Evening star., 1898-07-25
SIMPSONS REPORT HERE
History of Naval Operations Near San
tiago.
1t VIII Be Made Public by the Navy
Department. Tomorrow
Afternoon.

The official reports concerning naval oper-
ations off the coast of Cuba eliminating in
TIE destruction of Admiral Ceryera's fleet
will be made public by the Navy Depart
nent tomorrow afternoon for publication
in the newspapers of Wednesday, state
ment to that effect was made by Secretary
Long today to a Star reporter who applied
to him for permission to see the reports
The delay in giving them out is said to be
due to the fact that they cannot be copied
before tomorrow afternoon.
There are several reports and they en-
body nearly complete history of naval
operations around and about Santiago The
principal report is made by Acting Admiral
Sampson commander-in-chiefo of the ma
val forces in Cuban waters, and it is ac-
companied by reports made to him by Com
modora Schey who was on the cruiser
Brooklyn in active command of the fleet
which destroyed the Spanish fleet; by Capt.
Evans commanding the battleship Iowa;
by Capt. Clark, commanding the battleship
Oregon, and by Capt. Taylor, commanding
the battleship Indiana. The report of Capt
Phillip, commanding the battleship Texas
and Commander Wainwright commanding
the auxiliary cruiser Gloucester which yes
sells took a prominent part in the chase and
destruction of the Spanish vessels, will be
withheld for publication at a subsequent
date.
Secretary Long said to a Star reporter to-
day that in view of the decision to give the
reports out III full tomorrow he did not feel
a liberty at this time to disclose even the
general character Of their contents In re-
sponse to direct inquiry he did say how
ever, that Admiral SIMPSONS report was a
plain statement of the facts connected with
the destruction of the Spanish fleet and
showed conclusivsly that there was no
friction between the officers
The officials of the Navy Department de-
cline to say anything about how the re-
ports came to the department, further than
to reiterate their former statement that they
We're not brought to Washington by Naval
Constructor Hobson. The supposition is
that they were brought to New York on
the auxiliary cruiser st. Paul and sent from
New York to Washington by some other
person.
Will Revive Discussion.
The publication of the official story Of the
humiliation of Cervera's feet will undoubt-
edly revive the discussion as to whether
Acting Admiral Sampson or Commodore
Schley is entitled to the principal credit for
the achievement, or Whetfer the credit
shall be divided evenly between them But
for the fact that Admiral Sampson was
absent when the Spanish -warships made
their bold attempt to escape from the har-
Dor there would be no question on this
point. In his absence Commodore Schley
was the ranking officer and is popularity
credited with the direction of the maneu-
vers which resulted SO gloriously for the
American arms. Both the officers named
vessels which did such good work on that
occasion, Will undoubtedly be rewarded by
promotion by the government for their
splendid services. Sampson and Schley
Will probably be promoted to the grade of
rear admiral, without changing their rela-
1--WE positions in the naval register, thus
leaving Schley two numbers ahead of
sampson, as at present. In view of all the
circumstances the friends of Schley would
hardly consent to his being jumped by
Sampson. TO make Acting Admiral Samp-
son (Whose actual rank is COMMODORE a
Iuil rear admiral it would be necessary to
advance him ten numbers, whereas Com
mooore Schley would only have to be ad-
Vanced elSnt numbers to reach that graae
lnasmueh as Admiral Dewey was advanced
only Two numbers for his UNPARALLELED
achievement In the harbor of Manila Ii Is
SAID by some naval officers that Sampson
ana schley can hardly be expected to re-
ceiVe the greater reward that would result
from their promotion TO the grade of ad
mlrai under the present conditions