The Washington times., 1901-08-01
The sampson House of Glass.

There can be no manner of doubt
that the American public is delighted
by the rapid and complete way in which
the ice is melting under the feet of the
envious Sampson and his coadjutors in
the war on Admiral Schley. Fresh evil
dence almost daily is being laid before
the public, all going to prove the hol-
lowness and studied malice of the
charges which have been made
against the victor of Santiago by his
enemies in the Navy Department and
the service. IT is rather amusing that
criticisms Of alleged failures on the part
OF Admiral Schley, made with much ap-
parent spitefulness by Sampson, are be-
ing shown in some cases to apply quite
significantly 10 MS own actions during
the Spanish war. For example, he is
very severe on the man who brought
the campaign 40 u glorious close of
Santiago while the pseudo command
er-in-chief'' was hull down behind the
elephantine Shafter plus the horizon.
because Schlcy remained three days a
Cienfuegos in pursuance of definite and
positive orders, instead of steaming at
once 10 Santiago. where the enemy
might be and, in fact, as it afterward
developed, was
What would Sampson have done in
Commodore Schley's place? Perhaps
We may obtain some light on the ques-
tion by studying what he did do in anal
ogous circumstances. AS usual, the
conqueror OF the MatanZas mule fur
nishes the country with voluntary evil
deuce, which would seem calculated 10
confound him when he takes the wit
ness stand and proceeds to draw at sight
upon probably the most convenient and
elastic memory that ever existed in the
condition OF soft rubber under a cooked
hat
1t is said that. shortly after the cessa-
ton Of hostilities, in a magazine article
Sampson stated that. while he was al
Cape Haitien, Haiti. on May 10, 1898.
in command of a splendid squadron, he
was Informed that the Spanish cruisers
were about TO leave Curacao bound for
Santiago. On the date given, Cervera
started On his last run, exactly as
Sampson had been warned that he
would If Commodore Schley deserves
all the odium that his colleague, il
legally placed over his head, has tried
to heap on him for falling to disobey
the letter and spirit OF his orders, and
rush for Santiago without learning
whether the Spanish squadron was or
was not in the harbor of Cienfuesos,
what are the American people to think
of SIMPSONS conduct in not making an
immediate break for the south coast OF
Cuba? Had he done 50, he would have
intercepted Cervera and forced him into
battle in the open. the result of
which could not be open to doubt, as the
captains of the American vessels were
nll brave and experienced men, and
would have done their DUTY. Was il
case OF Sampsonian prudence? Did the
ammunition waster OF San Juan sus-
pect that his Spanish adversary might
be too strong for him; or did he. on gem
eral principles, do the wrong thing at
critical moment, Just as he did in de-
serting his station in front of Santiago
and weakening his feet by taking the
New York twenty miles down the coast
at time when his scouts Were watch
ing for Cervera to attempt a sortie
which had been momentarily expected
for hours? Twice. as we see, Sampson
had the opportunity of his life. II he
had-PGshed az once from Cape Hsitien.
the Spaniards conld not have made
Santiago Earbor, and the engagement.