The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-23
why they HATE SGRLEY.
A Retired Naval Officer Gives a
Reason.

Washington, Oct. 2O.--After many
months Of anxious inquiry in naval
circles [ am able to give the first
plausible reason for the feeling, bitter
as it may be, against Admiral Schley,
which exists in the navy. Since the
Sampson and Schley controversy began
Immediately after the battle Of. Santi-
ago, it was apparent to all who were
in touch with naval affairs that the
officials of the navy department, from
the Secretary down to the humblest
naval cadet, with few exceptions,
entertained a violent personal anti
pathy to Rear Admiral Schley. The
basis for this condition of affairs was
never-fully explained to my satisfac-
tion, at least until a few days ago,
when [ had conversation with a dis
tinguished naval officer on the retired
list, who related the following story
without placing any restrictions upon
me as to the repeating of it. Without
quoting him, I will endeavor to give
the substance of his yarn as he spun
it to me. In the beginning l want
to say that the Officer referred to is
probably one of the ablest and most
distinguished officers in the navy. He
does not like Admiral Schley and he
is classed among the leaders of the
Anti-Schley crusade His statements
may be relied on, for he is in posi-
tion to know whereof he speaks. It
was during an animated discussion Of
the latest proceedings in the Court of
Inquiry that the question was asked:
F, .on1y 7 xryo1, Ia 1il>o fo
KNOW said I, "what is the real
aniraus against Schley SO generally
prevailing throughout the nayy?''
The old sea dog proceeded to answer
my question with mis- usual frankness,
but with an earnestness that clearly
indicated his hostility to Admiral
Schley
He went on to say that this feeling
against Schley in the navy began prior
to the battle of Santiago. Schley has
never been personally popular among
naval officers. He has always been
regarded as tshowy'' and "shifty''
in his methods, besides he is of an in
decisive native and slow to assume re-
sponsibility in tight place. However,
be has managed to make a great many
warm and valuable friends outside Of
the service by his pleasing appearance
and his agreeable personality. With
the politicians and the newspaper
fraternity he has always maintained
friendly relations and quite a general
popularity. All of these personal char
acteristics tended to excite the envy,
jealousy and unfriendliness of many
naval officers.
That was the state of feeling in the
navy when the Spanish-American war
came on. There were offered opportu-
mites for officers Of the navy to display
their patriotism, win promotion and
achieve popularity. Naturally every
fellow was on the lookout for number
one, and used every endeavor to secure
desirable station where he could
have an active part in the campaign.
The navy department presided over
by Secretary Long was really admins
tered. so far as detailing officers are
concerned, by Rear Admiral Crownin-
shield, chief of the bureau of naviga-
Gion. Of course there was considera-
Die pulling and hauling by the friends
OF aspiring officers, and the result was
that several junior officers were jump
ed over the heads of their seniors, a
practice which seldom meets with the
general approval OF the navy. How
ever, Schley, among the rest, was at
work seeking an important command.
AS he was not on very friendly terms
with Crowninshield there was dis
position on the part of the latter to
sidetraek Schley and keep him in the
background as far as possible. Schley,
on the contrary, while pretending to
be patiently waiting for such call to
daty as the department might see fit
to make, was secretly at work, among
his political friends, supported by a
number Of leading newspapers to secure
All important and conspicuous COM
msnd. AS soon as it was indicated
that the flying squadron was to be or
ganized Schley Immediately pounced
uKon the command of that squadron
as a desirable position, and one in
which he could achieve great notoriety. :
.Ti.e-@hying squadron had daring,
ws.rilke sound and Sch1ey was anxious
to make the most Of the opportunity.
There were several other, aspirahts
for the same command, anyone Of
whom would have been more accept
able to Crowninshield than Schley.
While Schley was insisting daily that
he would not lift bis hand to secure
the command, and criticized other
officers for using their political and
social pull in their respective interests,
be was scheming day and night to get
that command. He mustered sufficient
influence to 90 over the head of
Crowninshield and finally, through
the influence Of President Mckinley,
induced Secretary Long to give him
command of the flying squadron.
Naturally Schley was tickled at his
success, and the other fellows were
mortified and chagrined to the point
of bitter personal antipathy.
Here you have the true inwardness
of the Sampson-Schley controversy,
as related by one who is notoriously
unf.iendly to Rear Admiral Schley. In
this connection it may be added that
the enemies of Schley in the navy de-
partment could not of course, disre-
gard the wishes Of the President in