disastrous collision with the Texas, so long as he could escape getting too close to danger. * • • Schley’s contribution to naval strategy, as too plainly shown by his conduct throughout this campaign, was ‘Avoid your enemy as long as possible, and, if he makes for you, run.’ ” (Vol. 11l n 365.) The public is thoroughly sick of this controversy, but the latest incident more than anything else which has gone before will tend to fix upon Ad..miral Sampson the less creditable part in the squabble. Schley, at least, has not openly countenanced vituperation. —Chicago Daily News.