The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-14
SOME EXPLANATIONS DENYING
TIE PULL" WHICH DO NOT
EXPLAIN.
SCHLEY AND SIMPSONS PROMOTION
AT Last There is Heard from the Navy Depart
ment an Explanation, so Called, of How
Sampson Came 10 Supersede
His Ranking Officer.
(New York 1'imes.)

Washington, ID. c., July 1.-the
Navy Department is disposed to defend
Admiral Sampson against criticisms bas-
ed upon his failure to mention Commo-
dorc Schley in his report of the destruc-
ton of Ccrvcra's fleet. Officers high and
low insist that the report of Admiral
Sampson was technically correct. The
use of the word ''tcchnicaf' suggests the
entertainment of the idea that if Admiral
Sampson had been disposed to add a
word of credit for Schley for the part
he had in securing the victory for the
fleet under my command" that would
have been generous, but was not requlr-
cd in Il military sense.
Attention has been directed to the fact
that the official reports of the captains
Of the vessels that took part i'll the de
stroying of Ccrvera's fleet are being pub
lished. and that they all refer TO Com
modore Schey. Commodore Schlcy'S
friends are wondering if they will be
obliged to advertise for him. According
to their knowledge of the event, except
as they have occasionally had glimpseS
of him from newspaper accounts. he was
much further away from the battle than
Admiral Sampson.
At the Bureau of Navigation the story
is discredited that Commodore Schley at
tempted to send Il report of the fight off
Santiago and was prevented by Admiral
Sampson. eff Commodore Schley at
tempted to make an Independent report
to the Secretary of the Navy" said u
prominent officer. admiral Sampson did
just right in forbdding him to send it,
Admiral Sampson is the commander of
the fleet. Commodore Schley is his su-
bordinate officer. Any report that Com
modore Schley has to make must as 4
matter of course be sent to the depart
ment through Admiral Sampson. If he
intends to make n report If will come
that way. ] do not believe there has
been any such dispute between them as
has been reported. 1t is Uncomfortable"
It seems to be not quite understood
how Admiral Sampson comes to be i'll
command of Commodore Schley. Cap
tain Crowninshield explains it clearly
Before the war broke out. but when war
was believed to be imminent. the North
Atlantic SQUADRON was at Key West
preparing. under the command of Adj
miral Sicard, to carry out Il programme
of manoeuvres in the Gulf of Mexico
that had been arranged in January.
was expected that the fleet would be at
once called upon for duty at Havana
Admiral Sicard fell i'll. A medical sur
vey resulted in his being ordered to take
sick leave and he left the flagship Cap
tain Sampson was ut once, under Il stat
ute that permits the President to give
the command of fleet to captain.
made the flagship officer, with the rank
of Admiral.
The war came. When it broke ont
Commander Schley. the superior in rank
of Admiral Sampson, was president Of
the Lighthouse Board. He at once
sought sea duty. His tour on shore was
not yet out, but officers of experience
were needed. and he was provided with
the command of the FLYING Squadron.
then at Fort Monroe. 1t was not CON
sidered necessary or wise to put him in
command of the North Atlantic Squad
ron. as that would have looked like dis
approval of Admiral Sampson. when
there was no dissatisfaction with his
conduct or mana cement of the blockad-
ing feet.
SCHLEY WANTED ACTIVE SER
VICE.
Commodore Schley grew weary of the
UIleIcSS Oh inc uUueE MS cOIll-
mand, and desired duty at the scene of
war. At the earliest moment it WAS
deemed expcdient to send the flying
squadron to Cuba it was detached from
the patrol service and attached to the
North Atlantic' station as a squadron.
rhe situation was then provided of the
command by Commodore Sampson Of
Commodores Schley and Watson, both
officers Of really higher rank than Adj
miral Sampson, who is a commodore
two files below Schley.
To dispIace Commodore Watson,
Schley's superior. from the Eastern
squadron. and give that command 10
Schley would ut once provoke the OBJ
lection that Commodore Watson had
been knocked down without having been
afforded chance to justify his selection
for Il most important duty.
SO much has been said about the failure
10 fully credit Schley and Simpsons
failure to mention his second in com,
mand that it is the general opinion that
Commodore Schley's friends will pre-
vent any attempt to reward Sampson at
his expense. 1t lis almost certain now
that neither will be promoted until both
are promoted. and it is considered unite
improbable that the reward to Sampson
Will change the relative position on the
register of Sampson and Schey. To adj
vance them they must first be mentioned
by name to the Congress and by the
President.
Congress having thanked the officers
by name, the President NAV name eocb
for II higher place. TO make that pro-
motion good, a majority vote must be
obtained. 10 avoid n conflict in the Sen
ate over confirmation, it is believed that
the President will reward the two Off
GERS III the same manner, and that he
will leave Schley standing in the register
two numbers ahead of Sampson
Coughs and Colds nnicklu curnd hp