New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-14

,,..e,1r>.croN sTIIJ, DISCUSSING WHO
DESERVES CREDIT FOX IhE
BIG VICTORY.
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE THIDrNE'I

fRY rELEGRArH TO THE TiIEiNE'
Washington. July 1.-THE Navy Department
has not vet received a complete report Hum
Admiral Sarorson Of the destruction OF th"
snenIsh Zee. outside Of the harbor OF santiago
and II the Admiral has called anything apou'
the g; edit due his subord.nates for the galiah''y
they displayed in tho memorable engagement
Naval officials decline to admit II. me oeiay III
furnishing the detailed report is explained ~
the rcquirem an,s Of the Naval regulations pro-
Niding that the c)mmanding officer OF every 'eS-
sci In the action must report fully 10 the h"-
miral these reports II be forwarded by MIN
with his own. In the present Instance Adfiilra
Sampson is probably hampercd drawing up MS
own report as he not present untii the
close OF the engagement, and must depend upon
IL, narratives Of the participants tor most OF
tho facts
There Is declared to 10 no knowledge at the
Navy Department that any controversy exists
between Schley and Sampson. and commence
Is expressed that when the official reports arrive
they will show that harmony pervades the en-
tire fleet. and especially between Schley and
his immediate superior.
Naval officers. familiar with the official reSu-
latlons governing the service fail to see how
any differences could possibly arise between
those two Offices. whose duties are explicitly
defined and the disposition throughout the
Navy Department is 10 gard the newspaper
reports of friction as highly magnlhed II. IN
deed there Is any ground for them. IL Is stated
authorltaiivcly that Admiral Sampson under
Regulation 2G2 was powcrcss To relnpush MS
command even temporarily except In case Of
extreme Illness. and that he has never for
moment since he reached Santiago been re-
D.. ft- fDr
there. t'nl,r Regulation 300 he alone may
communicate directly with the Navy Depart
meut. ana all communications from other Of
hccrs have - pass through him. Regulation
81; specifically provides that under no circum-
stances ran Sch"y report to any other person
than Sampson. The cominandcr-In-chief OF the
ncc; under Regulate. 2GG to 213, inclusive. IL
charged with al responsibility for making plans
81 all battles IN advance. and distributing copies
u these with tho accompanying orders to meet
any emergency among all his subordinat" com
manders for their government II was his duty
therefore TO prepare FOR what actually did occur
al Santiago July g. and h. presumably did So
rcrulatiors so "a To- 81 in addition de-
clare with the utmost directnoss that when
SQUADRON commander. such as Sch'ey II. becomes
separnted from his superior he assumes COM
rlet. command but b" must j'n the COM
,,,ndar-In-chicf as soon thereafter as he can.
and report to him fully at the same time trans
hitting the reports 81 the captains Of all SHIPS
that accompany him.
These regulations permit of no doubt tha'
Sampson never renquished his control over the
feet of Santiago But on the other hand heg-
ulatlon No H. which Is the fundamental law Of
the Navy. having had The express force 81 con
rroysional enactment. gives to Schley the chiei
credit for the llnmedinir success at santiago IL
is as follows.
Regulation ~ II. should the haG officer
commanding be rendered Incapable If exercising
command. the officer Of the fleet or squadron
next IN rank shah succeed him and discharge
his duties until regularly relieved He sha"
have all the authority and responsibility q MS
predecessor"
Under this provision. IN case ''rN'r" ia"
es.orci. Schlo, would have been held rSdly re-
snorslblr. Will, Samvson you'd hav" been re-
ueyed OF such responsibility on account 81 the
,,nnerati,e duty II, was performing away from
hts feet while i'm conference with General Shat-
ter schlrv was not finally relieved by Sampson
until the colon had struck her coiors and the
victory was complete
Admiral Sampson. however by virtue o' MS
command. under Regulation 2G2. must partc'-
pate in the prize money and all other honors'