Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-25

proIOuuu THEORISTS the navy mas ever
known.
When war was declared against Spain
in 1898 by the United States, Rear Ad-
miral Sampson was n captain in the
navy. He was regarded as the closest
student the Navy Department possessed.
but was not widely known as naval
authority until appointed president of the
court of inquiry to investigate the cause
Of the Names destruction. This appoints
ment was followed by another-that of
commander-in-chief Of the North ATTAIN
tic naval station. Rear Admiral Samp-
sons origin had been most humble one.
He came from an obscure family of l'al-
myra, n. y, and worked his way upward
by sheer application to books and their
study. He made name for himself as
a mathematician and thinker, but lacked
the rugged qualities of commander and
man at sea. He was Unfortunately sensi
tive. rather retiring, rather slow. Justly
or unjustly, his elevation was charged 10
politics. There the first trouble in the
Sampson-Schley controversy started.
The naval cabal in Washington, fully
us strong as the army cabal, took the po-
sition> that the Advancement Of Captain
Sampson at IL moment of great peril to
the country was a recognition of the "tac-
tician' class Of officers. Offense was
taken by the "sea dog" class, of which
Captain Schley was a typical member.
The sinking of the Maine and the fixture
of this nation to instantly attack Havana
from the sea had more or less angered
the men of the navy who believed less in
diplomacy and more in fighting, who felt
that Washington, with its cabals, tur-
moil and politics, could not appreciate
situation one-half as well us n command
er on a quarter deck Mt sea and flying the
Stars and Stripes. The sea dog" men
of the navy took the selection of Captain
| Sampson for their superior as direct
political slap at themselves; an ntima-
ton that no matter how many years a
| man remained at sea, nor how many bat
ties he fought, he could be deprived OF
| his honovs at any time by lanlsman
who had political influence.
OF course, the "tacticians'' resented
this sort of talk, but long before Cervera
sailed for Cuba wide breach had open
ed in the national navy-a nasty breach,
broadened every day by gossip, recrini-
| nations petty jeal0usies and all the 9th
| er had things that go with human nature.
| 1t should be written in justice to both
| Captains Sampson and Schley that at
this time neither of them personally APP
pear to have engaged in the squabble.
The declaration of war with Spain did
not come until April %, but prior to that
time the Navy Department assembled
| two squadrons for active naval duty
one called then the Key West squad on.
| having for its purpose the blockading of
Havana. and the other lying squadron.
The first was commanded by Sampson
and the second by Schley. Neither squad
ron entered upon active duty until utter
the declaration of war, nor in reality I'M
til after May /, when Dewey's victory
far east was known. On May 2 the
hey West squadron sailed for Cuba I'M
dor command of Rear Admiral Sampson.
Following this was the naval fighting at
Cardenas. the bombardment Of San Juan
by Sampson. On May IL the Navy De-
partment received word that the Spanish
squadron of Admiral Cervera was west
OF Martinique, the Windward Islands.
Later Sampson was advised that 1t was
off Curacao. He was ordered to proceed
to Key West at once, to which point
Schleys flying squadron had also been
1
| West, coaled and awaited ORDERS Til.
flying squadron, under Schley. was the
| first to be ordered out. Composed of the
Brooklyn. Texas, Massachusetts and
| Scorpion. it was directed to proceed TO
Cienfuegos, Cuban port near Havana.
and to blockade the same. The Spanish
squadron was supposed to be headed for
that port, and Sch!ey was clearly intend
nl 10 soth 70
Washington that he would find Cervera
at Cienfuegos that the Iowa, Castine and
the collier Merrimac were sent to join
him there after he had set his battleships
on their course. But after he had left
Key West the Navy Department was in.
formed that Cervera was at Santiago.
md advised Sampson to SO instruct
Schley. The Masblehead was sent to