The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-07-14
SCHLEY AND SAMPSON.


Their Friends.
WASHINGTON, July S.-The NAVY
Department has become very sensi-
tive to inquiries about the commission
of Commodore Schley's name from
the report of the annihilation of Ger
vera's fleet on Sunday last. The most
careful question put to naval officers
to-day provoked animated discussion
OF the comments of the press, and
earnest protests We're made against
Admiral SIMPSONS critics who have
intimated that he appropriated to
himself a victory that in part appears
to have been won by Commodore
Schley
Secretary Long is represented as re-
gretting the comments indulged in,
but it is also understood that he
regrets the occasion for them. MANY
naval officers who are very great
admirers of Admiral Sampson admit
that it would have been very fortu-
nate if he had modestly waived the
credit for destroying the Spanish fleet,
and relied upon an equally generous
public to give him praise as the com
manding officer
There does not appear to be any
ground for believing the report heard,
but not verified, that the dispatch of
Admiral Sampson was so censored
otter it reached the Navy Depart
ment that the commendation of Com
modore Schley was omitted. The
regulars were edited out of a War
Department dispatch few days ago
by some one who did not know the
significance of General Shafters dis
patch, or else desired to have his
praise for the regulars applied also
to the volunteers. So, in transcrib-
ing the Sampson dispatch, it may
have happened that a reference to
Schley as the commanding officer of
the ships that destroyed Cervera's
fleet may have been misunderstood,
and was dropped out. But this ex-
cuse would not free the man who
made it from blame.
In the course of time, it is the opin-
ion OF Secretary Long, the report of
Commodore Schley, as the head of
his division, must reach the NAVY
Department, and so will that of Ad-
miral Sampson. These must tell ex-
actly the state of affairs. With the
ships reports it will be possible to
determine whether it was Schley or
Sampson who commanded the vessels
that destroyed the Spaniards. 1t is
not considered at all probable that
Admiral Sampson desired to crowd
Schley out. Sampson is gentleman,
and he is highly honorable one. 1t
is considered incredible that he
should carry objection to Schley so
far as to desire to rob him of the
credit for handsome action.
There has been interest manifested
at the Navy Department in the story
that Cervera told in Santiago on
Friday or Thursday last, at dinner,
that he intended to leave on Satur-
day night or Sunday morning, that
the French consul told some officers
of the United States, who sent it to
Shafter, to be by him sent TO Admiral
Sampson. That would have prepar-
ed him for something on Monday.
Several naval officers discredit the
report that Sampson distrusts Schley,
because before Sampson arrived at
Santiago Schley had formulated a
plan to enter the harbor and give
battle to Cervera's fleet. 1t is not
supported by evidence, but by the
coincidence that Sampson hurried to
Santiago as soon as he learned that
Schley was there, and that he has
been opposed to using the vessels of
the fleet to do what Schley was desir-
Gus of doing when he became second
in command.