The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-09-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Oalu upSOu-DCui6Y SuutEONSASys bul
both sides are so busy in consider
ing what they will do to each other
that there is a semi-sulphurous
of war. The adherents of Admir-
al Sampson have thus far been
kept occupied in explaining as
much of their chiefs erratic con-
duct as they can without giving
their case away beforehand. Some
Of the explanations do not explain.
The latest development in the
case is the discovery of the fact
that the Cuban, General Garcia,
knew or surmised that Cervera
was coming out of the harbor of
Santiago on the morning of July
3. His information came from
the refugee of the French Consul
at Santiago, and, was, presuma-
bly, wigwagged to Sampson, as
there was a code of signals ar
ranged between Sampson and
Garcia for that precise emergency.
1t would appear therefore, that
Sampson not only thought that
Cervera might come out at that
time, but that he actually knew
that the whole sortie Of the Span
ish fleet was about to take place,
and, knowing, deliberately alb.
sented himself with one of the
best ships of the squadron, and
was hull down behind the horizon,
seven miles away, when the time
came for him to make his ever
lasting reputation. On ascertain
ing this Admiral Schley's friends
took immense delight in arising
and asking with one voice,
'Whyg" 1t really seems, some
times, as in the Schley press of
the country, which means most Of
the newspapers, were one big in
terrogation point addressed to the
unlucky Sampson.
That Schley is the hero of the
enlisted men there is no doubt.
The ''jackies" on his ship swear
by bim, and so do the gunners
and the sailors on other ships, not
including, of course, the New
York. Schley was the only one
of the three prominent admirals
dewey, Schley and Sampson) who
the banquet at the Wal
dorf-Astoria given for the enlisted
men during the New York cele-
bration. Schley made a speech
which took the sailors by storm.
1t has been suggested that Gen
eral Shafter should be called as q
witness when the court of inquiry
meets. 1t is not known just what
SIMPSONS supporters in the Navy
Department think of this sugges-
ton, and for obvious reasons 1t is
not likely to be known. They
can not endorse it with good
grace, and they can not regard it
with open disfavor without hurt
ing themselves. That Skaters
testimony, if taken, would be one
of the most interesting chapters in
the record can not be doubted.
The big General is not good at
or evasions, and he
was in position to know Samp-
son very well. He would have to
relate, under oath, the story of
the Santiago campaign as he saw it
from the rear.
Little can be learned at present
from any authoritative source, Of
the actual facts in the controversy.
The reason is that Secretary Long
has ordered every man connected
with the service to keep his mouth
shut. In this the Secretary has
shown the tact which has always
been one of his prominent qualif-
cations for craftsmanship. It will
really do no good to nave the
whole matter thrashed over on the
statement of every little officer
who knows, or thinks be knows,
something about it, and the battle
of Santiago was an affair in
which a great many officers, big
and little, took part, and on which
practically every one in the ser
vice has an opinion. There are
people, however, who note the
fact that Captain Chadwick, Of the
New York, one Of Simpsons de-
voted adhereuts, said a number ol