New-York tribune., 1900-01-04
SAMPSON AND SCHLEY.
UNFOUNDED GOSSIP RESULTING FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE.
CAPTAINS THINK SAMPSON SHOULD BE
MADE vICE-ADMIRAL-NO RADICAL
ACTION CONTEMPLATED BY THE
PRESTDENT
PRESIDENT.
LBY FELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

TBY GELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington jan 3.-The Presidents omission
from his last annual message of all reference to
the inaction Of the preceding Congress on his
nominations for the promotion of naval officers
who took part in the operations of the North
Atlantic fleet during the with Spain, coupled
with the visits OF the captains to the Executive
Mansion yesterday has given rise to more or
less positive statements based apparently on
circumstantial indications alone. that action to
end the unfortunate naval controversy by radi-
cal methods or by compromise is about to be
taken There is the highest naval authority
for asserting that nothing of the sort is con-
templated.
1t is stated that the President is not the
point 'of sending a special message to Congress
on the subject, that he has not suggested the
revival of the grade of Vice Admiral with two
officers of that rank in order to promote both
Schley and Sampson. is it probable that any
such recommendation will be made.
THE VIEWS OF THE CAPTAINS
The captains favored the promotion of the
commander In chief of the Atlantic fleet to the
grade of Vice-Admral to give the operations of
that fleet in history a dignity commensurate
with that given the Pacific fleet BY the promo
tion of its commander in chief to be Admiral,
and, with the exception of a single captain pres
ent they opposed "the promotion of any naval
officer who was under charge for reprehensible
conduct until he had availed himself of the op-
portunity for an inquiry had otherwise
purged himself of the charge"
Admiral SchIey's name was not mentioned
although in the general discussion of the opera
tfons of the fleet to show their Importance such
as the expedition to Puerto Rico the blockade
OF cuba, the cooperation with the Army and
the close watch on Cervera, the names of all
officers In command were freely used and com
mented upon. The captains We're unanimous in
not wishing promotion at the expense of other
officers, preferring for themselves some COM
memorattve medal. and for their commander
In chief commensurate rank for the dignity of
the fleet and its achievements Their indorse-
ment of the recommendations in Secretary
Longs annual report on these two points was
complete.
The facts given above set at rest much of the
gossip prevailing in the Navy and in Congress
to-day, which started by the statements
published this morning regarding the White
House conference. In the Navy 1t was believed
that some great step had been taken against
Admiral Schley in his favor to end the con-
troVersy. This was authortatfvely denied this
afternoon. No charges other than that long on
record, 1t was declared, had been presented or
were apt to be made.
In Congressional circles it was the general
impression that effort was on foot to reach
compromise by which two vice admirals could
be named Sampson ranking Schley in that
grade. This was not only denied by several
who were present but the conviction was ex-
pressed that such solution would not be sane
toned by the President or by the Senate.