The times., 1898-05-21

vises US that '-all around the cobbler's
bench, the monkey chased the weasel"
1t is not dignified historical state
the better illustrates the accomplish
ments of our fleet in West Indian
waters. Let US briefly review them.
Three weeks ago Admiral Sampson
appeared at Key West, while Com
modore Schley fioated in the James
River ooze at Hampton Roads
and said that the first time he
encountered the Spaniards he would
make things look like a national
clothes line on washing day with
the signal: Remember the Mainei"
Then Sampson turned his back upon
the Delilah of peaceful shore delights
and went forth like a viking of old to
capture and destroy He, or his asso-
ciates. terrified Havana with all the
horrors of a pacific blockade He, or
they. demolished some masonry at Ma
tanzas, Cabanas, Cardenas. and Glen
fuegos. but were careful not to inter
fere with the defensive work which
Capt Gen. Blanco was engaged in un-
der their noses. 1t may be that this
was not Sampson's fault. 1t was some
body's. and, whoever is found to be
responsible for il will be held to bitter
account by the American people. 1t
has brought us the reproach and con-
tempt of the nations.
After doing this kind of sea waltz off
the coast of Cuba for awhile. Admiral
Sampson meandered eastward to evis-
cerate the Spanish power in Puerto
Rico. Arrived at San Juan, he burned
a lot Of powder and hurled number
of projectiles at the fortifications of
the place. Nothing else happened
But all this time Admiral cervera was
invincible in his invisibility.
IL is in this connection that a blum
der much worse than crime has been
committed Our Government was ap-
prised. before the British declaration
of neutrality, that colliers with eight
thousand tons of coal had sailed from
England for 'the mouth of the Vene
zuela-" Gecgre phically. that did not
mean anything, but one would think
that it was a straight enough tip for
our Navy intelligence bureau. 1t indi-
Gated exactly what the Spanish COM
mander would do. 1t pointed ineXora
place where Ceryera would go to coal
We had two clear weeks in which to
send the smallest of our gunboats 20
those waters and capture the Spanish
coal supply. The strategical tea party
never thought Of doing such a thing
We want to say as little on the sub
ject as we can. The record of the ma
val war so far. with the brilliant ex
ception of Dewey's victory, has been
humiliating and disgraceful. Two days
ago Admiral Sampson, with a superior
squadron and plenty of scouts. was
supposed to be in the Windward Pas
sage. The Spanish admiral was known
10 have passed the east end of Jamaica
heading north. We felt perfectly con-
fident that our naval force would swoop
down upon and wipe him out.
Instead Of that we were informed
yesterday morning that Oervera was
safely in the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba, had been congratulated by the
Queen Regent upon his successful
strategy in getting there, undoubtedly
had landed the troops and munitions
he brought. while Sampson and Schley
had splendidly effected a junction at
Key West fer the glorious and patri-
otic purpose OF avoiding a battle and
scrapIng off their barnacles
We do not intend to say one word in
criticism Of either of those naval COM
n3anders until We can ascertain
whether IT was they or the Board of
Strategy who are to be held response
bIe for a condition of affairs which
ought to demand an immediate court
martial. 1t will be time enough to be-
gin proceedings when we definitely ix
the guilt. But somebody is going to
catch it when the facts are reliably
ascerained.