The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-11
TWO NEW REAR ADMIRALS.
SAMPSON AND SCHLEY TO BE PRO
NOTED TO THAT RANK.

80 Nuu1DoTbs III VIII NhAo nChAoL
the Junior Rear Admiral-The Captains
of All the Ships Engaged in tho Fight
with Cervera's Squadron and LIEUT.
Commander wainwright and Lieut.. Bliss
Are Also Recommended for Advancement
WARRINGTON. Aug. 10.-Secretary Long left
Washington for bingham. Mass, this after
noon. Before his departure he sent to Presi-
dent Mckinley a letter containing his recon-
mendations for recognizing the services Of the
commanding officers in the naval battle OF
Santiago, in which Admiral Cervera's four
armored cruisers and two torpedo-boat de-
struyers were vanquished by ships Of the
American Navy. 1t was not believed that action
on these cases would be taken at this time, as
nothing can be done In comforting actual ad-
vancement until Congress make s the necessary
provision. Recently. however. there has been
q complete change Of opinion in regard to the
merits OF Admiral Sampson in connection with
the battle among most Of those who commended
that he had done nothing to deserve reward
and had been guilty of an attempt to steal the
glory belonging to Commodore Schley.
The publication in THE Sun of Capt. A. T.
Mahan's letter. showing what Sampson had ac-
complished. and containing a hitherto unpub-
lished extract from a despatch from Commo-
dore Schley saying of Admiral Sampson. TO
him the honor is due" has done much to set
popular opinion right In the matter. Emphasis
was given to the growing belief in the ability.
discretion. and courage OF Sampson by the pub
LEGATION Of the correspondence between that Of
1cer. Secretary Long. and the Associated Press.
in which the news organization admitted that
its statements concerning Schley's alleged de-
sire to enter Santiago harbor while Cervera's
feet was there were false and u%nfounded.
and showing that Schley was in thor
ouRh accord with Sampson in the advlsa-
bility OF not attempting to enter the
harbor. Additional emphasis came from
the manly and able defense OF Sampson In the
letter written by Secretary Long, which was
published In yesterday mornings papers. So
complete was the rout OF the mischief makers
and Schley's over-zealous friends by the pub
LEFTY given the facts in tho matter and Schley's
own statements to Sampson thathe had always
agreed with the Admiral in not attempting to
force the harbor entrance at Santiago and to
the Navy Department that to Sampson "the
honor is due" for the great American naval
victory OF July 3, that in naval circles the belief
Is unanimous that the people will commend
Secretary Longs recommendation in regard TO
the two distinguished officers whose unflngginR
adherence TO duty brought about the annihila-
ton Of Cervera'S fleet, made the fall Of Santiago
q surety and caused Spain to sue for peace.
Secretary Long in his letter to President Nc
Kinley recommends the promotion OF both
Sampson and Schleyt to the grade OF Rear Ad-
miral, tho highest in the naval service. Al
though an acting Rear Admiral. Sampson Is
actually the junior Commodore OF the navy.
He stands eighth In the list OF that grade.
Schley il sixth on the list OF Commodorcs. and
therefore leads Sampson by two numbers. In
view: however. Of the now almost general &C.
Acknowledgement and Schley's Endorsement that
to Sampson the honor is due" Secretary
Long has. it is understood. advised the promo
ton Of Sampson through eight numbers to the
next highest grade and Schley to follow with
an advance of six numbers. Thus Sampson
will be next to the end OF the list OF Rear Ad-
mirals and Schley will be the junior Rear Ad-
miral. As their promotions will increase the
humble of Rear Admiruls authorized by law. it
will he necessary for Congress to act before
the honors recommended can be conferred.
The other officers whose advancement Is rec
commended are. with two exceptions, all Cap
tains Of vessels OF SIMPSONS fleet who p%artici-
pated in the fight with Cervera's ships. Tho
executions arc Lieutenant-C Commander Rich
ard Wainwright. commander Of the auxiliary
Runboat Gloucester. formerly Mr.. ]. Pierpont
MorRan's yacht Corsair, and Lieut.. Victor Blue
of the auxiliary Runboat Suwanee. Both are
recommended for gallant conduct. The recon-
llltIIhuNIOIlH A'hIAlIochp hSill's anu
the Captains are for meritorious conduct and
services. Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
fearlessly attacked the torpedo-boat destroyers
Pluton and Furor and caused their de-
struction. Lieut.. Blue distinguished him
self in two recommending expeditions
on land. in which he established the
| truth OF the superstition that Cervera's ships
were in Santiago harbor. These arc the only
two officers below the grade OF Captain who arc
mentioned in Secretary Longs letter. The
claims OF other officers will be considered by a
board to be appointed by the Navy Department.
Lieutenant-C Commander Wainwright will get a
greater reward than any OF the officers men,
toned In the letter. except Sampson and
Schley. 1t is understood that Secretary Long
advises his advancement ten numbers in the
list OF his grade.
The naval authorities are very reticent about
the character OF the rewards recommended TO
the President, and 1t cannot be ascertaincd
whether all the commanding officers OF the big
ships that witnessed the humiliation OF the
Spanish feet Will share In the honors. Capt.
Chadwick of the New York. Admiral SIMPSONS
flagship. did not get a chance to fire a gun at
the fleeing enemy. and Capt. Higginson of the
Massachusetts was with his ship at Guanta-
namo Bay when the fight occurred. 1t was
learned. however. that Capt. Clark Of the
Oregon will receive a greater reward than any
other captain on account OF the wonderful
work Of his vessel In the engagement. His
advancement in his grade will be at least
ak numbers. while Cook of the Brooklyn.
Evans Of the Iowa. Taylor Of the Indiana. and
Philip OF the Texas will receive a uniform adj
vance Of Ave numbers. As Philip will become
a Commodore on Sept. 80. on the retirement OF
Admiral Sicard. before the Senate has an oppor-
tunity Of acting on his nomination for ad-
vancement, he will probably be put up two
or three member in the grade Of Commodore.
This. however, Ia largely conjectural, being
based on the opinion Of naval officers who have
not seen Secretary Longs letter to President
Mckinley,
One stan oficeri is included In the list Of those
recommended to the Presidents consideration
He Is Chief Engineer Robert w. Milligan of the
battleship Oregon. 1t was Chief Milligan who
had charge OF the oregon's machinery on her
record breaking trip from San Francisco 10 the
Unst InJIoa and u tuaa 1,n 10 HI. ,..a..t.