Evening journal., 1898-08-09
JUSTICE TO SAMPSON
Long Replies to the Charges
Against the Admiral.
CHOSEN FOR HIS GREAT ABILITY.
Secretary Praises His Conduct of the
Naval campaign--No Friction Bo-
tween sampson and other Of
ncers of His Squadron.

hcers OF His Squadron.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-The secre-
tary Of the navy has received several
letters violently attacking Admiral
Sampson. The first copy OF his reply to
one of them which he furnished for
publication Is as follows:
II am in receipt Of your letter AMI
hasten to assure you that what you say
about Admiral Sampson is so unjust
that it can only be pardoned on the
ground of your ignorance Of the whole
matter You have no appreciation Of
the responsibilities that have been upon
Admiral Sampson, of his very superior
attainments as an officer and the splen-
did wOrk he has done in preparing for
the naval victory which was the crown
ing accomplishment Of his efforts for
weeks and weeks before Santiago.
Justice is always done in the long
run. But when you indulge in such un-
founded criticism I cannot fOrbear TO
protest, as / should feel bound 10 do If
YOU had referred In similar terms TO
any other of our deserving officers.
First.-Admiral Sampson was select
ed for the command of the north At
lantic squadron because the depart
ment, in the exercise Of its best judg
ment. with an eye single 20 the public
interests, believed that he was especial
ly fitted for the place Admiral Sicard,
who held the command. having become
incapacitated for duty by reason OF
sickness, was necessarily Withdrawn by
order OF theNdcpartment, and Sampson
was pext ia command the two especial
ly accomplished ordnance officers, hav-
ing been each at the head Of the ord
nance bureau and having devoted them
selves 10 that branch Of naval sciencR
Sampson is a mar of The very highest
professional attachments. solely 'dovot-
ed ,to his duty. He never pushes him
self forward, and when you accuse him
OF anything OF that sort you dONlpqst
cruel injustice to "a man who has newer
sought favor OF applause IN any othT
Way than by the simple discharge OF his
duty
Second The movement Oa Porto
Rico was not a movements for it's cap
ture. The department, which has very
rarely intarfered with the. movements
OF admirals commanding squAdroas,
did, however. make one express order,
and that was that our battieships
should not be exposed TO the risk OF So
rious injury from the Sire Of any fort.
At that time the Spanish fleet was
strong Its wheFeabouts ana dOstiHa-
tioh were unkIewn heIp1S1nsl neess-
sty was So meet aBd crasas its ships
and 10 secure for US the degnhaatiea of
the ssa. This OTNg9n had not arTiSsd.
the Maine was destfoyeAs ana no naFnd
authority would Justify the NnnsoeaFa-
ry risk OF tho destructnoa q aHy Of Our
battleships except in battle with tha
enemy's ships.
"Third-With regard TO sending eur
ships into the harbor OF Santiago: Ad-
nliral Sampson was acting under the
explicit orders OF the department not 70
expose his aTxnored ships to the risk Of
sinking by miRes. and the wisdom Of
this course, I believe. IS universally ac-
knowledged by naval authorities. He
waited. as he should have done, the CO.
operation of the army. How effectually
under this cooperation the result was
accomplished is now a matter Of histo-
ry. There are few more graphic scenes
than must have been presented at 4
o'clock on the afternoon Of the 14th OF
/ July, when Shafter with his troops
ready 70 assault Santiago, awaited the
reply Of the Spanish commander to the
demand for surrender. Sampson's fleet
was at the mouth of the harbor. drawn
up in lire and ready 10 bombard, as Il
had been for days previous. and the sig
nal officer stood on the heights ready
to wigwag the signal for firing Happi-
ly, instead OF this signal came the good
word that the Spanish had surrendered
10 this combined readiness for attack.
"Fourth-Please bear in mind the va
riety and weight Of the responsibilities
which were upon Admiral Sampson for
the month prior to the great battle
which destroyed Cervcra's s fleet. He was
commanding officer of the whole squad
ron-charged with the blockade of the
whole Cuban coast; charged with the
detail Of all the movements Of ships:
charged with clerical correspondence
with the department and other officers.
and especially charged with preventing
the escape of Cervera. Remember that
this man whom you so sweeplngly ac-
cuse was devoting his days and nights
to these duties. If you win read the or
iers issued by him. beginning with June
I, YOU will find that the most thorough
precautions had been taken to prevent
the escape Of Cervera; that our feet
was kept constantly in line, SO far from
the entrance at night and so far by
day: that the most rigid care with
]
was taken every night; that the COM
mandlng officer Of every vessel knew
his post and his caty In case OF an at
tempt 10 escape, so that when that at
tempt came the movement to prevent
IL by the attack Of our vessels upon the
outcoming Span'ards went on ulse clock.
work, as at Chattanooga every move.
ment OK that great battle was carried
out. though General QraRt was neither
AZ Missionary Ridge nor Lookout noun.
tain.
81 can well understand whg the
friends Of other officers should be 50
enthusiastic and earnest. as / am n
giving thsm the credit they so richly
every one of them-doserve for theii
glorious work. / cannot conceive oil
anybody 40 moan as 70 oetract by Z
single hair from their merit But
cannot understand why sucA a bitter
feeling is manifested IN many quarter,
toward Admiral sampsoa when al
these officers, subordinate 10 him. n
their reports clearly and cordially rec
ognize the fact that, although at tn,
beginning he was. by orders from
Washington. going to confer with Cen
eral Shafter, yet the battle was Tough
under his orders and that the victor,
was the contamination of his thorough