The age-herald., 1901-09-22
ScNAeYs SawYevs Are NevcAess
 SAYS JULIUS CHAMBERS
 ANd SawpsoN Needs couNscA

 Squadron, was not originally intended for service in Cuban waters. General ex- pectation was that the Spanish fleet would sail for our coast, and that it would be engaged in the open sea by the fast ships of this squadron.
 When Commodore Schley was ordered to Key West from Hampton Roads, he was directed to report to Rear Admiral Remey. By coincidence Rear Admiral Sampson, "Commander-in-C Chief United States Naval Force, North Atlantic Sta- tion," reached there the same day from San Juan, Porto Rico. A conjunction of this kind had not been foreseen and it Is matter of record that Schley received several orders direct from the depart ment. He had, however, recognized the fact of Sampsons rank, because had lodged formal complaint with the Navy Department for Sampson's advancement over him. He frankly told Sampson this, and pledged his hearty cooperation and obedience to his chief. No blame att taches to Schley for his protest; it was proper formality.
 But this condition of affairs explains many things. It gives cause for the in- formality of the Dear Schley" letter Oknown as Exhibit No D, and the dis inclination of Sampson after the victori- ous battle, to pass upon what he de- scribes as 'reprehensible conduct prior to his personal aEdval at Santiago on the morning of June l. 1898. Sampson chose to let the Navy Department mete out praise or blame for Schley's mo"n- ments when his relations to the depart ment were closer to 1t than to him. In this light the two letters of Sampson to Secretary Long, dated July 10, from Playa del Este, Cuba, are seen in a. wholly different light. These letters were in reply to a request from the depart ment for recommendations for promo tion If Sampson had condemned Schley he would not have been promoted! lie chose rather to praise his conduct Tn the battle, but felt it necessary to call atten- tion to previous acts that had been sup feet of censure by the department-not by him. Tn the first letter Sampson says:
 "I prefer leaving any question of re- ward for Commodore Schley to the de- partment Think his conduct during the time when Schley commanded the East side of Cuba, which l assume IS well known to the department, Is considered. In the second and long letter, Sampson said:
 "With regard to Commodore Schley much prefer that the department should decide his case. I am unwilling to fully express my own opinion. His conduct when he first assumed command on the South coast of Cuba, l assume to be as we'll known to the department as to my self. Had the commander left his sta- | tlon off Santiago de Cuba at that time, he probably would have been court-mar- | tialed, so plain was his duty. Were l alone in this opinion I would certainly doubt my judgment but, so far as | know. this opinion is confirmed by that | of other commanding officers here ac- | quainted with the circumstances. rms | reprehensible conduct 1 cannot separate from his subsequent conduct, and TOT | this reason I ask you to do him ample | justice on this occasion.'
 The reference in the last two words is to the battle and upon that reading the 1 President made the recommendation to | the Senate for Commodore Schley's pro- | motion.
 1 After Sampson reached Santiago, at 6 l o'clock on the morning of June l. and be- came personally responsible for the blockade, Commodore Schley's conduct was meritorious Sampson says so. He | never has referred to that bugbear, known as the '1oop;" no criticism of Sohleys efficiency or cooperation during the five weeks in which he was under his sole and immediate orders anywhere appears. Commodore Schley's alleged l delay at Cienfuegos and his subsequent | uncertainty of purpose off Santiago were acts largely committed during the period when he was receiving orders direct from | Washington because Schley did not re- celve the orders, placing him under Sampson's direction, until May %, though they were dated the 24th Sampson thus chose to reward those acts Had he said the word the Navy Department woulc have relieved schley of his comnand
 Therefore Sampson, with justice to himself and impartiality to Schley, placed the responsibility in passing upon those acts in the Washington government. He made 1t quite clear, however, that he did not desire to censure or to recommend fellow officer for acts performed when l semf-independent of his direction. Had the two souadrons sailed from Key West as one fleet there never would have arisen any doubts as to Sampson's responsibil- ] ity for Schley's movements: but when the commodore left for Cienfuegos on May 19 he doubtless regarded himself as having an independent command despite the fact that Sampson was authorized to sign himself "Commander-.n-C Chief Unit cd States Naval Force, North Atlantic Station"
 The introduction of the testimony for Rear Admiral Schley will occupy three weeks as nearly as can be estimated: and there it was generally hoped the inquiry would end But that is utterly impossi- be now, and the final outcome Is very difficult to predict.
 Of course no punishment can be in- ficted on any one as two years have ex- pired since the battle was fought.