The times., 1898-08-07
A SCANDAL TO THE SERVICE
Particulars Of the Schley -Samp-
son Naval Controversy.
MODEST MERIT Prosecuted
The Times Was Right I'm Declaring
That Sanpson's Published Report
Was Not the First One OF Schiey's
NIctor.-That Was Suppressed for
Prudential Reasons

The recent announcement that naval
and military boards viii be appointed
TO pass upon deserved promotions in both
branches of the service has revived the
old Schley-Sampson controversy, and as
the time approaches when the matter
must be officially settled by substantial
reward. the friends of both men grow
m0-e pronounced in their individual
views.
But the recommendations of these
boards or commissions will be confined
to the ranks below that of captain. Thus.
the promotion of Commodore Schley will
come beneath the immediate notice of
the President. and hence the matter has
not been removed from its original
status Now that the lapse of several
weeks has cooled the discussion to some
extent, a dispassionate statement from
high naval officer who is in close touch
with the workings of his department l.
OF considerable interest. Under promise
that his name should not appear. the Of
fetal referred 10 gave the following in
terview 10 a Times reporter yesterday:
Il. like every other attache of the
department. have my personal convic-
tions in the matter. but for various rea-
sons II would be unwise for me to ex-
ploit them. Personally, ] am neither
Schiey nor Sampson man in the sense
that many others are who have created
bitter enmities in the service by their
open craftsmanship: but l believe in fair
play and the placing Of honor and reward
where they properly belong. Eliminating
all other considerations. the fact that the
famous naval battle was won under the
immediate command of Schley, and there
is no more excuse for robbing him of
the honor Of ii than for denying that
Admiral Dewey should have the reward
for his victory AT Manila. True. Samp-
son came in at the finish; but the man
he had left in command of the fleet won
the f-ht.
Sampson has always been a favorite IN
the Navy Department under the present
Administration When his command was
Joined at Santiago by Schley's squadron
there was tide OF criticism against
placing him in absolute command of the
situation, and TO interrupt its conse-
Quences the order was issued for the
North Atlantic squadron to absorb the
flying squadron. which left Schley with
out command and naturally put Samp-
son in undisputed control, since Schley's
squadron was the one absorbed. 1t is
clearly within the province of the Navy
Department TO say what officer shall
command squadron, but so long as two
independent squadrons were lying one be-
side the other there was bound TO be
friction in subordinating senior officer
commanding. This was an injustice that
should have been rebuked.
When the first news of the famous
Santiago naval engagement reached
Washington the Navy Department was
greatly chagrined to hear that its favor
ite had been left out of It, expecting. as
a matter OF course, that Schley would
claim the honor due him. But when
Sampson come 10 the front with his egot-
ism and attempted TO usurp the glory of
another, his action occasioned surprise
even among his friends. but they were
willing to accept him as their hero. Pub
lie sentiment rebeIed at once, and
through the bitter controversy that fol-
lowed the dignified silence of Schley COM
manded the respect of even his enemies,
which are political and not personal, 1
may remark.
The President, I understand, with
held judgment until SIMPSONS first re-
port Of the battle was received. 1t was
such fragrant violation of the justice
due his rival that the department decided
TO suppress il. and the commodore was
advised to write another more conserva-
tive account Of the affair, which he did,
and his second report was published.
Had Sampson been less eager to claim a
monopoly of the glory it had been better
for HIM ] believe he has lost the Presi-
dents former friendship, and l am GER
tain that Schley Will be rewarded as he
deserves.
1T seems 10 be understood that both
men Will pc promoted to positions of
equal rank but the President will prob
ably favor giving Schley the first ad-
vance TO rear admiralty by way Of ex-
pressing his opinion of the entire affair.
This viii not be done without strenuous
objections from certain high officials in
the Navy Department. but the President
] think. is firmly decided and will not be
influenced.