New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-15
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.

THE SANTIAGO PROMOTIONS.
DEMAND FOR COURT OF INQUIRY TO SET.
TIE THE QUESTION OF CREDIT BE.
TWEEN SAMPSON AND scHLEY
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir Next In importance to gaining great vie.
tory Is to have the truth told about 1t. The Amer.
lean Navy covered itself with glory at Santiago
1t Is a great pity. now that the President wishes
TO promote heroes. that dispute has arisen az
10 how the campaign was conducted and the battle
fought. As yet II seems impossible 10 obtain a clear
and straightforward description, that nobody will
question. Of what occurred from the time orders
given TO ascertain whether Cervera was In
Santiago down TO the hour OF the destruction Of
the Spanish feet.
The spectacle Is presented OF the President and
the Secretary OF the Navy. In an Official communi.
cation TO the Senate Of the United States. that
recommends the promotion OF naval oficer Of
high rank. actually characterizing his previous
conduct "reprehensible" We have that
officer replying to a committee OF the Senate, and
taking issue with the statements OF the Navy De-
partment We have had newspaper articles In
abundance denouncing the Secretary. and We have
heard 1t stated that Commodore Sampson stis-
matized in executive session "a coward by an
excited Senator. The book just published by Mr..
Goode Associated Press correspondent. gives w
facts explicitly narrated. which disclose a variance
between the statements OF Admiral Schley and OF
others present at the fight too glazing to be at
tributed to mere accident All this Is TO be de-
pored.
When the news came Of the great achievement Of
our Navy almost every one naturally resented
what seemed TO be an attempt by Sampson 10
claim the honor OF victory without according 10
Schley even the bare mention OF his name. Now
that a good part OF the facts have been disclosed
by the publication OF official records. some people
have perhaps modified their conclusions OF July
In prfy 70
by participants In the campaign which as yet has
not found official expression.
The time has come for the Secretary OF the Navy
TO convene court Of inquiry 10 get 10 the potion
OF this business 1t Is not to crafty curiosity nor,
indeed to maintain the dignity Of the. Department
that court is needed; nor should IL be called
merely to satisfy the friends OF this or that omcer
with respect to promotion. There are far graver
reasons Tie people have a right to insist upon
knowing just what the truth is. In the conduct OF
affairs from beginning to end OF this campaign.
They will not brook that the Navy Department
should seek to promote Sampson ahead OF Schiey
IL the latter be really the true hero OF Santiago.
ON the other hand II the facts do not warrant X
surely II would be piece OF injustice that the fol-
lowing Language should be Pc C
Record" of March 30 in speech OF CONGRESSMAN ian
Lentz OF Ohio! delivered on FEBRUARY ~ III '"e
Not o even the President Of the United States and
the IS Of hs the people by en
upon schIey any other title than that OF second r,a
place TO Dewey, and to Dewey alone. In tne near,s
and Judgment of the American people Dewey
stands as their admiral and the world will always
recognize Schley as our yice-admral
These are strong words Undoubtedly they voice
the sentiments OF great body OF newspaper read
ers II these readers are really under deception.
II is high time they should know 1t. II. on ne
other hand their belief has solid foundation tne
distinguished officer who has thus been subjected
to the criticism OF the Department ought 10 De VIM
dIcated by the finding of court Of naval officers.
Officers Of the Navy and because Of their profes.
siona knowledge they only are entirely competent
TO pass upon the facts They enjoy the public con-
fdence and they have nothing to gain except the
verdict from such a tribunal would be accepted
everywhere as final. Let have court
SEARCHLIGHT
Washington, d. c., April s. 1899.