Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 24, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1901 — Schley’s Court, As Far As It’s Gone. [ARTICLE]

Schley’s Court, As Far As It’s Gone.

The Schley court of enquiry drags slowly along at Washington. Admiral Schley is represented by several of the ablest attorneys to be found in the country, and through their insistence, they keep out everything they possible can that is unfavorable to Schley, exceeding in this regard the strictest rules of evidence of ordinary trial courts. And the rulings of the court are almost uniformly in their favor. Notwithstanding their success in thus keeping out many important matters, the evidence so far is very unfavorable to Schley. It has been amply proven that when supposed to be looking for the Spanish fleet with his flying squadron, he tarried two days off Cienfeugos, making no known effort to ascertain if the enemy was there. That when, under urgent orders he left there for Santiago, he proceeded at a veritable snail’s pace. When arrived within 20 miles of Santiago, and with information at hand, from the American scouting vessels, that Cervera was in Santiago harbor, and -in defiance of positive orders to not leave, if he was there, without a decisive engagement; he turned his ships about and started back to Key Westj 700 miles distant This was ostensibly to coal, yet all his ships had coal enough for days, and plenty more right with them on the collier Merrimac, and all his captains seemingly agreeing in believing that they might have coaled at sea. Moreover he was informed that he could send one ship at a time to St. Nicholas, 120 miles distant, for coal and still maintain the blockade. After IQ or 12 hours absence he returned to Santiago, thus proving, ‘himself, that his retrograde movement towards Key West was wholly unnecessary. When he finally reached Santiago, he seems to have maintained a very inefficient blockage, staying so far out at sea, especially on dark nights, tbrt Cervera, had he made bis attempt to break out then, would probably have succeeded in escaping The evidence of his attack on the Colon on May 30, shows that to have been a very farcical affair. The Colon lay in plain view, near the mouth of the harbor. Schley took the battleships Massachusetts and lowa and jauntily announced that be was “going in to pot the Colon.” All the going in be did was to steam at full speed past the harbor once or twice, at several miles distance and too fast for any accurate aim, fire a few wild shots which fell far short of the Colon, and beard the antiquated guns in the Spanish forts fire a few equally ineffective shots in reply. Then, in words that scarcely deserve to rank with Farragut’s “Damn the torpedoes, go ahead;’’ Schley issued the order, “Starboard your helm, let us get out of this.” And get out they did, and the Colon remained un-potted. The full evidence of Schley’s course at the battle of Santiago on July 3rd has not yet been shown at the trial. It is certain however, tbat'when be made bis celebrated “loop” with the Brooklyn, and turned to the right and away from the Spanish ships, instead o' towards them, it was contrary to what the other ships of bis squadron expected, and moreover, it put the Texas in imminent danger of being run down by the Brooklyn, and the Texas was obliged to reverse her engines to save herself. This delayed the Texas so much as to practically put her out of the fight. It has not yet been fully proven that when Schley issued the order to turn the Brooklyn to the right to make this“loop”that he was informed by the navigating officer

that it would endanger the Texas, and that be replied, “Damn the Texes, Let her look out for herself.” If the admiral, in supposed com maud of the fleet made that re mar kinder those circumstances he ought to have been court-mar-tiated and dismissed from the service. In making this loop Schley put himself considerably farther away from the Spanish ship, and also lost some time, The propriety of making it at all is still to be brought up in the court