The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-22
SAMPSON VS.. SCHLEY.
Brief Review of the Controversy Before the
Board of Inquiry.


and Admiral Schley OF the American navy
II is absolutely necessary that the environ
ment OF the two men prior to the Spanish
American war. and their physical and men
tai characteristics should be well under
stood. says a writer in the Chicago Rec.
ord-Herald When these are understood. II
can be appreciated why the board OF In
curry, which sits In Washington September
~, will ultimately have decision to make
certain TO profoundly affect the National
navy for many years to come. This board
OF inquiry Will be composed of Admiral
George Dewey. Rear Admiral Kimberly, re.
tired, aud one other member not yet Sc
gected. The prosecutor will be Captain
Lemly judge advocate OF the navy; the
counsel for the defense. probably Jere NJ.
Wilson
Since tho close of the civil war In 1865,
or rather the end OF tue famous naval at
tack on Fort Fisher, there has been slow
~ developing 10 the National navy Two
classes OF advocates or theorists Various
titles have been applied TO these classes,
but the two which seem 60 apply the best
arc those of "sea dogs" and "tactdans.
The first class has been composed OF naval
officers who prefer sea to land duty; who
hold that no tactics can be devised that
wiz meet the exlgencles Of battle as well
rs sound Judgment and cool daring on the
part of commanding officers; swho oeheYe
naval power is for action and not Tor IN
action, and who think the English course
the right course-shoot first anu explain
afterward. Paul Jones. Truxton, Sterrett,
Dewey Robicy d. Evans, Clark have been
40 classified The "sea dog" class Is popu-
larry supposed to be composed of men who
The second class has been maze up on
naval instructors, officers long on land qnty
and students 1t has been hghtlng sham
bsttles in Washington during the last forty
years; that is, executing attachs or mas.
ing defenses on paper, and concentrating
theoretically how an enemy c0uld ne re-
pulsed. 1t is class composed largely OF
officers OF strong social inclnauons' com
manders and others seen at OLD Point
Newport or Bar Harbor every season. IL Is
made of men having strong political IN
huences and strong theories, one or Jhe Iat-
ire being that a navy is purely for defense
md thar tactics may ottener win vic,
tory than o thirteen-inch gun. Admiral
Sampson is at the head Of this class, an
able instructor at Annapolis, a student at
All times one Of the most profound tneo-
rists the navy has ever known. st,
In 1895 by the United States Rear Ad-
Entering Annapolis In 1851 he graduated,
and then, after the cessation OF hostiltiest
gave the greater part OF mis- time 70 h1Fal
Instruction work nj Annapolis lectures on
torpedo work at Newport, pertecung phns
for superposed turrets, sucn ms are now
In the hedfSdTEe. he WAS luNpNt-
tor OF ordnance at the Washington navy
yard three years and chief of the bureau
OF ordnance from 1898 TO 1897. He was
regarded as the closest student the navy
department possessed but was not wide
~ known as naval authority until ap'
polnted president of the court Of inquiry
to investigate the cause Of the Maine'i
destruction This appointment was fol
lowed by another-that OF commander II
chief of the North Atlantic naval sta
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS origin had beei
most humble one. He in, Ca came RON IN a %"
worked his way upward by sheer applea
tion to books and their study he mace
name for himself as Mathematician an
thinker. but lacked the rugged qualities o
n commander and man at sea- lie Wa
Unfortunately sensitive rethsr re6onr,id hg rs5I
Kinley showed him probably came 10 NJ
with as much surprise rs II dld 10 IN
American public, which did not know hin
He was advanced over the heads Of othe
captains who had seen long sea service an
waited long for promotion for mcrltori9u
services. Justly or uniustly; his elevauo
was charged to politics, and to the gre0
desire of the administration to nave al
ultra-conservative commander Mt the hen
OF the navy In Atlantic waters.
There the first trouble In the Sampson
Schiey controversy started. The naval ca
bal, or CLIQUE in Washington, fully a
strong as the army cabal. allied itself witt
the administration. In the position that tn
advancement of Captain Sampson at a mo
ment Of great peril was q recognition o
the "tactician' class of officers. Offens
was taken by the sea dog class, Of whlc
Captain Schicy was a typical member. TIL
sinking Of the Maine and the failure o
this nation to instantly attack Havan
from the sea had more or less angered tn
men of the navy who believed less In diplC
macy and more in fighting who felt tina
Washington, with its cah1ls turmoil an
politics. could not appreciate situntlo
one-hah as well as commander on
quarterdeck at sen and flying the star
and stripes.
The ''sea dog" men Of the navy took tn
selection Of Captain Sampson for thel
superior ms n direct political slap at then
selves; an intimation that no matter hoy
many years n man remained nj sea, no
how many battles he fought. he could b
deprived OF his honors at any time by
landsman who had political influence. q
course. the tacticlans" resented this sol
Of talk, hut long before Cervera sailed 70
Cubn wide breech had opened in the NJ
tional .nayy-a nasty breach, broadene
every day ny gossip. determinations, petit
5ealousles and all the other bad thing
TINT 60 with human nature Il should b
son and Schley that at this time neltht
Of them personally appear to have engage
In the squabble.
Captain Schlev was Of Southern birth. G
gentle blood and sighting stock. He was
favorite son Of MARYLAND, an impuslye, ger
erous man, and horn commander. BY nj
turc he Is dominant, even at times
brutality. He is 4 fierce opponent Of shan
hypocrisy and false pretensons. He is
Gghter and not a student much strongt
believer In National dignity than the ave
age congressman, and n poor politician.
IL was q physical imnoSsihilty for Cal
tains Sampson and Schley to ever he ne
sonal friends Discreet and wise supero
would never have brought them into
close conjunction MS they were In the sprr
and summer OF 1898. There was anoth,
source Of trouble
The declaration of war with Spain d
not come until April o. but prior 10 tht
time the navy department had assemble
two sQundrons for active naval duty-ol
called then the Key West squadron, ha
ing for its purpose the hlockadiug Of II
Vann, and the other a flying squadron. IT
first WINS commanded nv Sampson and q
second nv Schlev. Neither squadron Q
tered upon active duty until after n
declaration of war, nor In reality until q
Ter Nav 1. when Dewey's victory far en-
was known
On MAY the Kew West squadron sail'
for cuha under command OF Renr Admir-
Samson Following this was the nav
fFhting NJ CardcpaS the hemba rdnent
San Junn nv Snmnson. On W. 13 the mr.
depaP'ment received word that the Spa
Ism SQUADRON Of Admiral Cervera was we
NJ Martinique, the Wlndward Islands Laf
Sampson was advised that II was OF Cur
coa He was ordered 10 proceed 70 *
West M once 20 which point Schev'S 4
ing SQUADRON had also bern ordered. 3
snundfons reached Key West coaled al
awnited orders.
The nving squadron, under Schley. w
the fret to he ordered out. Composed
the BROOKLYN, Texas Massachusetts al