| Show HONOR TO WHOM ir IF IS DUE the published order of admiral sampson relating to the disposal dispo disposition sil tion and management of the squadron which blockaded santiago harbor is one that sheds new and important light upon a subject of grave consequence in most respects the battle of the third of july was the most remarkable ever fought on the sea never before was so much destruction wrought in so short a time and never before with but one solitary exception was it the case that the destruction was all on one side history makes no mention of any water fight even remotely approaching either deweys deleys or sampsons Samp sons victory over the spanish as relates to method execution achievement or new developments in the awful game gaine of warfare and certainly the latter contained some bome features of an unusual character which the former did not it is unnecessary to engage at this time in a recital of the details so familiar already to nearly every reader suffice it to say aay in conclusion that what is set down should be corrected where correction is needed for the details are yet fresh and susceptible cep tible 0 of f ready and easy adjustment whereas if permitted take an oblique course as to any feature and continue so too long the obliquity may by default become so interwoven with history as to become unchangeable thus would future generations be misled and the chronicles of our time be misleading chapters there has been some little question and not a little friction regarding the question asto as to where the honors proper ly y tell fell on the memorable day spoken of it is not enough to say that they fell everywhere even to the unremembered stoker down in the submarine inferno while this is strictly true as relates to prompt faithful and capable discharge of duty the distinguishing feature of the case is still wanting in every great battle there Is some one who more than any other to is made to bear the onus of defeat or receive the meed of praise for victory that he had good support that each auxiliary performed its functions perfectly instead of detracting from the honors of the caiet rather adds to them napoleon lives and will always live in history as aos the hero of all his battlefields save a few where reverses were sustained and this despite the fact that he was surrounded at all points by generals whose greatness in perception and execution would have dimmed the lustre of any supreme commander less than himself he knew and often gave expression to the knowledge that but for the marvelous marve loua intuition rapidity of action precision of movement and tenacity of purpose possessed by such of his field marshals as are nearly remt not quite as well known to readers of history as himself there had been no wagram bagram nor noir marengo nor austerlitz nor friedland nor any of numerous other scenes of triumph but the greatness of ney lannes soult moreau and many others only served to make the great corsican the greater just as the view of a planets satellites tends to impress upon the mind of an observer the greater consequence of the primary sphere so it seems it was with sampson those who read the systematic careful and businesslike business like attention to details which characterize the admirals order arranging the blockade and the shown in every line of detail the abundant caution enjoined and the exemption from any kind of surprise maintained throughout wih surely have no trouble in recognizing the master hand where defects existed they were pointed out and the means of overcoming them most effectively suggested and enforced AM all was in readings rea dines for the spanish ships when they made their fatal exist f from the harbor and through whose management was it that such was the case not primarily that of any an y one of the splendid officers through whose immediate and effective action the day was won but that of admiral sampson himself the small part which he took in the actual conflict is not a matter of much concern in computing the whole question those who took the greater part who did practically all the work I 1 it t m may ay be said only duty worked along the lines which the chief had prepared using their own judgment at all times of course they wet were not automatons else they could not so 80 comprehensively have worked in concert for far the attainment of a common object thoroughly understood As previously suggested in these columns it is invidious to mention any of the leaders of that contest at the expense of any other current events will be correctly recorded as to the great event of july 3rd ard when they show that admiral sampsons Samp sons fleet won a great victory and history win will read properly pr if it be recorded that sampsons Samp sons victory was the result of his plans being so splendidly worked out by and all the others who wae were there |
