The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-25

The question is often asked. How is
1t that the navy fellows hate Rear Ad-
miral Schiey with Such an undying and
lying hatred? This inquiry has been
usually answered that 1t was mean.
petty jealousy, and an attempt to shield
and magnify hat sublime failure and
hunbug Sampson. But the Washing
ton correspondent Of the Charleston
News and Courier has found the reason.
which he gets from a distinguished re-
tired officer Of the navy. He does not
like Schley n has been counted
among h leaders in the vile crusade
against the admirable honorable officer
who is so bitterly prosecuted. The Of
fence is mainly that Schley got the
command over Crowningshield, and
since then he and friends have bitterly
fought Schley. These jealous. unfair
officers are simply using Sampson as
a cats paw in their continued efforts
to ruin the character Of the greatest
naval commander OF them all. One OF
these ingrates was punished when I'M
der Schley yea & because OF his
cruelty TO the soldiers, and his hatred
is undying. But let US quote a little
from h retired officer who is no ad-
mirer or friend Of Schley:
He went on to sa- h his feel
ing against Schley in the navy began
prior to the battle of Santiago. Schley
had never been personally popular
among naval officers. He ha always
been regarded as Snowy and 'shifty'
in his methods. besides he is of an in
decisive nature and slow to assume re-
sponsibility in a tight place. However,
he has managed to make a great many
warm and valuable friends outside of
the service by his pleasing appearance
| and his agreeable personality. . .
That was the state of feeling in the
navy the Spanish-American war
came on. There were offered oppor
tunities for officers of the navy to dis
play their patriotism, win promotion
and achieve popularity. Naturally every
fellow was on the ookout for number
one. . The navy department pre-
sided over by Secretary Long was real
ly administered, so far as detailing Of
ficers are concerned, by Rear Admiral
Crowningshield. chief of the bureau of
| navigation. OF course, there was con-
siderable pulling and hauling by the
friends of aspiring officers. AS
| soon as it was indicated that the flying
| squadron was to be organized Schley
Immediately bounced upon the COM
mand Of that squadron as a desirable
| position, and one in which he could
achieve great notoriety. The flying
squadron had a daring. warlike sound
and Schley was anxious to make the
most of the opportunity. . . He mus
tered sufficient influence to go over the
head of Crowningshield and finally,
through the influence of President Nc
Kinley, induced Secretary Long to give
him m OF the flying squadron.
success, and the other fellows were
mortified and chagrined to the point of
bitter personal antipathy."
Now is not that a most shameful
statement? A brilliant, meritorious Of
ficer who showed his skill and courage
in that Arctic voyage is bounded and
prosecuted and DETAINED and lied Upon
because he got command instead of
some less meritorious officer. If the
United States navy is made up of such
fellows of the baser Sort then it is
no honor whatever to belong to it and
it needs to be reconstructed and re-
claimed by new men.