Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-23
SCHLEY'S ORDERS
Significance of a Prohibition Con-
tanned in Them.
WILL INTENSITY THE CONTROVERSY
What the Friends of the Admiral
Say About It.
DEPARTM ENT'S STATEMENT

The naval sensation of the day is the de-
veIopment of the fact that Rear Admiral
Schley, commanding the South Atlantic
station, instead of receiving the usual
orders issued to the commander-in-chief Of
naval station, as was supposed has been
specifically instructed not to take or send
any of the vessels of his small feet to
South Africa. In view of the long-pending
controversy over Admiral Schley's conduct
during the Spanish war. the action of the
department in this instance Is regarded as
especially significant. South Africa is
within the geographical limits of the South
Atlantic station, and but for the explicit
order to the contrary Admiral Schley
would have been perfectly free to go there
or not as he saw fit. In fact 1t has been
repeatedly stated at the Navy Department
that Admiral Schley would be permitted to
exercise his own discretion in the. matter
The officials gave tacit confirmation to this
impression by saying that Admiral Schleys
sailing orders were similar to the orders
usually given to a flag officer about to pro-
coed to foreign station. An official state
ment WAS issued Tuesday saying that Ad-
miral Schley had been ordered to proceed
in the Chicago to Rio de Janefro, and then
to Buenos Ayres, to inspect the repairs be-
the statement was silent on the important
point as to whether the admiral would be
allowed to go to South Africa, 1t was natur-
ally inferred that the orders themselves
contained no reference to that subject ana
that the admiral had been left free to act
according to his own judgment.
Text of the Orders.
That such was not the case is shown by
the actual orders, the text of which is as
follows:
November 90 1899.
"Sir: When the U. s. s. Chicago is in all
respects ready for sea, proceed with that
vessel by the shortest practicable route 10
the waters of your command, touchlng en-
route for coal at Port Castries st. Lucia,
or at Rio Janeiro, and at such other ports
as may be necessary. The department de-
sires you to be at Buenos Ayres with the
least practicable delay, In order that you
NAV inspect the vessels of your command
1T is also desired that special attention
should be given to the repairs under way
on the Wilmington Submit to the depart
ment without delay schedule of the ports
YOU Will visit route and the prooaDIe
dates of your arrivals and departures. Be
sides the Chicago, the Wilmington ana
Montgomery are attached TO your COM
mand. The Wilmington is now at Buenos
Ayres and the Montgomery is now at Mon
tevideo.
You will await further orders before
any vessel of your command visits any
African port. Very Respectfully,
u. u. LONG. Secretary.
''To the Commander in Chief United States
Naval Force, South Atlantic Station.
VIII Intensity the Controversy.
The action of the department will IN
doubtedly intensity the controversy be-
tween the two factions of the navy. Ad-
mfral Schley and the other officers on the
Chicago were extremely DESTROYS of visit
ing the ports Of southern Africa. That pros
pect had partly reConciled them to q two
years sojourn in the unattractive region of
the South Atlantic. 1t is also understood
that Admiral Schlay had asked fer the
same privilege granted to his predecessor.
Admiral Howison, that Is, that he be per-
mtted to proceed to his station by way of
the Mediterranean sea and the SueZ canal.
That would have enabled him to visit Della
goa bay and Cape Town before visiting the
ports of South America. His failure to Sc
cure this permission is well known. But it
was not until the publication OF the sailing
orders this morning that 1t became known
that the admiral was prohibited from Wis
ting the African ports on his station.
What makes Admiral Schleys orders
more distasteful to his friends IS that he Is
denied the privileges usually accorded to the
commander of a naval station, and such
are now being freely exercised by Rear
Admiral Watson, commanding the Asiatic
station; Rear Admiral Farquhar, command
ing the North Atlantic station, and Rear
Admiral KautZ, commanding the Pacific
station. Those officers all exercise COM
plete control over the movements of their
vessels within the territorial limits of their
stations.
What SchIey's Friends Say.
According to the New York Herald the
friends of Admiral Schley say that there
Is no situation in South America demand
ing his presence with such dispatch. but
that 1T might be different If he were under
+o fric
see in the promptness with which he is
sent to the South Atlantic a desire to have
him away from the United States or any
point where he will be prominently in the
eye of the country when Congress con-
VeneS
They further assert that the admInistra-
ton fears to let the South Atlantic SQUAD
that the demonstration which the English
would make could not help creating a IA
vorable impression at home.
The Departments Explanation.
1t is said at the Navy Department that the
orders to Rear Admiral Schey to go to South
America have no connection whatever with
the personality of that officer. Whoever
commanded the South Atlantic squadron at
this juncture, it is asserted would receive
similar Instructions, for it is regarded as a
matter of national policy to refrain from
sending warships to either the Cape or to
Delagoa bay or Durham, The naval officials
do not attempt to go further in expIana-
ton of the reasons for the adoption of this
policy at this time, leaving that to the De-
partment of State, which is said to have
dictated ii.
The officials say it Is felt to be unwise
for the United States to initiate the send
ing of Warshps to South Africa now. Such
action on our part might be followed by the
naval powers of the continent, and French,
Russian and German fleets would follow
each other there to the probable embarrass-
ment OF the British government and the
encouragement of their enemies, the Beers.
II is not to be learned that this attitude
of our government has been assumed as the
result of any representations from the Brit
ish government
GOES TO RELIEF FUND.