The times., 1898-08-08
A SERIOUS 1NAccuRAcY.
Pie Kohlsaat's Press, Concern
Called Officially to Book.


Official correspondence bearing on the
widely circulated statement that Commo-
dore Schley had been anxious TO enter the
harbor of Santiago while Cervera's fleet
was there, project opposed by CoGnmo-
dore Sampson, which was used TO the
detriment of Commodore Simpsons 6 repu-
tation for courage and sasacity. was
made public by Secretary Long yesterday
The several communications contained in
and are as follows:
III. s. Flagship New York, First Rate,
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, July q.
my Dear Mr.. Secretary: / ann led to
write at the present time on account or
the publication of an article wnich ap-
peared in the papers of the 18th instant
in which Commodore Schley is made TO
say that he had stated, apparently to- the
writer, that he had over and aga.1l, de-
clared that it was possible to enter the
harbor of Santiago, Notwithstanding the
mines. Commodore Schley called upon
me yesterday and voluntarily stated that
the publication of the article on the 18TH
was false in every particular that ne
not only never stated anything of, sthe
kind, but that he had never even ,thouant
of it; that he had always entirely agfeed
with me on those questions and that he
did not know any officer whose opinion
differed from mine. AS | have reason TO
believe that Commodore Schley has. been
misrepresented, l have taken the liberty
to address to you telegram upon TINS
subject this morning; and as am about
to sail for the East | trust that IL viii re-
ceive your attention at an early date.
VERY respectfully,
'R. IT. SAMPSON,
Rear Admiral u. S. N"
The telegram is as follows:
playa del Este, via Haiti,
July 27, 1888. 1872 a. m.
Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
81 call Department attention TO an
Associated Press dispatch in the New
York Times and Herald of the 18th, at
tributing TO Commodore Schley certain
opinions regarding mines. request that
the manager of the Associated Press be
called upon TO name the source and au-
thority for this statement.
SAMPSON"
On receipt of this telegram the De-
partment wro.e the following letter TO
the Associated Press:
Navy Department, Washington,
July 2s 1898.
.Sir: The New York Times and the New
ed an Associated Press dispatch In which
certain opinions regarding mines are
attributed TO Commodore Schley. This
dispatch is written in such a manner as
to convey the impression that IL was re-
ceived from your representative with the
squadron. off Santiago and consequently
mad been censored by proper naval au-
;hority. ] therefore have to request that
you inform this Department at your ear
liest convenience the source and authori-
ty for the dispatch to which reference
is made.
Very respectfully,
JOHN ID. LONG.
Secretary"
"Mr c. A Boynton. General Southern
Manager Associated Press"
The reply OF the Associated Press is as
follows:
Associated Press. Post Building
Washington, Aug. l, 1898.
Hon John d. Long, Secretary of the
Navy:
Sir: Your favor of July Is is at hand
concerning articles published in the New
York Times and the New York Herald
of the 18th instant, in which certain opin-
ions in regard to mines are attributed
20 Commodore Schley. This letter was
not written by either of our representa-
tiVeS with the squadron on Santiago, bur
by another gentleman who was tempo
rarily one of our dispatch boats. The
dispatch was not subject 10 censorship.
Our Mr.. Graham, who has been con-
stantly with Commodore Schley ever
since his squadron assembled at Hampton
Roads. and is probably more familiar
with his views than any newspaper man
at Santiago takes issue with the gentle
man who wrote the lester referred to and
says that Commodore Sch!ey was always
in complete accord with Admiral Samp-
son as to the question of entering the
harbor. He quotes Commodore Schley
as saying:
Admiral Sampson and l have always
agreed that 1t would be foolish 20 en-
ter the harbor with>the mines in place.
and the condition OF the mines proved
that Admiral Sampson was correct.
Very respectfully yours,
ROW