The times., 1898-12-26
The Truth About sampson

a provision Tor the establishment or
lower grade 10 be filled by him. The only
claim made in his behalf is that he is
entitled to credit for the watchfu.ness of
our warsh:ps near the mouth of Santiago
Bay, in which cervera was bottled up,
1t is affirmed that by keeping the ships
under his command in state of read...ess
he earned the right to be regarded as the
hero of the fight, although his flagship
was miles away and he himself was alb
sent. 1t has been shown that his lombard
ment of the Moro was without effect,
and it is known that in the other bonn
bardments the Spaniards had the impress
sion that he had withdrawn in fear be-
fore doing any great harm. There was no
other engagement in which Sampson was
Il figure. So all the honors and promo
tions that are his are based on the asser-
lion that he kept his command in read
mess TO smash Cervera.
In the Engineering Magazine Mr., Arthur
Warren makes a distinct charge, saying
that the fact is well known to many off
GERS Of the navy that our ships, with two
exceptions, were not ready and had not
been ready at any time; and that but for
one of the exceptions referred 10, the
Colon and one other, at least, of Cerveras
vessels would have escaped. This was the
Oregon. just added to the command. Mr.
Warren has the authority of the engineers
for his statement The American ships"
he says, had been off the coast for
weeks. waiting for the enemy to come
out. When the enemy came out the
American ships were ready 10 shoot, but
not TO give chase" He is careful 10 cX
plain that this was not the fault of the
engineers or the effect of their ovev-conti-
dence, but of their lack of authority to
use their own discretion They were under
orders as TO the number of boilers that
could be used. The boilers and engines
were not ready for a chase. except in the
case of the Oregon and the little Glouces
ter. The lay mind, he says. might
suppose that the object of sending the
feet to Santiago was TO have it ready 10
jump at the enemy AT the sound of the
general alarm. There is 4 touch of the
farcical in building warshipss equippins
them with powerful machinery, TO be able
at the instant of battle, TO get out OF them
only fraction of their power. But some
body in authority reasoned in the fashion
of the GIIbertisn topsy-turvydom. So the
American fleet waited for the Spaniards
with engines uncoupled, boilers filed (as
they had long BEEN with salt water when
they were not empty: and half the CRATES
as cold as ice boxes This somebody in
authority was of course, Commodore
Sampson. When SIMPSONS flagship had
no enemy about she had all OF her engines
and four of her boilers in use. When she
went on the blockade at Santiago and had
the enemy in touch she had only half her
engine power and half her boiler power
ready for use. Mr.. Warren naturally
wonders If Sampson expected the enemy
TO signal: Please connect your engines
and boilers, and be good enough To light
your fires: am coming OUT!
When the enemy came out the Oregon,
which had only recently Joined in the
blockade and presumably had not been in
structed as 10 SIMPSONS scheme of being
unready for a chase, and the Gloucester.
being small and capable of use as dis
patch boat, were the only ships that
could reach anything like their best
speed. Mr.. Warren continues: "Samp-
sons flagship. the New York, was one
of the lame ducks of the fleet The
triiling distance between her eastward
position and the line of the dash of Ger
vera was not what kept her out of the
battle. Her forward engines, by orders
from the bridge. Were disconnected. There
were boilers disconnected. empty, and, of
course. fireless. Three hours after the
New York started on the westward
chase, she had steam in all her boilers
Her running time, from the Morro to the
Colon, was four hours and eight min
utes. a speed of 11.05 knots. Her rate
of speed under natural draught full
power, is sixteen to seventeen knots;
under isrced draught, twenty-one knots
Compare with this the record of The
Oregon. Here was a ship" says Mr.
Warren, after "A fifteen-thousand-m mile
run, four months out of dock, with foul
bottom and increased displacement, al
most equaling her trial trip record OF
speed. And she fought as she ran. In
side of fifteen minutes after the full speed
signal was given she was making fifteen
knots. Within an hour she was making
nearly seventeen. So much for having
engines in order, boilers ready, fires
lighted"
Here is direct charge, published in q
thoroughly reputable magazine, said to be
on the authority of engineers of the
squadron. The man who has been honor.
ed with promotion for the efficiency OF
his service in preparing for the enemy
allowed his ships TO get in condition
where chase WIS impra acticable
his own vessel making eleven instead
OF seventeen knots in pursuit of lar
enemy which she was unable to reach
1t is officially stated that but for the
Oregon, the Colon and one other of the
enemy's ships would have escaped. There
can be no doubt about the facts. If Mr.
Warren has misrepresented them it is
easily proved. If he is right. as ther.
is every reason TO believe, does not Ad
miral Sampson deserve to be put on tria
for neglec; of an obvious duty, rathel
| than further rewarded? Common sens,
is the same in the navy as anywher,
else. If the great power of speed in war
ships-for which power the Government
pays so much. offering a bonus for highe
speed than the contract requires-is fo
any use. it is to carry the vessels With,
reach of the enemy. or out of his reach
| The chase was the plain indication here
as il was known II must be, yet samp
sons ships We're not prepared to as
more than half their power.
| Related Christmns Buyers.