The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-06-29
THURSDAY. JUNE %. 1904
IT Is THE DEPARTMENT THAT
Will SIEEER.

our fealtfs Know very We'll mat Ilc
Times was very 10th for long time TO
have any part I'm the Sampson-Schloy
controversy. Tho Times took the posi-
tion al the beginning that the naval bat-
tie of Santiago was captains battle
and that whilst Sampson no doubt ana
his duty, and schley plainly did his, the
captain OF each ship acted upon his own
Initiative and the Spanish fleet was de-
stroyed because our navy IS composed of
intelligent self-rolant officers with FIRST
class men under them. both OF whom did
the thing that ought 90 nave been done
upon the arising OF sudden emergency
The victory was one therefore for maxi
ing no heroes, bot for The shedding Of
imperishable mste upon the rank and
flo OF tho American navy.
Il was with great reluctance, there
fore. that The Times felt itself gradually
forced into taking par; iu the controversy
50 far as It concerned the individual
Sampson and schley. But 81 became evil
dent 20 us from the FIRST that Sampson
wanted to play the pig and monopolize
the honors OF the case. when TT is very
doubtful whether he is entitled 20 any
OF them al am. We should have foroborne
any part I'm the contest after this became
evident If schley had been let alone. But
it became just as evident that Sampson
proposed TO detract from Schlcy TO ag-
grandize himself. and his conduct from
tho day Of the battle until now has shown
that he was actuated by this interest
We should have foreborne even after
this. II 81 had been au But Sc is just as
clear now that the Navy Department OF
tho United states government is being
placed IN ihe position of q partisan Of
Sampson and an enemy Of schley. and
that IS a fact which mo- fair-minded
American citizen can become acquainted
with without expressing his condemnation
Of 81 I'm the most emphatic terms.
Enough had happened before the recent
Hodgson affair 20 make this clear. but
the departments action in that removes
all possibility Of doubt that 30 is using
every means SO can compass 90 ruin Adj
miral schley. IT, win utterly fan in SIS
attempt. and its discreditable action viii
react upon itself and seriously lessen the
respect the people should have in that
department OF tho government
when the Hodgson matter IS looked at
critically Il must Doe confessed that the
whole purpose was TO show that schley
acted with cowardce at Santiago. IL
means that or 50 means nothing. Now.
n schley~>ad at any moment Withdrawn
the Brooklyn so Tar from the Spanish
ships that their fire upon her would be
ineffective. some color might bo given
the charge OF cowarl.ce supposng the
incident had been correctly stated as first
published But there was mover moment
while the Brooklyn was making tho loop
when she was not under the guns of the
Spanish ships. and there was never
moment when her own guns were not
being used most destructivcly against
the Spanish ships. And the moment the
loop was made she ran alongside OF the
fpahAdNAn az tN' I."H"A Nt"N"Al'N Nfl
making her own FIRE against them NEST
effective. which. OF course. brought her
under tho most effective operation Of tbs
spanish IRE.
These facts point 70 a demonstration
that tear OF the spanards WAS not what
csused schley 70 tnrn the Brooklyn out
wards instead OF inwards. and simply
compel the Investigators 10 hunt his rca-
sons AZ some other source. when the
investigation Is commenced his reasons
become perfectly evident. and they mark
him as one OF the readieSt ana mos. self
possessed commanders that ever led IN
battle
The Navy Department should naturally
have given one OF rs sdmirals the benc-
nj OF every doubt until q was IN posses
zion OF such authentic facts as would
Justify II IN having his oficial conduct
subjecier 10 an Official investigation But
for II 20 havo lent itself 20 what ~
plainly neither more nor less than an
effort 70 blackcn the spotless reputation
OF one OF its most heroic officers IS a
disgrace to Il that reflects upon the Whole
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