Evening star., 1899-03-17
The Santiago Naval Promotions.

Geo. W. Moss Agent. 921 PENN. ave. se27
The Santiago Naval Promotions.
| To the Editor of The Evening Star:
| The recent letters of Captain Higginson
and Rear Admiral Sampson, upon the ques-
| ton of promotion, are most creditabe to
! the respective writer's. AS might be ex-
pected of officers of the United States navy,
| they exhibit a generous recognition of
merit in brother officers. worthy of the
| best traditions of the service.
The problem how to promote comma nding
officers for gallant service in battle is beset
with difficulties. The American people earn
estly desire that an officer who risks his
| life in defense of the flag shall receive due
recognition of his conduct, not only
| reward for him, but an incentive to
others. The brilliant campaign that ended
| in the destruction of Cervera's fleet can
not be permitted to form an exception to
the time-honored custom of promoting those
at responsible posts who have served the
country well.
The Navy Department sent 10 the Senate.
| on December Z last a list of nominations
proposing the advancement of certain Off
GERS. Action by the Senate was taken in
executive session, and, therefore, is not
officially known to the public. 1t is pretty
well understood, however, that the nomina-
uons were reported favorably from the
committee on naval affairs, and, further
that their consideration evoked hostility on
the part of certain senators against the
proposition to advance Commodore Samp-
son over Commodore Schley. How many
senators shared this feeling of hostility is
not given out, but there were enough it
seems, to prevent action. The injunction of
| secrecy mas been removed, in respect to
| the ofnclal communications from the Sec
retary of the Navy, In response to the SEN
ate resolution of January %, asking for
| facts affecting the proposal that Samp-
son be advanced eight numbers and
1 1hQrc
| been put in possession of the official
| records of the department bearing upon
the conduct of the campaign, as conducted
oy the two officers. The record contains a
letter of February 1S, written by Rear
Admiral Schley to the chairman of the com
mittee on naval affairs. This letter has been
| widely ciGSillated in the press Secretary
| Long replied March 3
The Secretary, in his first communication
| to the Senate, while recognizing the sery-
| ices OF Commodore Schley in the culminst-
ing battle, took occasion, 1t seems, to al
iude to the conduct of that officer previous
| TO the fight, and says that by reason of
its unsteadiness in purpose and in push
and failure to obey orders, it did not meet
the approval of the President and the de-
partment' He likewise refers to a letter
| or Admiral Sampson that while character
| izing the conduct as "reDrehensible," asks
| that ample justice be done Commodore
Schley for his part in the action
Ihe result of these disclosures has been
! fierce warfare in the public press. Many
EDITORS appear to regard Admiral Schley as
the victim of persecution Some of the
more incorporate journals have been lavish
| IN -the1r. abuse of the department They
charge conspiracy and all manner Of evil
motives Not only this, but cruel abuse has
| been persistently heaped on Admiral Samp-
son, as though a personal controversy were
raging between these two officers and as
though Sampson were governed by low and
malignant purposes
OF course, all this is greatly to be de-
plored. Much that has been written on the
subject appears to proceed upon an ignor-
ance or the facts. Some articles, We are
sorry to say, in more than one respect
nave deliberately ignored the truth This
Is particularly true of later editorials that
tell the reader that the Senate has passed
| upon the facts in the case, and decided
that Sampson ought not to be permitted
TO rank Schley. The truth is, no judgment
OF the Senate upon the facts presented
has yet been had, and the adjournment of
Congress has left the question still Open
1t so happened that. in the closing days
OF the session when no time could be given
to discussion deliberation, the Secretary
OF the Navy sent to the Senate the entire
| list OF officers, in conformity with the re-
| quirementS of the naval personnel bill
| The Senate without delay confirmed this
| list, as a matter of course. This leaves
Sampson below Schley, as he was at the
outbreak of the war.
The people are not so much interested in
the question who is entitled to the larger
measure of honor at Santiago as they are
to have the exact truth of the whole busi-
ness spread upoh the record. What our
navy did in Cuban waters Is a matter of
official record. Serious charges of sup
preston of the record have been publicly
made The people will not tamely submit
to a reiteration of such charges, without
holding responsible alike those who make
them and the public servants whose honor
able name is thus assailed.
Matters have gone so far that 1t is now
the clear duty Of the Navy Department to
refer the whole business to a tribunal that
will examine into the facts, whether of
official record or to be elected from wit
nesses who were present at the time and
know whereof they speak. Perhaps Rear
Admiral Schley, now that he has been Off
| cially accused of reprehensible conduct, and
charged before the Senate with having met
the disapproval of the President, will
promptly ask for court of inquiry, to ex-
anime into and report upon the truth of so
grave an accusation. Such a step seems to
be the natural course for an officer jealous
of his reputation to take; and especially for
one who can point to so long and favor
able standing in the service as this dis
tinguished commander.
Should this gallant officer, however, not
demand court, it still remains the duty
of the Secretary of the Navy to take eff
cient action to the end that this unfortu-
nate business may be thoroughly explored
and the people given opportunity to know
all the facts set down without fear or favor
The Santiago campaign has now become
historical. The personal element, always
an interesting and sometimes an over
shadowing feature must ever remain of the
highest Importance to our navy, and to the
navfes of the world. 1t will not do to let
the controversial facts remain in a state of
half-disclosure. We do not presume to ex-
press an opinion upon one side or the
other: but in dema nding that a court be con-
vened to consider and report upon the SUBJ
Ject we voice the sentiments, we believe of
calm, sober minded people. who hate to see
injustice done, or a suspicion of injustice
remain uIiremoved. There are navy Off
GERS of high rank who can be ordered to
serve in this capacity-officers who may be
depended upon fearlessiy to ascertain the
truth. and to render an impartial and just
verdict
AN Ex-oFFIcER OF THE NAVY.
lfarn5, 1e 1eQQ .