New-York tribune., 1901-10-08
FALSE IMPRESSIONS CORRECTED.
SOME HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED FACTS IN
THE SAMPSON-SCHLEY CONTROVERSY

THE SAMPSON-SCHLEY CONTROVERSY
Trenton, N j., Oct. I (SpeciaD.-Colonel Rober,
NJ Thompson chief OF Governor voorhees's staff
is the president OF the United States Naval Acad-
emy Alumni Association. and in that capacity he
naturally takes great interest in all things re-
lating TO the navy. When asked regarding the
present Inquiry in progress in Washington, Colo
mel Thompson said
controversy. say 'so-caiied" because Il ii had not
been for the politicians and unwise civilian friends
tween Sampson and Schley. After the battle of
telegram OF July 10 expressed to the Secretary Of
the Navy what was undoubtedly his feeling
er credit for the happy issue of the battle Of San
tiago was due to sampson as commander-in-chef
sampson. on the other hand, while not approving
ished with his conduct in the battle and the prom
the Secretary 10 disregard Schley's conduct prior
TO June l, from which, after all. no serious harm
had come and did his best secure his promotion.
There is one story which am anxious should
sys H book VAS 10 m e aeay sae Mat e
his proofs had been submitted TO the command
they approved his statements. A reporter calling
9BB2 ro m me al N m s b bed
confirmation of this statement. The Admiral was
asked, if he had seen and read the proofs of Mac
was too III to go into the the matter ter at any length
formed. and to-day believes. that Admiral Samp-
SSn %a ca WHEN MAS 'he he sa o
M2clay's charge against Schley - s..
you may absolutely rely upon them as the truth.
The proofs by Mr. Macay to Admiral
Sampson with the request that they should be read
and corrected. The Admiral at the time was not in
good health and did not wish to undertake the
labor, but his secretary pointed out that the
Macay history standard one, and used at the
Naval Academy a textbook. This volume
brought the history down through the period of
the Spanish war, and 1t was desirable that there
should be inaccuracies in it. The Admiral.
a certain part OF them, but he arrived
at the part which contained the statement that
Schey a coward and n caitiT, he was much
angered. and said the statement the
had right to make; that IL was unjust and
unfair speak of any naval officer in such terms
the proofs His secretary, impressed with the great
desirability of having the statement of facts
curate and not believing that he was in any way
responsible for the statements of opinion, did. on
his own account, compare the book with the rec
ords and make the margins a number of cor
as those made when Admiral Sampson was giving
his persona! attention the corrections, Mr..
Maciay perfectly justified in his statement
The order the Secretary of the Navy, forbtddtng
ton regarding this controversy issued Immediately
after this Interview. prevented the above correc-
tion being officially made. Fortunately, am in
position to tey the facts. and II gives
me great pleasure to make them public just as II
gives me great pleasure be able to note that
aiding Santiago. out at night TO a distance Of
twenty or twenty-five miles. thus leaving the port
entirely open has been proved to be untrue.
NV interest in these matters, and believe II Is
the interest of every good American. is to learn
the truth and to be able believe that our naval
courageous men We have always believed them
O