The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-17

Sampson has written a mournful
epistle, incidentally referring to the ac-
sion of congress in advancing all naval
officers in the order they stood prior to
the game of favoritism began with the
| Spanish war.
This is the very latest contribution to
the Schley-Sampson controversy, which
! is still resounding through the columns
of the eastern press.
Sampson has tried to make it appear
that Schley disobeyed orders before
Santiago.
Secretary Long has put in six months
trying to convince the public that
Sampson and not Schley was the hero
of the naval fight of Santiago.
AS a last resort, the cabinet official
flashed cablegram purporting to be
from Schley. saying he would have to
retire from the mouth of the bay to coal
up his squadron.
What are the facts, as shown by the
record of that campaign?
May 19.-Cervera entered the San
tiago trap.
May 20.-Mr Mckinley got the news
and, through official channels, announc-
ed that preparations were making to
capture or destroy him.
May 26.-Schley closed the Santiago
trap with his fleet and put himself in
communication with Commander in
Chief Mckinley.
May 2S-Mr Mckinley revoked
Schley's original orders to destroy or
capture the Spanish ships and order
ed him to stand guard and not attack
unless Cervera came out.
May 31.-General Shafter. in COM
mand at Camp Tampa, issued general
order No. to certain divisions of his
troops to hold themselves in readiness
to move Immediately on board the
transports upon notification
June at was officially announced
at the war department in Washington
that Shafter and the Santiago eXpedi-
ton would sail within three days.
June 1t was officially announced
at the war department that 1.-The trans
ports, will all be off early tomorrow
June 81" and that the expedition
would touch at Key West the next day,
and would arrive at Santiago on Sun
day June 12).
This announcement was repeated
every day for one week. On the 14th
OF June they did sail, but lin the mean
time the little band of marines landed
by Schley to prepare landing had to
fight night and day for their lives dur
ing the seven or eight days that the
commander in chief was deceiving
them in regard to the transports.
The records show that the troops
landed, owing largely to the aid and in
genuity of Admiral Schley and his Off
GERS. The land battle began at once.
Schley wanted to go inside the bay and
wipe the Spanish fleet out, owing to the
damage it was doing the attacking land
| forces. But Sampson superseded him
in command, and he was not in favor
of taking any such chances. He was
commended by the naval department
for his caution.
Time passed until Cervera attempted
his escape. Sampson was away. Schley
was in command. Upon leaving the
feet, Sampson hoisted a signal: Dis
regard the movements of the admiral
This left Schley in command. The bat
tie followed Sampson heard the firing
and hurried back, but the engagement
was over before he had an opportunity
to take part in it.
OF all the vessels in the fight, the
most active and destructive was the
Brooklyn, Admiral Schley's flagship.
The only American killed was in con-
versation with Schley when he deceived
| the fatal shot.
And now this administration is try
ing to discredit Schley's work, to de-
tract from his glory.
1t is too late. If he disobeyed the or
ders of his commander in chief, why
was he left second in command of the
fleet? The very facts that he was not
rebuked. that he was undisturbed, that
he was entrusted with the command of
the squadron by Sampson, show that
these charges Of alleged or constructive
| INSTRUMENTATION were all trumpet ND