The San Francisco call., 1898-10-10
Praise for the Men in
 His Command.
SCHLEY AGAINST SAMPSON
IMPROVEMENTS IN HIS LATE
 CAREER.
The Commander of the Blockading Squadron Tells of the Tedious Life in Patrolling the
 Cuban Coast.

As Commodore John c. Watson, the new commandant of the Mare Isiand navy yard. appears now, crowned with ribbon Of bandage and his finger swatheu in linen, he looks like hero returning from the wars. It does not make the heart of the commander of the blockad- ing squadron glad when one speaks Of the battles roar or the laundering or the great guns for he was in the late war but not of it-as far as actual fighting is con cerned-and this Is what stings
 Seated in . large comfortable chalr al the Cosmos Club yesterday afternoon the commodore spoke freely of his trying la bors of the Cuban coast. his disappoint- ments and the glory of American arms. He said:
 You see, I have my head bandaged as if l had just gone through an acton on deck. No. there Is no glory attached to these wounds. They are all due to rail- road accident which you have no doubt heard of But it Is of no consequence.
 Commodore Watson loves 10 finger over the results of the war. especially the deeds of his friends Schley, Dewey and Sampson. Continuing, he said: Il have been most unfortunate in not naVlng been at the front where the fighting was done. My labOrS were in establishing the block ade about Havana and it proved very te- diouS and tireSome before We were re- neVed. The work was of such sort as to prey upon the minds Of the men. The young officers with tASlr hearts ana LnctT thoughts in the places where the lighting was going on. chafed under the rigid and severe routine of the blockade It was quiet action under stress ana they longed for the boom of battle. For them and the green men who came under my charge l can say nothing but words Of un- stinted praise. The men who came from the Naval Reserves were practically green seamen, yet they displayed a great will ingness to learn and they did learn in very short time. There were young men from all the walks of life in my fleet and there never was an instance of diSsatis- faction or of recalcitrancy. They con- ducted themselves like true Seamen and true Americans.
 It is with regret that Commodore Wat friends of Schley and the friends of Sampson. In regard to this difficulty the commodore said: Nothing is to be re- gretted so much as these foolish disputes. l know both men well; Schley and myself are most intimate friends and our fami- lies are likewise. am positive that the appointment which Sampson received was not of his own seeking. He was selected by the Navy Department and there was nothing left for him but to obey. He is a man Of ability and merit and was deserv- ing of the high honor bestowed upon him. Schley practically was in command at the time of the destruction of Cervera' 2 fleet and he won the lauTelS of victory as well as Sampson. Really, 1 think of this question only with regret, for l know of the true worth of both men and that Sampson was not at fault.
 ''Oh, yes, the one transcendent hero of the war Is Dewey. Ills entrance into the harbOr in the stiffness and gloom of night, running the dangers of mined port; his plan of attack, all things taken together. make him a naval fighter who has no comparison. l remember him as a young man at Annapolis, two grades above me. He then had the reputation of hot-headed youth with a most un- governable temper. Why, he would fly into a rage al a moment but 1t was not very long after when we were with Far ragut on the Mississippi and we were NTw1 rsg changed. He lost his hot temper and be- came the coolest and most self-controlled of young men, He then gave evidences of the greatness Of his ability. A few years ago when he received the appointment which placed him Tn charge of the Asiatic squadron there were a number Of people who persisted in saying that he had seen his best days. Well. Manila Bay, May l. is all that need be said on the question.
 The intention to send fleet to Europe was looked upon as blun, but l think the department was sincere at the time. l received the notice from the Navy De partment in cipher and started for Key West at once, elated and overjoyed, for l thought at last my time had come. When l arrived at Key West 1 was sur prised to discover that the entire coun- try had already learned of the news. But disappointment was again my meas ure.
 stand and that is the So-called Spanish honor. There I was with a fleet of gun boats. converted yachts and Q motley col lection of every vessel known to the water service. Cervera knew of it and neglect ed his opportunity. I think 1t Is rank cowsrdice. and I do not know of a single instance where the Spanish failed to dis play their particular perfection along these lines They might have fought at Santiago and done something though they never would have won"
 The commodore has not yet deived into matters at Mare Island. He thinks that in a couple of weeks he will have his plans prepared for the changes to be made on the island.