The state herald., 1898-08-12
IN DEFENSE OF SAMPSON
Secretary Long Thinks the Admiral Has
Not Received Sufficient Credit.

4Nut htfttNtu Sututttnt NreuIt.
Washington. Aug. S.-The secretary
OF the navy has received several let
ters violently attacking Admiral Samp-
son. 10 M least one of these Secretary
Long has replied. and n copy Of his re-
ply was furnished for publication To-
night. He does not, however. make
known the name of the person To
whom his reply Is addressed. Secrc-
tary Long stoutly defends the entire
course Of the admiral since his appoint
mcnt 10 the command of the North At
lantic squadron. The secretary states
that Sampson was selected for the CON-
mand because It was believed that he
was especially fitted for the place.
.'Hc never pushes himself forward"
says the secretary To the admirals
critic. 'and when you accuse him OF
anything of that sort you do most cruel
injustice 10 n man who has never
sought favor or applause In any other
wny than by the simple discharge OF
his duty"
Discussing. evidently. complaint
because the fleet did NOT enter the har-
Dor Of Porto Rico, Secretary Long
says:
''rhc department. which has very
rarely lnicrfcrcd with the movements
Of admirals commanding sluadruns.
did. however. make on express order.
and that was that our lnttleships
should not be- exposed to the risk Of
serious injury from the fire OF any
fort
This order. he adds. was made while
the strong Spanish ficei was In exist
ence. and the movement To Porto Rico
was TO meet. II possible, the Ceryera
fleet. There was no Intention OF TAX
Ing Porto Rico NJ that time. without the
cooperation Of the army.
As TO the sending of the fleet Into
the harbor nj Santiago, The secretary
states that Admiral Sampson was act
Ing under explicit orders not 10 expose
his armorcd ships To the risk Of sink.
Ing by mines.
Secretary Long writes nj length OF
the ar,uous duties which have de
volved upon Admiral Sampson M com.
mnnder Of the squadron. calling atten-
ilon TO the elaborate Instructions which
the admiral had given for the attack
upon the Spanish fleet. should 1t ap-
pear. and he adds that the battle with
Ceryera was fought under these orders,
aud that the victory was the c0nsum-
nation Of the ndmlrnfs thorough pre-
parntlon.
Secretary Long says he can well un.
derstand why the friends Of other ofii-
GERS should he 10 enthusiastic aud earn
c.,t In their bcllcf-for he says every
one Of them richly deserves the credit
of his glorious workout he says he
"canno, understand why such bitter
feeling l. manifested In many quarters
toward Admiral Sampson, when all
these subordinate officers subordinate
TO him. In their reports clearly and cor
,lInlly recognize the fact TINT. although
M the beginning he was. by orders
from Washington. going 10 confer with
General Shnfter. yet the battle was
fought under his orders and were The
ronsummatIon Of such thorough prepnr'
alton"
The secretary ndds:
81 can think ~ nothing more cruel
thnn the depreciation Of the merit Of
tho faithful, devoted, patriotic com.
mnn,Irr.ln.chInf. physically frnll. worn
with sleepl,ss vigilance. weighed with
mensnreiess responsibilities aud details,
letting no duty go undone: for weeks
with ccnH.ics- precautions blocking
The Spanish s1undron' nj last. by the
uncrrlng fulnllmrni NJ his plans.
crushing n with the nect which cSccui.
ed his command. yet now compelled
Ia dlgnlficd silence Ia le nse,ll"d ns
ylndlc,lvcly nr II he wrr" M enemy to
his country, | nm SURF TINT no one
more dcprrcnics such mn niinck ihnn
IA. officers ~ the fleet commodore,
captains aud hll.