The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-12
The schIey-sampson Controversy.

\N/ regard the navy as something
exempt from criticism, be-
cause we know nothing about il. Par
ticularly we are supposed to find no
fault with the naval officers, their rank,
promotion, assignments to duty and the
like. Nevertheless, l~andlubbers, while
deficient in technical knowledge OF ma
val affairs, are not always all at sea
when they venture to Zoe Stewards.
Sometimes they get their bearings with
tolerable accuracy. The fact is, there is
a good deal of quiet satisfaction in the
country over the fact that Cervera's at
tempt to escape from Santiago bay gave
Schley the opportunity to distinguish
himself in this war which would have
been denied to him had the dash been
made at almost any other time.
Commodore Schiey was in charge of
the flying squadron that hung on the
American coast so long waiting for Ger
vera's appearance on this side. Finally
Cervera came and Schley cooped him
up in Santiago harbor. Then came Hob
sons scheme of sinking the Merrlmac in
the neck Of the harbor and separating
the fleets. Then IL was proposed to leave
Sampson to watch Cervera and send the
flying squadron to Spain. in command
not of Schley, but of Watson. In a few
days II would have been done, n
Schley would have been in a subordi-
nate position for the rest of the war. But
Cervera tried to escape when Sampson
was away to consult with General Shat
ter of the army. Schley was second in
command. His time had come. He
seized the opportunity. He made his
name forever famous. Now Schley can
watch the disposition and distribution
OF naval commands with complacency.
The fact that Sampson was absent
when the battle began is by no means
to his discredit. But his subsequent ac-
tons are for his sake to be regretted.
The manly thing for Sampson to have
done was TO give credit where 1t was
due. Sampson failed to do that. His
Fourth of July present" while II may
not have perverted the facts, certainly
did not make them clear. So long as
they do not interfere with their eficien-
cy-and there certainly is no complaint
on that score-the personal jealousies Of
the naval officers concern the American
people only this far. that the American
people insist on fair play. They are
quick TO espouse the cause OF a man
who appears not to be getting II.
The Philadelphia Times states the mer-
a.. - A.. C.Ito.. C,-u-.
clearly and fairly. The Times says:
II must he admitted that Acting Admi-
raj sampson has been unfortunate in his
dispatches. He occupies himself a some
what false position that should have made
him particularly careful and generous,
rather than grudging to his associates.
A captain with no great experience In
command at sea and none whatever in he
command of a squadron. there was no
publicly known reason why he should
be selected for supreme command of The
naval operations i'm the West Indies over
the heads OF his seniors In the service,
nor can IL be fairly said that his selection
has yet been justified by any evidence
of extraordinary saeacity.
IL was when Commodore schley. samp-
sons superior in rank and service, had
come up with the Spanish nset which
Sampson had been sent 10 'nnd and de-
stroy' and was likely to go in and destroy
1t himself. and Sampson promptly APP
peared upon the scene and superseded
Schley, that people began TO grow uneasy.
| Still, Sampson VAS acting under orders
and the general disposition was to trust
| him. His fruitless bombardments had
been regarded as well meant efforts TO
show what he could do and the repeated
ly announced silencing OF forts hat were
as active as ever the next day excited
only a -good-humored smile. A foolish dis
match that had To be withdrawn shook
confidence a little, but when at last there
came the theatrical announcement OF the
Fourth of July present" its weak con-
trast with Dewey's modest simplicity was
overlooked in view OF the extraordinary
achievement.
The fluctuations Of Sampson were still
fresh when we began to receive the de-
tailed accounts Of the victory, from which
II appeared that the acting admiral had
not been present and that he had neg
lected to mention Commodore Schley. who
had actually commanded the feet on this
occasion. that this should make a bad
impression. particularly when the pre-
vfous absorption OF Schley's ir
Simpsons was recalled. cannot be won
dered at. We prefer TO believe that ths
neglect was not deliberate. IL was one OF
the many mistakes TO which a man not
quite sure Of HIS position Is liable. But
that IL was a mistake-and under the cir
cumstances a serious one-Sampson him
self must now be conscious.
Put the most charitable construction