Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-09
LONG DEFENDS SAMPSON.
Answers One Of the Many Letters At
lacking the Admiral.

SELECTED TO SUCCEED ADMIRAL
SICARD BECAUSE THE DEPART
MENT BELIEVED HE WAS ESPEC-
TALLY FITTED FOR THE POSI-
TIoNATHE MOVEMENT TO SAN
JUAN, AND THE COMMANDMENT
OF THE FORTIFICATIONS THERE
WAS MERELY A RECONNAISSANCE,
AND WAS DONE UNDER ORDERS
FROM THE DEPARTMENTAL
TON AGAINST MINES AND LAND
BATTERIES WAS ENFORCED BY
THE WASHINGTON AUTHORITIES.
Washington, August 8.-The Secre-
tary of the Navy has received several
letters violently attacking Admiral
Sampson. The following is a copy OF
his reply to one Of them, which he fur-
nishes for publication.
Navy Department, Washington, Au-
gust 5, 1898.
My dear sir:-I am in receipt of
your letter, and hasten to assure you
that what you say about Admiral
oduIpSOA 10 81 ullJ ClidI IL SoAt oAiy
be pardoned on the ground Of your lg-
norance of the whole matter. You
have no appreciation of the response
bilities that have been upon Admiral
Sampson; or his very superior attain
ments as an officer, and the splendid
work he has done in preparing for the
naval victory which was the browning
accomplishment 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, l cannot fOrbear
to protest, as l should feel bound to do
if you had referred in similar terms to
any other of our deserving officers.
l. Admiral Sampson was selected
for the command Of the North Allan
tic squadron, because the department,
in the exercise Of its best judgment,
with an eye single
TO THE PUBLIC INTERESTS,
believed that he was especially fitted
for the place. Admiral Sicard, who
had the command, having become in
capacitated for duty by reason Of sick
ness, was necessarily withdrawn, by
order Of the department, and Samp-
son was next in command. These two
are especially accomplished ordnance
officers, having been each at the head
of the ordnance bureau, and having
devoted themselves to that branch of
naval science. Sampson is a man Of
the very highest professional attain
ments, solely devoted to his duty. He
never pushes himself forward, and
when you accuse him of anything of
that sort you do most cruel injury
a man who has never sought favor or
applause in any other way than by
the simple discharge of his duty.
1.-THE movement on Porto Rico was
not movement for its capture. The
which has very rarely in
terfered with the movements of admi-
rails commanding squadrons, did, how
ever, make one express order and that
was that our battleships should not
be exposed to the risk of serious injury
from the fire of any fort. At that time
the Spanish fleet was strong It's where
abouts and destination were unknown
The prime necessity was to meet and
crush it's ships and to secure for us
the domination of the sea. The Oregon
had not arrived, the Maine was de-
stroyed and no naval authority would
justify the unnecessary risk of the en-
emy's ships. The movement to Porto
Rico was to meet, if possible, the fleet
of Cervera, which was then expected
Cervera, undoubtedly learning that
our fleet was at San Juan,
CHANGED HIS DESTINATION
to Santiago. Our movements to Porto
Rico thus became a reconnaissance and
fulfilled its purpose. There was no in
tention at this time of taking Porto
Rico, as the army was not then ready
to cooperate.
with regard to sending our ships
into the harbor of Santiago Admiral
Sampson was acting under the explicit
orders of the department not to expose
his armored ships to the risk of sink
ing by mines, and the wisdom of his
course. l believe, is universally ac-
knowledged by naval authorities He
waited, as he should have done, the
cooperation of the army How effect
ually under this cooperation the re-
suit was accomplished, is now mat
ter Of history. 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 to assault Santiago,
awaited the reply of the Spanish com
mander to the demands for surrender,
Simpsons feet was at the mouth Of the
harbor, drawn UP in line and ready
to lombard. as it had been for DAYS
previous. and the signal officer stood
on the heights ready to wig-wag the
signal for firing. Happily, instead of
this signal came the good word that
the Spanish had surrendered to this
combined readiness for attack.
4-Please bear in mind the variety
ard the weight of the responsibilities
which were upon Admiral Sampson for
the month prior to the great battle
which destroyed Cervera's feet. He
was commanding officer of the whole
squadron; charged with the blockade
of the whole Cuban coast: charged
with the detail of all the movements
of ships: charged with clerical CORE
spondence with the department and
other officers and especially charged
with preventing the
ESCAPE OF CERVERA.
Remember that this man. whom Won 50
sweepingly accuse, was devoting his
days and nights to these duties When
the attempt to escape came, the move
ment to prevent it, by the attack of our
vessels upon the outcoming Spaniards
went on like clock work; as at Chat
tanooga, every movement Of that great