The Washington times., 1901-10-03
The Men on Trial.

York sun is one of the few leading
American journals which from the be-
ginning of what is known as the Samp-
sonSchley controversy has consistent
ly defended Rear Admiral Sampson,
and. in doing so. necessarily has placed
itself in an attitude condemnatory OF
Rear Admiral Schley. We are glad now
to see that it agrees with us on one i'm
portant point in connection with the
business of the Schley Court of En-
quiry, since it is one upon which The
Times has laid particular stress in the
interests of justice and fair play.
In its editorial columns yesterday the
sun" said:
''The propricty Of Secretary Long Rear Ad-
miral Crowninshield, and their associates con-
duct in the premises is clearly on trial as Is
that Of Rear Admiral Schley. And this is also
the situation OF Rear Admiral Sampson. IN 50 far
as 1t concerns his criticism OF Scfley to See
ret2ry Long guilty OF rePrehensible con-
duct A"
The sun" is correct in taking this
position. which is one that the Navy
Department has tried to escape from
ever since the first day of the Enquiry.
Ii might be added that Sampson prac-
than the sun suggests, but that viii
appear in due course. If we are to in
vestigate the actions and conduct Of
Admiral Schley during the West Indian
naval campaign, and during the sea
fight OF Santiago in which he destroyed
the Spanish squadron under Admiral
Cervera, and received the surrender of
its commander. officers, and men, it
must be apparent that we ought also
to admit evidence to show what orders,
facts. and circumstances formed the
basis of those actions and that conduct.
II Admiral Schley has been charged Of
ficially with ''reprehensible conduct
and ''disobedience of orders the per
sons responsible for those charges
should be compelled to substantiate
them. II a scurrilous and merdacious
account OF Admiral Schley's conduct in
the Santiago naval engagement, print
ed in a history" of the navy. has been
endorsed in advance of publication by
Admiral Crowninshield, and by Admi-
raj Sampson, they should be compelled
to give the Court their reasons for such
endorsement AS the Sun justly
holds, the entire combination against
Admiral Schley is as much on trial as
he possibly can be. and we venture to
think. on the strength of a nearly unan-
imous national opinion, a great deal
more so
The applicant in the Enquir, under
consideration is charged by the Navy
Department with failure to coal mis-
Def
that point and Santiago. The testimony
of the witnesses called by the prose
cution" TO substantiate the charge ut
terly disproves this. He is accused Of
wasting time at Cienfuegos. when the
Spaniards We're known TO be in Santi-
ago Harbor. Again, witnesses for the
prosecution have shown that knoSvl-
edge that Cervera was not at Cienfue-
gos was made impossible to him, be-
cause the code signal arranged with
the insurgents on shore was withheld
from him by at least three of his sub
ordinate officers who are shown to
have been in possession of it. He is
charged with disobedience of orders, in
not leaving Cienfuegos sooner than he
did. The evidence is that Sampson in
structed him to use his discretion, not
withstanding the orders of the depart
ment. In other words the ''prosecu-
tion" has proved Admiral Schley's case
out of the mouths of its own witnesses.
The conclusion of the country is that
his enemies and not he henceforward
are 10 be on their defence
As we understand the matter, the
Navy Department expects to complete
its effort to in1ure Admiral SchIey by
Saturday night With the beginning
Of next week We may count upon the
introduction OF evidence which viii |
shed light upon some Of the dark places |
of the Sampson scandal And SaInp-
son and his associates in the crusade
no doubt viii be placed in an uncom- |
Portable position. without wishing to |
prejudge the case in any way it is but
proper to say that there is a most ugly |
public impression that. in order to de-
stroy the man who fought and won the |
second great naval victory OF The Span |
ish war. as necessary condition prece- |
dent to transferring his laurels to the !
brow Of Sampson, charts have been |
cooked, dates and geographical dis |
tances misstated, cablegrams garbled, |
and documents suppressed by official |
authority. II this popular idea be well |
founded, the facts are susceptible of |
proof, and should be investigated un-
der the instruction To the Court. con-
tanned in the precept, which was to 90
into the whole case.
The latitude thus allowed to the tri
bunal should enable 1t to face Sampson
with Captain Sigsbee's denial Of the
formers charge that to him he (Sigs-
bee) had accused Commodore Schley Of
a blockade of Santiago Har-
Dor with his squadron twenty-fi miles
out ct sea. It should be able to hear
evidence concerning Sampsons where
abouts on the day OF the engagement
and his claim TO have been within hail
ing distance when the last Spanish YES
sci surrendered. 1t should also be able
to demand from Sampson his reasons
for dropping behind the eastern hori-
zon on the morning of July 8, 1898.
when. as il is alleged. IL had been re-
ported to him on the evening previous
that Cervera was preparing for an i'm
mediate sortie. These and many other
subjects Of intense interest to the coun-
try should have consideration and Wig
orous investigation before the termina-