Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-01-20
WAS 1T SAMPSON OR WAS 1T
SCHLEYy


SCHLEYF"
The question of who should have the
credit OF winning the naval battle Of San
tiago came up IN the House Of Representa-.
tives on Friday last, when the Hon. A. s.
Berry, Kentucky, took the floor and spoke
In favor Of the naval personnel bill. HIS
allusion to the mooted question as TO who
was responsible for Cervera's defeat, was the
first made since the assembling Of the pres
ent session, and the Kentuckian created
perfect storm OF enthusiasm by bis eulogy
of Schley as the hero Of Santiago. Mr..
Berry said:
81 believe the bill will remove con-
fict, and if there is any country where
there is a necessity for the remova! Of con-
hict in the army or the navy, 1t lie the United
States. l think we had magnificent phase
of a conflict in the army service OF the United
States presented 10 the papers this morning,
and whether 1t will end In q duel or not
do not know, but 1t shows there Is very
considerable amount of friction in the army
of the United States.
"There was some conflict then among the
officers in the navy in the greatest battle of
the war, the greatest battle Of modern times,
because 1t demonstrates the character of the
men and the vessels that were engaged in
it, and there is no doubt in the mind
OF the American people who Is entitled
to the credit Of that victory. But there are
people who are trying to steal away from
schley the credit of the glorious triumph he
won on the third day of July, 1898"
In this connection Mr.. Berry read the fol-
lowing poem amid whirlwind of laughter
and applause:
"When the Spanish feet with full headwa
Dashed out Of Santiago Bay,
Taking the chances Of death and wreck;
Vino stood on Yankee quarterback,
And marked the game with eagle eye;
Say, was II Sampson or was II SchleyS
"Who was II, when shot and screaming shell
Turned Sabbath calm into echoing hell,
Steamed into the thickest Of the fray,
His good ship leading all the way,
While the roar of his guns shook earth and
sky,
Say, was 1t Sampson or was Il ScheyI
"In American hearts who holds first place
OF those who claim part In that glorious
chaser
Whose name stood out on that proud day,
AS the hero of Santiago Bay?
In letters of gold, write that name on high /;
Shall we write II sampson, or write II
Schley~
al say 1t should be written Schley," con.
tinued Mr.. Berry, land then l say that there
should be provision of law that whether
itgoes to Schley or Sampson, no prize money
should be paid to the men who have won
that glorious achievement, but that the pro
vision for prize money ought TO be wiped
off the statue books. ! say that the men
who made that magnificent charge at San
Juan Hill in all aspects Of this case are as
much entitled to take Santiago as q reward
for their services as the men who sank Ger
vera's ships"
Just here we would remark that the nom
nations of Rear Admiral Sampson and Rear
Admiral Schey are now before the Senate
for confirmation, and It Is an open secret
that they have not been disposed of because
of the hesitation of the Senate TO confirm Rear
Admiral Sampson as ranking Rear Admiral
Schley. If one shall be confirmed day or
more in advance of the other, the one first
confirmed would be the ranking rear ad
miral.
The question, 1t is commended, that Is now
before the United States Senate Is whether
1t will give its highest rank and honor TO
the naval officer who fought from first TO
last, and closest TO the enemy, and whose
vessel was the special target OF the foe, or
whether they shall be awarded to the naval
officer who did not fight at all, and who had
not the manliness to thank his subordinates
who had achieved one Of the most brilliant
naval victories in the history Of the world.
This is the issue, and the single issue, be-
fore the United States Senate, and the con
firmstion OF Admiral Sampson as ranking
Admiral Schley would sand forever as bis
tering stain upon the naval records of our
government. Let the Senate be just to
itself, let ii be just TO the man who fought
the battle OF Santiago, and let 1t be just To
the man who did not fight II, and who had
neither the courage nor the manliness to
award the credit to those who were in the
flame Of the conflict and won the victory.
This we believe is not only the sentiment of
the press Of the country, but also the senti-
ment Of the people Of the country-"It was
Schley," .-.-. ...-.-