The times., 1898-08-09
The Secretary Rushes to the
Defense Of the Fayorite Son.
RATHER A WEAK PLEA
Like Others, He Does Not Mention
the Transfer OF Command on July
First Report OF the Battle, Re-
turned for Expurgation.

! SeNeTai ietleIS Floientiy attacklnS COM
modore Samps n. The following Is a copy
/ of his reply to one of them:
Navy Department, Washington. Aug
| B. Is9s.-My Dear Sir: / ann in receipt OF
your letter and hasten to assure you that
what you say about Admiral Sampson is
so unjus; that it can only be pardoned on
the ground Of your ignorance of the whole
matter. You have no appreciation of the
responsibilities that haze been upon Ad-
miral Sampson; of his very superior at
| tainments as an officer, and the splendid
work ne has done in preparing for the ma
| val victory which was the crowning ac-
oomplishment of his efforts for weeks be-
fore Santiago.
Justice is always done in the long run,
but when you indulge in such unfounded
| criticism / cannot forbear to protest. as
| / should feel bound to do if you had re-
ferred in similar terms to any of our de-
serving officers.
Admiral Sampson was selected for the
command of the North Atlantic Squadron
because the department in the exercise of
its best Judgment with an eye single TO
the public interest. believed that he was
| specially fitted for the place Admiral
Sic&rd. who held the command. having be-
come incapacitated for duty by reason of
sickness. was necessarily withdrawn. by
order of the department, and Sampson
was next in command. These two are es-
peeially accomplished ordnance officers,
having been each at the head of the Ord
nance Bureau, and having devoted them
selves TO that branch of naval science.
Sampson is a man of the very highest
professional attainments, solely devoted
to his duty. He never pushes himself
forward and when YOU accuse him of
anything of that sort you do most cruel
injustice to a man who has never sought
favor or applause in any other way than
by the simple discharge of his duty.
..Second.-Tne movement on Porto Rico
was not movement for its capture. The
department, which has very rarely in
| Terfered with the movements of admirals
commanding squadrons, did, however
| make one express order, and that was
that our battieships should not be ex-
posed TO the risk of serious injury from
the fire of any fort. At that time the
Spanish feet was strong; its whereabouts
and destination were unknown. The pri-
: NAL necessity was to meet and crush It's
ships and to secure for US the domina-
| ton OF the sea The Oregon had not ar
. rived, the Maine was destroyed and no
naval authority would Justify the unnee-
essary risk of the destruction of any or
) our battIeships. except in battle with the
I | enemy's ships The movement 10 Porto
= Rico was to meet. IL possible, the fleet or
] Cervera. which was then expected. Ger
j vera undoubtedly learning that our fleet
e I was at San Juan. changed his destination
nnr Porto
= Eico thus became a reconnaissance and
. ! fulfilled its purpose. There was no inten-
$ tion at this time of taking Porto Rico. as
g the army was not then ready to cooper
| ate.
..Tbird.-With regard to sending our
ships into the harbor of Santiago: Ad-
! | rniral Sampson was acting under the ex-
! plicit orders of the department not TO ex-
, / pose his armored ships TO the FISK Oh
sinking by mines and the wisdom OF TINS
course | believe, Is universally acknoWi- :
| adged by naval authorities. He waited.
as ne should have done, the cooperation
of the army. How effectuaily uncer this
| co-onera ton the result was accomplished
= is now matter of history TheTe are
few more graphic scenes than must ndNe
d heen presented at O'Clock on the aitei
n noon of the Fourth of July, when Smarter
q with his troops ready to assault oaiitias' Sas,
awaited the reply of the Spanish com
raayder To the demand for surrender
n Sampson's feet was at the mouth OIL iht
: harbor drawn up in line ana reauS -
e lombard as il had been Tor Gays PR
e vious. and the signal officer stood on tWnt W
lie heights ready to wig-wag the slghaI lo'
= erinp Happily. instead of this signal
car,e the good word that the Spaniard'
e Md surrendered to this combined reaai
ness fer attack - ~,
"Fourth.-PIease bear in nina th'
weight of the responsibilities whlch Wel,
upon Admiral Sampson Tor the lhoiitt
a nTior to the great battle which destroyet
Cervera's fleet He was commanding ON
Ger of the whole squadron charged VIII
the blockade of the whole Cuban coast
i charged with the detail of all the move
d ments of ships. charged with the cieflea
o correspondence with the Department ant
other officers, and specially charged WIZ
preventing the escape of Cervera-e he
e member that this man. whom you 81
IL sweepingly accuse. was deVotins ms days
# ! and nights to these duties. IL you VII
| road the orders issued by him, beginning
with June /. you will find that the mos
| tborough precautions had been taken II
prevent the escape of Cervera; tnat oul
| reet WAS kept constantly in line. so fal
from the entrance at night and so far b!
dav. that the most rigid care with search
u lights and every other appliance was
of taken every night; that the commandin;
Y of4icar of every vessel knew his post AM
AT his duty in case of an attempt to escape
so that when the attempt came tn
X roovement TO prevent it by the attack o
4 our vessels upon the outcoming Spaniard
n went on like clockwork, as at Chatta
nooga every movement of that great bat
tie was carried out. although Gen. Gran
was neither at Missionary Ridge no
Lookout Mountain.
81 can well understand why the friend
of other officers should be so enthusiast
and earnest as | am. in giving them tn
ie credit they so richly-every one of them
IN deserve for their glorious work. | can
lie not conceive of anybody so mean as t
detract. by a single hair, from their merit
o But | cannot understand why such bit
is ter feeling is manifested in many quar-
=, / ters towards Admiral Sampson. when a
these officers, subordinate to him. in thei
reports clearly and cordially recognize tn
fact thai. although a the beginning h
was, by orders from Washington, goin
"a to confer with Gen. Shafter. yet the ba;
y. tie was fought under his orders and tha
IN the victory was the consummation of hi
+ thorough preparation. For myself kno,
as | no prediction for any one of these gal
~, liant men. / would crown every one q
NJ them with laures. I want them all
in have their just deserts. Every one G
ND them deserves unstinted praise: not on
of them deserves anything less than fu
measure for that days work
"And. therefore / can think of nothin
nc ~, more cruel than depreciation of Il,
:. - merit of the faithful. devoted. patriot
,o commander-in-chief physically frai