The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-01
COURT-MARTIAL ORDERED.
The Finding of the Board of Inquiry
I'm the Columbia Case.

Washington. Aug. SILT was learned to-
day from a semi-oficial source that the
court Of inquiry in the case of the cruiser
Columbia, damaged by being improperly
docked at Southampton, held Capt. SUM
ner responsible for the damage. 1t is
said that a cOurt-martial will follow and
that Capt. Sumner will probably lose COM
mand of the fast cruiser
This afternoon the Secretary of the
Navy issued an order directing a court
martial to convene at the Brooklyn navy
yard on Wednesday, Sept. 4, for the trial
of Capt. George W. Sumner. the Colum-
bias commander. Two commodores and
nine captains will compose the court
They are Commodore Montgomery Sicard,
Commodore Rush r. Wallace, Capt. Al
len V. Reed, Capt. Alfred I. Mahan, Capt
Norman II. Farquar, Capt. James
O'Kane, Capt. Henry b. Robinson, Capt
Winfield S. Schley, Capt. John w. Phil
ip' Capt Siiar Casey and Capt. Louis
Kemp. The judge advocate of the court
viii be First Lieutenant Herbert L. Dra-
per Unitel States marine corps.
1t did not take Secretary Herbert long
to make up his mind as to what course
to pursue in regard to the findings Of the
court of inquiry. The report of this court
was received at the nevy department
Thursday, but it was decided by Acting
secretary McAdoo TO await the return of
the secretary before taking action. Mr.
Herbert returned to Washington last
night, and soon after reaching the navy
department this morning, read the record
of the court of inquiry.
A conference was held between the sec
retary, Assistant Secretary McAdOO and
Judge Advocate General Lemly, with the
result that the court martial was ordered
this afternoon. A different decision would
hardly have been possible, inasmuch as
the verdict of the court of inquiry fixed
the responsibility for the injuries to the
Columbia upon Capt Sumner.
The charges are
1. Culpable inemciency in the perform
ance of duty.
?. Suffering a vessel of the navy to be
hazarded, in violation of the eleventh
clause of the articles for the govern
ment of the navy.
Charge 3. Neglect Of duty.
The specifications are that Capt. Sum
ner, having arranged with a representa-
tive of the London and Southwestern Rail
road Company for the docking of the Co
lumbia at Southampton, England, and
having delivered to the representative Of
the company a docking plan of the ves-
sci, neglected and failed to see that the
necessary preparation for such docking
were made by the company, and that the
supporting blocks were in proper condi-
tion for receiving the vessel; owing to
which neglect on the part of the captain
the vessel was, when placed in dock, sub
jected to severe strains, which resulted
in damage to her hull, and necessitat-
ed repairs, costing in the aggregate,
about $1,000 Also, that well knowing that
the supporting blocks ia the dock had
not been placed in proper condition to
receive and sustain the weight of the
vessels, whereby she was being strained,
\ Nnan - a.. .Na.I
to relieve the vessel Of such damaging
strain and also, knowing that by reason
of the improper docking of the vessel
she had been strained and damaged, and
it being, therefore, his duty to suspend
payment for such docking did, never
theless, order Paymaster George II. Read
of the United States navy, attached to
the vessel, to pay to the London and
Southwestern Railway $733,79 for the
docking of said vessel, which sum was
accordingly pad; and the said Sumner
was therein and thereby negligent in the
performance of his duty.