The age-herald., 1898-08-09
IN DEFENSE OF 5. N.- ADMIRAL SAMPSON Secretary Long Replies to Criticisms ~ Oi Historian Of SANTIAGO NAVAL BATTLE It Mas He Who Planned for SChIey'S .@s Victory. IS NGILANT, ACTIVE AND BRAVE It Was His Misfortune and Not His
 Fault That He Failed to Arrive
 Until Schley Had Won
 the Victory.
5 WGILANT, ACTIVE AND BRAVE

lently attacking Admiral Sampson. The following is the copy of his reply to one of them:
 2 Navy Department Washington, Aug. s. My Dear Sir: 1 am in receipt of your let ter and hasten to assure you that what you say about Admiral Sampson is so un- just that it can only be pardoned on the ground of your ignorance of the whole mat ter lou have no appreciation of the re- spo1aibiities that have been upon Admiral Sampson; of his very superior attainments as an officer and the splendid work that he has done in preparing for tRe naval vic tory, which was the erowning accomplish ment- of his efforts for weeks and weeks before Santiago.
 Justice is always done in the long run. But when you indulge in such unfounded criticism. I cannot forbear to protest, as should feel bound to do if you had referred in similar ter4ns to any other of our de- serving officers.
 T. Admiral Sampson was selected for the command of the North Atlantic squad- ron because the department in the exercise of it's best judgment, with an eye single to the public interests, believed that he was especially fitted for the place. Admiral
 
 become incapacitated for duty by reason
 of sickness was necessarily withdrawn by
 order of the department and Sampson was
 next in command These two ospec- ialy accomplished ordnance oftic, e. hay
 ing been each at the head of the ordance
 bureau and having devoted themselves to
 that branch of naval scfence. Sampson
 is a man of the very highest professional
 attachments, solely devoted 10 his duty.
 He lever pushes himself forward, and
 when you accuse him of anything of the sort you do most cruel injustice to man
 who has never sought favor or applause in any other way than byt the simple dis charge of his duty. [
 Not For Its Capture
 "2. The movement on Porto Rico was not a movement for it's capture. The depart- ment, which has very rarely interfered With the movements of saars..raLs of squad<ohs. | did, however, make one express oyder, and that was that our battleships should not | be exposed to risk of serious injury. from the fire of any fort. At that time the Spanish fleet was strong. Its whereabouts and deStinat.on were unknown. The prl-l nal neoe essity was to meet and crush it's
 ships and to secure for us the dominion of the sea The Oregon had not arrived, the Maine was destroyed, and no naval author- ity would justify the unnecessary rlsklng of destruction of any Of our batt1eships except in battle with the enemys ships Tho movement to Porto Rico was to meet, if possible the fleet of Cervera, which was then expected. He. however, undoubtedly learning that our fleet was at San Jran
 changed his destination to Santiago. Our movements to Porto Rico thus became re- connofssance and fulfilled its purpose
 There was no intention at this time of
 taking Porto Rico the army was not
 there ready to cooperate.
 NKrst tI, ar1t ta 1inc nt1r Gh n
 tho harbor of Santiago-Admiral Sampson was acting under explicit orders of the de- pertinent not to expose his armored ships to the risk of sinking by any mines, and the wisdom of his course, I believe, is univer- l sally acknowledged by naval authorities. | He waited, as he should have done, the | coo 5erat'on of the army. How effectually, undcr this cooperation. the result was ac- | cor plished, is now a matter of history. | There are few more graphic scenes than must havo been presented at o'clock on | the 1ith of July when Shafter and his troops ready to assault Santiago, awaited the re- ply of the Spanish commander to the de- mand for surrender.
 @ Anether Word Came "Sampson's fleet was at the mouth Of
 the harhor drawn up in line and ready to
 bombard. as it had been for days previous
 and the signal officer stood on the heights
 ready to give the signal for firing. Happi-
 ly, instead of this signal, came the good word that the Spanish had surrendered to this combined readiness for attack.
 A. Please bear in mind the variety and weight of the responsibilities which were upon Admiral Sampson for the month pri- l or to the great battle which destroyed | Cervcras fleet. He was commanding oiil- | Ger of the whole squadron charged vi; | tho blockade of tho whole Cuban coast: charged with the detail of all the move ments of ships; charged with clerical cor respondence with the department and otn- | CT officers, and especially charged with preverting the escape of Cervera. Re- | member that this man whom you so
 sweepjngly accuse was devoting his days and nights to these duties. If you will l read the orders issued by him beginning | with June 1, you will find that the most thorough precautions had been taken to | prevent the escape of Cervera; that our | fleet was kept constantly in line, so lar l iron, the entrance at night and so far by | day. that the most rigid care with search | lights and every other appliance was ta- | ken every night; that the commanding or | fcer of every vessel knew his post or duty | in case of an attempt to escape, so that when that attempt came the movement | to rreyent it by the attack of our vessels | upor the outcoming Spaniards went on i like clock-work. As at Chattanooga, eV- l cry movement of that great battle was | carried out although General Grant was | neither at Missionary Ridge nor Lo2kout mountain.
 | All will Get Credit
 CT can well understand why the friends l of other officers should be so enthusiastic | and earnest, as I am, in giving them the l credit they so richly-every one'of them
 deserve for their glorious work. l cannot | conceive of a body mean as to detract
 by a single hair from their merit. But l | cannot understand why such bitter feel | ing is manifested in so many quarters to- ward Admiral Sampson. when all the of | ficers subordinate to him in their reports ! clearly and cordially recognize the fact | that, although at the beginning he was by | orders from Washington going to confer | with Shafter, yet has fought under his or ders, and victory was the consummation | of his thorough preparation. For myself | know no preference for any of the gallant | men. I would crown every one of them l x,,;tl,-laneal want fhain all h have thAiI