The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-14
His Broken Health and Retirement
should Stop Criticism.

Milwaukee Sentinel.
The publication of the official announce
ment of the retirement of Admiral William
T. Sampson at a time when it is currently
reported that the distinguished officer is
upon his death bed is an incident calculated
20 temper for the moment the bitterness
of the naval controversy that has been in
progress for many months. Whatever may
have been the cause of Admiral SIMPSONS
breakdown, ii is known that for many
months during which his partisans and
those of Admiral Schley have filled the ears
or the public with their versions of the dis
pute and the facts that led up TO the un-
fortunate situation, Admiral Sampson has
been mentally incapable of even appreci-
ating the situation.
There is reason to believe that the dis
appointment incident to his involuntary alb
sence from the scene OF conflict before San
tiago was the prime cause of Admiral
SIMPSONS failing health. For weeks he
had been in command of the fleet in wait
ing for the coming Of the Spanish ships out
of the harbOr. For the first time modern
warships were 10 meet in battle manned by
European and American seamen. His edu-
cation in the Naval Academy and his sub
sequent career in the navy had been a
preparation for just such an event. AS
commander Of the American fleet he had
aimed TO foresee all possible contingencies
ana 10 so order the disposition of his forces
that when the moment for a test of
strength and fighting qualities should come
he could demonstrate that he was not a
mere bureau tactician, as had been claimed
by some of his critics, but that he could
fight and win naval battles-that he was
more of a sea fighter than a bureaucrat.
And yet, when the time came for which
he had been waiting many weeks and TO
which his entire professional life had been
little more than a preface, he was temper
arily absent from the scene of action. He
was near enough to hear the guns of the
two fleets as they Joined in deadly combat
he could see the smoke of battle, but he
was not in the fight One can imagine the
feelings of a man to whom the traditions of
the United States navy from John Paul
Jones and Decatur to Farragut have been
professional inspiration when he finds
himself just beyond striking distance at
such time. Granted that he had planned
the action Granted, further, that the
American fleet was, technically, still under
his command Jones. Decatur and Farragut
did not win battles in that way, and Samp-
name to the lisI to which Dewey had been
advanced but two months before
Under the circumstances the American
people should be willing to forgive Admiral
Sampson if he found it impossible to en-
tirely conceal his disappointment. The con-
trOversy that grew out of the battle has
been unfortunate-aS unfortunate for him
as for Admiral Schley. Now that the time
has come for him to retire from active
service it seems that he is about to retire
from the world well. Surely the parties
who have aided in filling his last years with
gall and wOrmwoOd by keeping the bitter
disappointment of his life continually be-
fore the public will see the propriety of I'M
covering their heads to him now and leav-
ing him in the enjoyment OF the honors
that unquestiOnably belong to him.