Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-10
Sampson and Schiey.

the Sampson SchlCys controversy.
without becoming a special pleader for
one side or the other. So bitter and so
far reaching are the professional jeal.
ousies existing between these two dis
tinguished naval officers. that no one
can approach the subject without dan
ger of feeling their infection. There
was glory enough for both; but the
trouble has been that each wanted it
all.
At the outbreak of the war with
Spain Schley held the rank of a Com
modore; Sampson that Of Captain.
When therefore Sampson was select
ed as the commander of the blocka1
ing Squadron. 1t was not unnatural
that Schley should have felt some
resentment. There is no doubt that
such was the fact 1t must be said to
his credit. however. that he to all
outward appearances at least accepted
the situation gracefully.
There has been some disposition to
critic;se the Navy Department for thus
promoting a junior officer over one old
er and more experienced in the ser
vice. 1t seems to us, however. that
criticism Of this kind has been very
ill-advised. The exigencies of war
often demand men of special qualities
20 r<a;~ nd hc
fatal to let the artificial considerations
Of rank. prevent their employment.
The Department felt that in the
work of blockading the Cuban coast
it needed commanding officer who
was at once cool-headed. patient. and
methodical. 1t was not a position to
be satisfactorily filled by an impul-
sive man. however long his service
might have been or however high the
quality Of his courage. The depart
ment felt that Captain Sampson was
better adapted to a command of this
character than any other available
officer. For this reason alone he was
given the place. Events have fully
demonstrated the wisdom of the choice.
The blockade under SIMPSONS COM
mand was skilfully organized and
effectively maintained. He showed
himself to be a cool. clearheaded.
painstaking officer To him must
always belong the credit of organic
ing the great naval victory at San
tiago.
Commodore Schley appears by the
evidence submitted before the Court of
Inquiry to have been unnecessarily
slow in obeying orders-not with any
disposition to sbe insubordinate, but
largely from a tendency to magnify
the molehills of difficulty attending his
movements into mountains. and be-
cause of tenacious-even headed
adherence to the old fashioned idea
that it was impractical to coal
war vessels at sea. He could, un-
doubtedly. and should have moved
to Santiago with greater CELEBRITY. but
the fact remains that, owing to the
fortunate favor of circumstances. moth
ing was lost by his failure to do So
Sampson as commander of the fleet
was. naturally ambitious to make a
record for himself as well as to dc
creditable service for his country. 1,
seemed unlikely that his command
would have such an opportunity tc
make itself famous, as was presented
to Admiral Dewey's fleet in Manila
bay: but it did--and acquitted itself
with equal honor. Unfortunately. the
Commander-in-chief who had devoted
SO many anxious and wearisome
hours to the organization of this great
victOry-One that must always oc-
cupy a conspicuous place in Naval
annals-was not personally present t.
participate in and direct the battle.
This was no fault ofhis. At the urgent
request Of General Shafter. he hac
gone to Siboney for conference with
the commander of the Army. in order
to arrange for the most effective CO
operation of the Naval and military
forces. 1t is due Admiral Sampson t
say that he selected for this confer
cnce the time when. from every poin
OF view. Cervera's fleet would have
seemed the least likely to leave tn
harbor of Santiago. He had dom
everything in his power to anticipat,
this event had discussed it CAREFUL,
with his officers and had laid down
in general way the tactics that shoul,
be followed in such an emergency. H
even rushed his flag ship to the seen
of the battle in season to contribute
closing shot. but the fight was ovei
The victory had been won before hi
arrival. and thus the opportunity Of
lifetime was lost to him
No doubt his disappointment wa
intense. The fact that as much ,
the real credit for the victory was d,
to him as to Schley who was in ac
ual command of the fleet while II