The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-04

force in time of war, is that of chief
of the bureau Of navigation. The oc-
cupant of 1t is virtually chief of staff
the right arm of the secretary Of the
navy, who, being usually a civilian,
necessarily leans for expert advice up
on this expert officer.
The present chief of the bureau of
navigation is Rear Admiral A. 5.
Crowninshield, a man who possesses
the fullest confidence OF his superiors.
In his annual report, just submitted to
Secretary Long, he says: Before the
outbreak of the war you addressed 70
the officers of the North Atlantic fleet
letter, through the admiral from
which the following is an extract:
Each man engaged in the work of the
inshore squadron should have in him
the stuff out of which to make a pos
sible Gushing, and If the man wins, the
recognition given him shall be as great
as that given TO Gushing, so far as
the department can bring this about
| Every effort of the department to re-
I deem this solemn pledge has been
baked. OF the officers who served in
the North Atlantic waters three have
| been confirmed in the recognition urged
by the departmcnt-twC because their
cases were presented at propitious mo-
| ments, the other because of misap-
| prehension. The rest, numbering
among them every gallant captain at
| Santiago on July 3 and all the brave
| captains of the every-ready gunboats,
| and including, at the head of all, the
| able and determined officer who
| planned, worked out and executed the
whole campaign, and VINO finally con-
| summated the one victory which was
vital to the enemy-he and all the rest
| have absolutely nothing. The greatest
| among them has not as much as the
medal which was given TO each of the
| hundreds who shared in a victory won
| in more propitious hour"
The "able and determined oficer''
| here alluded TO is Rear Admiral VIII
liam u. Sampson, whose promotion
| from the rank of captain to commodore
| came in the regular order, without re-
| gard to any part which he took in the
| war with Spain, and whose elevation to
the naval personnel law, which abOl-
| ished the rank of commodore, substitute
ing therefor what is known as the rank
of juniCr rear admiral, the rank which
Sampson now holds. Had Captain
! Sampson, during the war with Spain,
| rom iDpd a homo IN y1,oitipo or1,,- a.
| would today be a rear admiral Just the
same; the position has come to him
| in the ordinary sequence without ref
erence to the value of the service which
he rendered to his country at a most
| critical time when in command of the
| largest fleet of war vessels ever as
sembled under the American flag.
The service which Sampson rendered
Immediately prior TO and during the
war with Spain began with his detail
to Havana to act as president of the
naval court of inquiry into the destruc-
tion of the battleshp Maine. How
thoroughly and discreetly he did the
task thus put before him is an undls-
puted matter of record. When, later,
he was put in command of the North
| Atlantic fleet. which grew in propor.
tons until there was represented under
his immediate responsibility more than
seventy vessels, valued at more than
SlCO0o0,0OO and carrying, in sailors and
marines, something like 10000 men, nc
sustained this arduous weight of offc-
ial cares for nearly three months in
a manner which, from his severest crit
les, has brought forth but one serious
criticism the withdrawal OF his flag
ship from the blockading squadron
on the morning that Admiral Cervera
made his Inflated attempt to escap5
from Santiago harhor. The subsequent
vancouver of the Brooklyn on that oc.
casion, which drew her away from the
enemy's fire and came near ramming
the Texas. has been described as an
error of judgment on thu part of Rear
Admiral ScEley, who was responsible
for it; vet those who forgive Schley foI
that error harshlv censurc Sampson
for taking away the New York at q
time Of day when not man aboard
any Of the American ships had tho
slightest expectation that Cervera
would come forth.
Because Schley, whose record prior tC
July had exhibited several censurabl,
points, ash shown by official documents
had not been put In the place to which
Sampson was assigned under the dis
cretion vested in the secretary of tn,
navy, Schey's friends in the senate de
cided that Sampson should get no re-
ward for his devoted and effective worl
as commander-in-ch Of the Nortl
Atlantic fleet; therefore they held VI
all promotions, including those recon
mended by the president for the fight
ing captains in the Cuban naval cam
) paign. Not alone Sampson, but ais,
Philip. Clarke. Evans, Cook, Vain
wright, Hobson and all the rest Of tina
grand galaxy of naval heroes who hat
displayed at every point courage, fidel
ity, ability, got absolutely nothing Il
| WaV of nrofassionaI adyo pcar,on. -,