The Monte Vista journal., 1898-08-13
IN DEFENSE OF SAMPSON
Secretary Long Thinks the Admiral Iias
Not Received suisacIsnt Credit.


Not Received sunaclsnt Credit.
Washington. Aug. S.-The secretary
Of the navy has received several let.
tiers violently attacking Admiral Samp-
son. To at least one OF these Secretary
Long has replied. and copy Of his re-
ply was furnished for publication to-
night He does not. however. make
known the name OF the person to
whom his reply Is addressed. Secrc-
tary Long stoutly defends the entire
course Of the admiral since his appoint-
ment TO the command Of the North At
lantic squadron. The secretary states
that Sampson was selected for the COM
mand because It WIS believed that he
WAS especially fitted for the place.
He never pushes himself forward" :"
snys the secretary to the admirals
critic. ''and when You accuse him Of
anything OF that sort you do most cruel
injustice to man who has never
sought favor or applause In any other
way than by the simple discharge Of
his duty"
Discussing. evidently. n complaint
because the fleet did not enter the har-
Dor OF Porto Rico, Secretary Long
says:
AhV Impairment. winch nuH very
rarely interfercd with the movements y
OF ndmirals commanding sIundrons.
did. however. make OH express order,
and that was that our hdttleships
should not bc exposed 10 the risk OF
serious Injury from the fire OF any
fort"
This order. he adds. WINS made while
the strong Spanish fleet was In exist
al I'm ,As,t
WAS to meet. II possible. the Cervcra
fleet. There was no intention OF TAX
Ing Porto Rico At thnt time. without the
cooperation Of tho army.
As TO the sending OF the fleet into
the harior at Santiago. the secretary
state~ that Admiral Sampson was act.
Ing under explicit, orders not TO expose
his armorsd ships TO the risk Of sink.
Ing by mines.
Secretary Long writes nt length Of
the nrduous duties which have de-
volvei upon Admiral Sampson M com.
mnnder Of the squadron. calling attcH.
tion 10 the elaborate instructions which
tho admiral Ind given for the attack
upon the Spanish fleet. should Il ap.
pear. and he adds that the battle with
Cerveru was fought under these orders,
and that the victory wns the consum.
nation Of the admirnl's thorough pre-
parntion.
Secretary Long says he can well I'm.
dcrStRnd why the friends Of other ON.
GERS should bc NO enthusiastic aud earn.
80 In their belicf-for he says every
one OF them richly deserves the credit
Of his glorious workout he says he
"cnnnot understand why sRich bitter
feeling IL manifested In mnny u,in rtcru
toward Admiral Sampson. when all
these subordinate officers subordinate
to him. In their reports clearly and cor.
daily recognize the fact that. although
mt the beginning he wns. BY orders
from Washington. going TO confer with
General Shnfier. yet the hattie wns
fought under his orders nnd were the
contamination Of such thorough prcpnr.
alton"
The secretary adds:
Il can think of nothing more cruel
than the depreciation Of tho mcr,, OF
the faithful. devoted. patriotic com.
inander. ii. chief. physically frxIi. worn
with slccplcss vigilance, weighed with
mcasurcless responsibilities and details.
letting no duty 20 undopc: for weeks
with c~aselcss precautions bl0-kinx
the Spanish squadron: II last, by the
unesring fuiallment Of his plsus.
crushing Il with the fleet which cxrcut.
I'd bis command: yet now compelled
In dlgnided silcnrv 10 In asatje<d a.
vlndIctively ~ II hr werc an enemy 10
his country. am aurr that no oos
more deprecatee such an attack than
the oflacefs Of the arrt-com modoev.
captains and al1."