The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-21
JEALOUSY AND ENVY.
TRUE INwARDNEss OF THE sAMP-
sON-sCHLEY FEUD.

Unpopular-How SchIey Got Com
garded as "showy" and "shifty."
Washington, Oct. 2O.-After many
months of anxious inquiry in naval cir
cles, am able to give the first plausi-
may be. against Admiral Schley which
exists in the navy.
Since the Sampson and Schley contro-
versy began Immediately after the bat
tie of Santiago. it was apparent to all
who were in touch with naval affairs
that the officials of the Navy Depart.
ment, from the Secretary down to the
humblest naval cadet. with few en-
ceptions, entertained violent personal
antipathy to Rear Admiral Schley. The
tasis for this condition of affairs was
never fully explained to my satisfac-
ton, at least until a few days ago
when had a conversation with dis
tinguished naval officer on the retired
list, who related the following story
without placing any restrictions upon
me as to the repeating of it.
Without quoting him, l will endeav.
or to give the substance of his yarn
as he spun it to me. In the beginning,
/ want to say that the officer referred to
is probably one of the ablest and most
distinguished officers in the navy. He
does not like Admiral Schley, and he
is classed among the leaders of the
anti-Schley crusade. His statements
may be replied on, for he is in position
to know whereof he speaks. 1t was dur
ing an animated discussion of the lat
est proceedings in the court of inquiry
that the question was asked:
AS rank outsider, l would like to
Know said l. what is the real ami
mus against Schley so generally pre-.
Vailing throughout the navy?"
schIey Never Popular.
The old sea dog proceedd to answer
my question with his usual frankness.
put with an earnestness that clearly
indicated his hostility to Admiral
Schley. He went on to say that this
reellng against Schley in the navy be-
gan prior to the battle of Santiago.
Schley had never been personally pop
ular among naval officers. He has al
ways been regarded as "showy" and
sh1fty in his methods, besides he is
OF an lndecisive nature, and slow to
assume responsibility in tight place
However, he has managed to make a
great many warm and valuable friends
outside of the service by his pleasing
appearance and his agreeable personal
lty. with the politicians and the news,
paper fraternity he has always main
tanned friendly relations and quite a
general popularity. All OF these per-
sonal characteristics tended to excite
the envy, Jealousy and unfriendliness
of many naval officers.
All Looking for the Best.
That was the state of feeling in the
navy when the Spanish American war
came on. There were offered oDportfi-
mites for officers of the navy to dis
play their patriotism. win promotion
and achieve popularity. Naturally.
every fellow was on the lookout for
number one, and used every endeavor
to secure desirable station where he
could have an active part in the cam
paign. The Navy Department, presid-
ed over by Secretary Long, was really
administered, so far as detailing Off
GERS are concerned, by Rear Admiral
Crowninshield, chief of the Bureau
OF Navigation. OF course, there was
considerable pulling and hauling by
the friends of aspiring officers. and the
result was that several Junior officers
were jumped over the heads of their
seniors, practice which seldom meets
with the general approval of the navy
However, Schley, among the rest. was
at work seeking an important com
mand. AS he was not on very friendly
terms with Crowninshield, there was
a disposition on the part of the latter
to sidetrack Schley and keep him in
the background as far as posi-
BILE. Schley, on the contrary,
while pretending to be patiently
waiting for such call to duty as the de-
partment might see fit to make, was
secretly at work among his political
friends. supported by a number of lead
ing newspapers, to secure an import
ant and conspicuous command. AS soon
as it was indicated that the Flying
Squadron was to be organized Schley
Immediately bounced upon the COM
mand of that squadron as a desirable
position, and one in which he sould
achieve great notoriety. The Flying
Squadron had a daring, war-like sound
and Schley was anxious to make the
most of the opportunity.
schIey Unanswered shrewdIy.
There were several other applicants
for the same command any one of
whom would have been more accepta-
BILE to Crowninshield than Schley.
While Schley was insisting daily that
he would not lift his hand to secure
the command, and criticised other Of
fcers for using their political and So
cial pull in their respective interests,
he was scheming day and night to get
that command. He mustered sufficient
influence to go over the head of Crown
inshield. and, finally. through the in
fuence of President Mckinley, induced
Secretary Long to give him command
of the Flying Squadron. Naturally.
Schley was tickled at his success. and
the other officers were mortified and
chagrined to the point of bitter per-
sonal antipathy.
Here you have the true nwardness
of the Sampson Schley controversy
as related by one who is VIGOROUSLY
to Rear Admiral Schley. In
this connection, it may be added that
the enemies of Schley in the Navy
Department could not, of course, disre-
gard the wishes of the President in
selecting Schley but they had 1t in
their power to make him subordinate
to Sampson. who was Schley's junior.
It was a bitter pill for the fellows
who hated Schley to have the battle of
turn out as II did. Poor old
Sampson has been made a cats paw
for the opponents of Schley, and not
his feeble mental and
physical condition, they are ready and
willing TO unload upon him all the
odium which attaches to the naval
scandal now occupying public atten-