The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-08
Guantanamo Bay Cuba. July 2


4o-day requested the publication of the fol-
lowing correspondence:
III. S. Flagship New York,
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, July q.
MY Dear Mr.. Secretary-I am led to
write at the present time on account of the
publication of an article which appeared in
the papers of the 18th inst, in which Com
modore Schley is made 10 say that he had
stated. apparently to the writer, that he
had over and over again declared it was
possible to enter the harbor of Santiago
Notwithstanding the mines. Commodore
Schley called on me yesterday and voiun-
1arily stated that the publication of the arti-
Gle on the 18th was false in every particular;
that he not only never stated anything of
the kind, but that he had never even
thought of it; that he had always entirely
agreed with me on this question, and that
he did not know a single officer whose opin-
ion differed from mine. AS / have reason
TO believe that Commodore Schley has been
misrepresented / have taken the liberty to
address to you a telegram on this subject
the east l trust that it will receive your
attention at an early date; =; very respect
fully, w. I. SAMPSON,
chief u. S. Naval Force. North Atlantic
Station
The telegram referred to is as follows:
playa del Este July 81 1872 a. m.
"Secretary of the Navy, Washington
Il call the departments attention to an
Associated Press dispatch in the New York
Times and Herald of the 18th attributing to
Commodore Schley certain opinions regard
ing mines. / request that the manager of
the Associated Press be called on to name
the source and authority for this statement:
SAMPSON
On receipt of this telegram the depart
ment wrote the following letter to the As
ISOLATED Press:
Navy Department Washington, July. g.
'Sir-The New York Times and the New
York Herald, of the 18th inst, published
an Associated Press dispatch in which Ger,
tain opinions regarding mines are attributed
TO Commodore Schley. This dispatch is
written in such manner as to convey the
impression that it was received from your
representative with the squadron oil SAINT
iago, and consequently had been censored
by proper naval authority. /, therefore,
have to request that you inform this de-
partment at your earliest convenience. the
source and authority for the dispatch. to
which reference is made. Very respectfully.
JOHN D. LONG, Secretary.
Mr. c. A. Boynton. General Southern
Manager, the Associated Press, Washing
ton.
The reply of the Associated Press is as
follows:
washington. Aug. l.
b'Hon John D. Long Secretary of the Navy:
.'Sir-Your favor of July 2S is at hand
concerning articles published in the New
York Times and the New York Herald of
9he 10th inst. in which certain opinions
in regard TO mines are attributed to Com
ynodore Sehley. This letter was not written
by either of our representatives with the
squadron off Santiago. but by another gen
Tleman who was temporarily on one of our
dispatch boats The dispatch was not sub
5ect to censorship. Our Mr., Graham, who
has been constantly with Commodore
sschley since bis squadron assembled at
Hampton Hoads. and is probably more ia
1niliar with his views than any newspaper
man al Santiago. takes issue with the gen.
tleman who wrote the letter referred to.
and says that Commodore Schley was al
ways in complete accord with Admiral
Sampson as to the question of entering the
harbor. He quotes Commodore Schley as
SAYING: Admiral Sampson and had always
agreed that it would be foolish to enter the
barhor with the mines in place and the con-
clifton of the mines proved that Admiral
Sampson was correct Very respectfully
yours, CHARLES A. BOYNTON."