The Washington times., 1902-05-07
AN UNFORTUNATE DISPUTE.
ley-Sampson Controversy the Most
Bitter in Our Naval History.

Rear Admiral Sampson was one of tn
the most bitter and unfortunate nava
controversy in the history OF the Gov
| ernmcnt. tt
The merits of the case have beer
| thrashed over time and again during tn,
| past four years. and less than a year age
were to some extent at least the subject
of official inquiry on the part of the Navy
Department. The result is supposed to
have ended the Sampson -Schley dispute
| or one phase of it. so far as the Gov
ernment is concerned
The controversy had its inception in the
fact that Rear Admiral Sampson. then a
captain. was advanced over Pear Admiral
Schley. then commodore. He was made
an acting rear admiral in command OF the
North Atlantic squadron at the outbreak
of the Spanish American war. while
Schley. his senior in rank, was placed in
charge of the flying squadron, which con-
stituted part OF the North Atlantic
squadron under command of Sampson.
Although at that time and subsequently
there were mu.terings OF disapproval
among the friends of the senior officer. II
is altogether probably that no controversy
would have arisen but for the somewhat
singular circumstances under which the
battle Of Santiago was fought.
Schley had himself expressed pleasure
at being under the command OF Sampson
according TO his own statement made be-
fore the late court of inquiry. II Is like
wise probable that the operations of
Schley. before he finally reached Santiago
and subsequent thereto. in which Samp-
son became a conspicuous figure. would
never have been matters of public con-
cern had Sampson been present at the
battle OF Santiago.
Admiral Sampson Absent.
Unfortunately for him. as well as un-
fortunately for the navy in that II led to
a deplorable controversy. Admiral Samp-
son left the blockadins line in front OF
Santiago on the morning of July g. 1898.
on board his flagship New York. to 90 to
SiDoney TO confer with General Shafter
About half an hour later the Spanish cruis-
er Maria Teresa. the flagship of Admiral
Ceryera. was seen emerging from be-
hind the MORO. which guarded the en-
trance TO the harbor of Santiago, after
having been bottled up" there for seven
weeks.
The country, and. in fact. the world is
thoroughly familiar with what transpired
that day. The last Spanish vessel. the
last of the pride of the Dons. had struck
her colors to Commodore Schley more
than an hour before 1t was possible for
Admiral Sampson TO reach the scene.
The next unfortunate step. which did.
perhaps, more than anything else to bring
on the controversy. was the sending of
the dispatch OF July g. in which Sampson
was made 20 say: The fleet under my
command send to the American people as
a Fourth of July present the destruction
of the entire Spanish fleet"
At first this disratch WAS nndersto ood
and accepted 10 mean that Admiral Samp-
son was in command. Later the fuller
reports made known the fact that Samp-
son was unfortunately absent. and that
Admiral Schley, whether in command or
not, was the senior officer present.
Following this came the communication
from Sampson TO Secretary Long. in which
he spoke Of Schley's "reprehensible CON
duct for the first time, then week after |
the battle had been fought, referring to an |
incident which transpred eight weeks |
before.
With the publication of this the contro-
versy was full on. with the prospects that |
the court of enquiry. |
which finally resulted, AMI the death of
one of the participants, will never end |
until 1t is forgotten
There were many other minor incl
tents which augmented the rivalry be-
ween ihe partisans of the two men. but
he facts herein stated constitute the
principal points OF the controversy.