West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-09-05
WASHING ToNLETTER.
The Sampson -Schley Controversy
Grows Interesting.
And II Looks Like the Former Will
Have TO Take Another Sneak.

4
Washington would be peaceful at
present were tnot for the Sampson
Schley controversy, but both sides
are so busy in considering what they
will do 10 each other that there is a
semi-sulphurous suggestion of war.
The adherents of Admiral Sampson
have thus far been kept occupied in
explaining as much of their chiefs
cratic conduct as they can without
giving their case away beforehand.
Some of the explanations do not
explain. The latest development in
the case is the discovery of the fact
that the Cuban, General Garcia.
surmised, that Cervcra was coming
! out of the harbor of Santiago on the
morning of july 8. His information
came from the refugee French Con
sui at Santiago, and was, presuma-
bly, wigwagged to Sampson, as
there was a code of signals arranged
between Garcia and Sampson for
that precise emergency. 1t would
appear, therefore, that Sampson not
only thought that Cervera might
come out at that time, and, as he
has already claimed, made all ar
engagements to stop him should this
happen, but that he actually knew
that the sortie of the Spanish feet
was about to take place, and know
ing, deliberately absented himself
with one of the best ships of the
squadron, and was hull down be-
hind the horizon, seven miles away,
when the time came for him to
make his everlasting reputation. On
ascertaining this, Admiral Schley's
friends took immense delight in
arising and asking with one voice,
"WHY ?" 1t really seems, some
times, as if the Schley press Of the
country, which means most of the
newspapers, were one big interroga-
ton point addressed to the unlucky
Sampson. That Schley is the hero
of the enlisted men there is no
doubt. The "jackies" on his snip
swear by him, and so do the gun
ners and the sailors on other ships,
not including, of course, the New
York. Schley was the only one
of the three prominent Admirals
dewey, Schley and Sampson) who
attended the banquet at the Waldorf
-Astoria given for the enlisted men
during the New York celebration.
Schley made a speech which took
the sailors by storm. 1t has been
suggested that General Shafter
should be called as a witness when
the Court of Inquiry meets. 1t is
not known just what SIMPSONS sup
porters in the Navy Department
think of this suggestion, and for OBJ
vious reasons it is not likely to be
known. They cannot endorse it
with good grace, and they cannot
regard it with open disfayor without
hurting themselves. That Skaters
testimony, if taken, would be one
of the most interesting chapters in
the record cannot be doubted. The
big General is not good at fabrica-
tons or eYasions, and he was in a
position to know Sampson very
well. He would have to relate.
under oath, the story of the Santi-
ago campaign as he saw it from the
rear Little can be learned at pres
ent, from any authoritative source,
OF the actual facts in the contro-
versy. The reason is that Secretary
Long has ordered every man con-
nected with the Navy Department
or with the service, to keep his
mouth shut. In this the Secretary
has again shown the tact which has
always been one of his prominent
qualifications for craftsmanship. 1t
will really do no good to have the
whole matter thrashed over on the
statement Of every little officer who
Knows, or thinks he knows, some.
thing about il, and the battle Of
Santiago was an affair in which
great many officers, big and little.
took part, and on which practically
every one in the service has an
opinion. There are people, how
ever, who note the fact that Capt.
| Chadwick, Of the New York, one OF
SIMPSONS devoted adherents, said
a number of things about forbidden
subjects a few days after the order
was given, and was not punished,
while Capt. Forsyth, who came out
in a Schley interview, is said 90 be
in danger Of a serious rcprimand.
They are asking "Why ?" again and
again, in this connection. Il is
/ probable that that little word was
never more badly overworked in
Washington than it has been dur
inc the nrcliminarv rrnrcndin.,. 81