Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-09-11
THE

power on this hemisphere have gone
unrewarded. In the case of Captain
lark, who raced the Oregon from San
francisco to Key West, punishment
has been measured out, for that Of
ficer is lower in rank to-day than he
would have been had not he and his
gallant ship covered themselves with
glory in that memorable trip and in
the subsequent battle. This has been,
of course, a source of much injustice
to many brave and deserving officers.
But should the court of inquiry make
it's investigation full, its findings clear,
it's verdict positive, all the impedi-
ments will be swept away, and during
the next session the long-delayed re-
wards may be bestowed upon the men
who crushed Cervera and sent the
flower of the Spanish navy onto the
rocks about Santiago.
1t is cause for eongratu1ation that
this result seems so sure Of speedy at
tainment. Ever since the first week
after the battle of July 3 the country
has been engaged in discussing and
debating the question: Who was in
command of the American forces dur
ing the sea fight off Santiago? That
question has resulted in innumerable
scandals; it has divided the navy into
factions; disturbed the deliberations
of Congress OF numerous occasions,
and impeded the course of that justice
which all nations delight in showing
to their brave and gallant men of arms
IA Cause Of the Trouble.
When the first dispatch came an
nouncing the victory over Cervera s
fleet the country rang with praise for
the men who served this nation so
well. Within a day or SO it became
known that that dispatch was sent by
Z man, who, although absent and not
participating in the contest, ~arrogated
unto himself the credit for the vic
tory. The friends of Admiral Schley
have always contended that the
Schley-Sampson controversy would
never have beer born had it not been
for the bombastic dispatch heralding
the victory-a dispatch which, it now
appears, bore the name of Admiral
Sampson as its author, but which was
not written by him nor seen by him
before 1t was transmitted to the Navy
Department.
The news of the actual battle. fast
following this dispatch, caused a revul-
sion in public sentiment. The people
almost instantly contrasted the rather
self-conscious dispatch signed by Ad-
mirai Sampson with the fact that that
officer was not in the fight; that the
real commander during the actual COM
bat was Rear Admiral Schley, who.
with becoming modesty, was content
to accept the victory as being great
enough to give CORY for ALL n who
unhesitatingly gave the major portion
OF his praise for the achievement to
1.-The men behind the guns From the
moment when the truth became known
dates the controversy. Having claim
ed the credit for the victory, neither
Admiral Sampson nor his friends have
been willing to recede rom their first
position. Rather have they reiterated
their first claim, as is evidenced by the
futile attempts which have been made
to promote Sampson owe the head OF
Schley.
At the battle of st. Vincent. Sir John
Jeryis. the commander-in-chief OF the
English forces, was absent. The bat
tie was fought and won by the immor-
tai Nelson. When Jervis reaurned to
the fleet he threw his arms about Mel
sons neck. and, with tears streaming
down his cheeks, thanked Nelson for
his glorious work. The sequel was
thai Nelson got full credit for the VIC
tory.
Where IN Erred.
How easy it would have been for Ad-