The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-02-28
TRICKERY IN THE NAVY
Official Dispatches that Put
Sampson in a Bad Light.
A CONSPIRACY AGAINST SCHLEY
Commander-iD-chief of the Fleet Appar-
emily Unwilling to Assume the Least Re-
spOnsibility, but Determined to Secure
Credit for Any Movement that Led to the
Destruction of the Cervera Ships-Mes-
sages Which Tell a Convincing Story.

The Chicago Tribune prints the follow
ing copies of the kilograms which passed
between Secretary Long, Admiral Samp-
son, and Admiral Schley in connection
with the question as 10 whether Schley
obeyed orders. They were secured in some
manner by a reader of the Tribune:
CSsmpson TO schley. May Is. 1881
Il Is unnecessary fer me to say that you should
establish blockade at Cienfuegos with the least
possible delay, and that il should be maintained
as close as possible.
On the same day Secretary Long tele-
graphed Sampson the following message,
which was received by Sampson on May
20:
Washington, May IS, 1888
Sampson. Naval Station, Key West Fla
The report Of the Spanish feet being at San
tiago de Cuba might well be correct and the
department strongly advises that you send word
Immediately by the Iowa 70 Sehley to proceed al
once OF Santiago de Cuba with his whole con-
nanc. leaving ole email vessel 81 Cientuegos
Cuba, and meanwhile the department will send
The Minneapolis, al ST Thomas, and Har-
ward TO proceed al once on Santiago de Cuba %
join Sehley. who should keep up Communicative
via Nicholas Mole Cape Haitien II Iowa has
gore, send orders TO sehies By your fastest dis
patch vessel.
That Long considered this mandatory
is shown by the following kilograms OF
the same dates:
Minneapolis: Proceed AZ ehes OF Santiago
de Cuba; the Spanish feet reported there; sealey
ordered there. LONG.
Yale; Inform every vessel oa Santiago de
Cuba, ayins squadron is Of Cienfuegos. and that
orders have been sent 20 IL 10 proceed wIthssu
possible dispatch OF Santiago Dc Cuba.
LONG.
But Sampson, instead Of carrying out
the instructions of the Secretary of the
Navy, sent long the follow ing dispatch:
Key West May %. 1855
Secretary % Navy. WsshinEteH:
Referring TO the Departments telegram Of
May Is. hfty-eiEht cyphcr EoTss. bsginnluig
'EeTbeT-boEa, after considering inforrnatioH
contained therein. have decided In favor Of Plan
already adopted 70 hold p.sition. Cienfuexsx
with brooklyn Massachusetts, Iowa. Marblehead.
caztins Dupont sad I'VE auxiliary vessels.
SAMPSON.
And thereupon Sampson prepared and
forwarded 10 Schley the sUppr essed mes
sage, which reads as follows:
Hold your feet on Cleasaesos. II the so,uiss
ships have Pat into saF;iaS0 they must cone
either ~ la san& ~ cieafuegos 70 deliver the
munltl8As & var Hh.Ch they are said 70 hFiny
ior use Ia Cuba, : an, therefore Ct she oaln-
ion thai ne hest cha8cs u capture thsss shiss
all he q hold TIE i-o plyuts CIehfu-s.s and
Havana ~iih 81 lie force Ne CA muster. I,
Later 10 zh1uid develop tAst these vessels are -
Santiago. NJ Ca thea ass-=-5le OF that point
the SHIPS best suited for re purpose sa4 au-
plstely blockade H. Uaul thea w- r-rsiv.
mere positive Information We VII osutlnu. 80
held Havana and Cleafusgos
Up 10 this point sampson, writes the
discioser &c the kilograms. was clearly
responsible for schley's movements To
assume responsibility was wholly con-
trary 10 SIMPSONS mental makeup. II
II was bear, he vented 70 hit. but IL II
turned out 10 be calf he wanted 10 miss
and 20 within three hours he lad prepar-
ii and sent ~ schlsy The MESSAGE dated