| Show D URAL SAMPSON SA iPSON PROTESTS AGAINST I CLAIMS SET UP BY ADMIRAL SCHLEY I Feb E. S. S Theall Stayton Campbell i counsel for Cor or Rear-Admiral Rear Sampon Samp- Samp brief with on today filed the following Resident Roosevelt protesting against claims set up in Admiral Schley's E p peal eal that he was in supreme com com- I nd during the battle off Santiago pHon on Theodore Roosevelt President f the United States States Sir Sir We beg ave as attorneys for Rear Admiral 1 tT T. T Sampson and on his behalf to the following statement In con- con tion with the position of Rear-Ad- Rear 1 itral ral W. W S. S Schley asking relief relief- from f Is s condemnation as reported by a court ourt and approved by the S Secre Secre- cre- cre ir try y of the Navy Vo No o argument will be submitted as to 1 volunteered opinion of the presiding 1 ber of the court upon the question command at Santiago We repeated- repeated applied for an opportunity to present dence upon this point to the court d our request was as often refused fe ve e were ready then and are aie still ready it I. produce much evidence which was ot t offered before the court on this We We Ve are ready to show that under the ivy wy regulations and the Judicial In- In thereof Rear-Admiral Rear impson was during the battle In comand com- com and nd of every single vessel In the line There is abundance of available to show that from ip IS b beginning of the battle every Amerah Ameran Amer- Amer ah an vessel at Santiago was In sight of L I if New York and that on the morn morn- l of ll J July 3rd the commander In id d given instructions to have ready for I ting the signal directing Commodore cley to assume command that this Ignal goal was to be hoisted when under the regulations the appropriate moment arrived that that moment had not arrived arrived arrived ar ar- ar- ar rived and that such signal had not been hoisted when the enemy end endeavored to escape from the harbor From the Oregon too there is available available available avail avail- able evidence to show that when the first shot was was fired fifed the quartermaster of the Oregon using the long glass could from the position from that vessel vessel ves yes sel near the centre of the line read the New Yorks York's battle signals then flying There Is further an abundance of evidence available avail to establish the fact that what the applicant now calls the complete and total failure of the prearranged prearranged prearranged pre pre- arranged order of battle was due wholly to his own disobedience of the orders of the commander i commander ln n These orders were to close in and to Sold hold the enemy at the harbors harbor's mouth Commodore Schley so understood the orders He hoisted that very signal Yet when he saw the enemy approachIng approach- approach Ing that part of the line guarded by his own vessel he looped He withdrew withdrew withdrew with with- drew from the battle formation left a ahole ahole ahole hole in the line Interfered with the Texas which would have stopped the gap and caused her to back thereby giving to the enemy the double opportunity opportunity opportunity of which they availed themselves them them- selves selves to to escape through the interval he had madeWe madeWe made We ore have no desire to prolong this controversy We e only ask that before there shall be a finding adverse to Admiral Admiral Ad Ad- miral mimi Sampson either by the President President President dent the courts or the Navy department department depart ment that that-he be given the opportunity which has been given to Admiral Sch ey to present such evidence as may I make both sides of the matter clear The President will consider the brief in connection with Admiral Schley's appeal and the Navy departments department's corn com ment |
