Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-16
Our Naval Commanders.

before the world tnan tnOSe OF AfncIl-
ca,s three naval commanders, Dewey.
Samnson and Schley. All three have
seen long service under our flag, but
recent events have for the first time
made their names of national and
world Importance. AS the heads
of our three great fleets they are thus
far bearing the brunt of the war. and
bearing it as becomes American sail
ors A recent article in the Indepen-
dent draws an interesting comparison
showing where they are alike and
where they differ, both as men and as
naval leaders.
All three of these officers have had
the good fortune to reach the com
mand grades early in their career and
while still in their thirties. Commo-
dore Dewey entered the navy in 1861,
and reached the grade of commander in
1872. Commodore Schley became com
mander after eighteen years. and Cap
tain Sampson after seventeen years
service. By way of contrast, it may be
noted that there are now on the active
list men who have served eight
cen years, and are still jun
ior lieutenants. AS to their pres
ent ranks, Dewey is now a rear adj
;ol Of
ceiving With the appointment the
thanks of his countrymen through the
service Schley is commodore. and
Sampson is a captain now with the
appointment as acting rear-admiral,
position Of questionable legality, and
somewhat analogous to military brevet
rank. 1t gives him all the privileges
and power of a rear admiral, but with
out the pay
The professional histories of Dewey,
Schley and Sampson are much the
same. All of them have filled the posts
to which they have been called, as they
gradually mounted the ladder, with dis
tinguished ability. All have held the
positions which are regarded as prizes
in the service-for each one has been
a chief of bureau in the navy depart
ment with the temporary rank of COM
modore long before seniority entitled
him to that grade. Schley went to the
far North and rescued the Greedy eX-
petition, and went to the far South
and commanded the baltimore dur
ing the Chilean disturbance. Samp-
son has made a great reputation as an
ordnance officer: and no man has done
more than he to establish American
manufacture of American guns and to
make them, as they are, the best in the
world. And, as for Dewey-the thun-
ders of applause with which the whole
land is now ringing for his magnificent
victory at Manila drown the more pro-
saicrecital of his admirable administra-
ton as secretary of the light house
board. chief of bureau and president of
the board of inspection, and even of his
gallant service on the Mississippi dur
ing the Civil War.
And as to their personality, ii is as
different as well can be. Schley is gem
ial. dashing, American in his keen
sense of humor, an excellent discipline
arian, a very skilful sailor, and exactly
the right man in the right place when
in command of a flying squadron.
Sampson has no neVres. 1t is doubtful
if he ever experienced the emotion of
fear. or has any conception of what it
is. He is quiet. reserved almost to aus
terity He is a highly scientific and
severe student, and indeed has some
thing of that air. The naval officers
who have sailed with him say that as
commanding officer he is ideal His
that men-of- war should be, and that
describes his fleet now He can be re-
lied upon to put 1o-inch shell exactly
where they are wanted every time, and
to do it with the steady and immutable
certainty of the rising tide.
Dewey is more of a man of the world.
He likes his club he is fond of hunt
ing, he is very debonair. On duty he
is inclined to severity-and every one
under him knows that the mark has
got to be toed. His ships, too, have
always been typical-and not mere
ly in general efficiency but in
detail, for he has very
keen eye to spot the slightest
relaxation. His great achievement
proves that he has that highest of all
qualities in the sea fighter-profession-
al boldness. He went into that harbor
of Manila in the blackness of night,
when the enemy never dreamed he
would dare to do SO. He weighed all
| the chances of the submerged torpe-