The evening times., 1899-11-11
LONG DEftlDSA HIMSELF.
He Tries to Explaihahe Persecution:
Of Rear Admiral Schley.
The Secretary of the Navy Sends n
Lengthy Argumentctive Statement
for the Departments Treatment of
the Victor of the Battle of Santiago

for the Departments Treatment of
the Victor of the Battle of Santiago
Secretary Long has made a statement
| gard to the case of Rear Admiral Schley,
which presents the position OF the Navy
| Department very fully. II was submitted
| to the President by Secretary Long. when
he was informed that Baltimore dele
| cation was coming to interview the PIesi-
| dent in Rear Admiral Schley's behalf, and
| has not heretofore been published in En-
glish Milwaukee friends of Rear Admi-
raj Schiey obtained a copy of it and pub
iished it in Milwaukee German newspa-
per. which has just reached here. and
from which the following translation OF
Secretary Longs memorandum has been
made:
Senator McComas tells me that ge1-
tleman from Baltimore has expressed in
telegram to him a desire to have an in
terview with you in order TO discuss what
is called the persecution OF Admiral
Schley. I think this refers to persecution
on the part of the Navy Department. II
l.
charge is absolutely without foundation
and SO utterly contrary to the actual faess
that 1 should be glad to be present when
this charge is raised, in orcer that may
be able to explain the facts In the matter.
THE Navy Department has from the
very beginning been especially consider
ate of the officer referred 10. When the
Flying Squadron was formed. the depart
mert assigned to him the command OF
l..a S.hl Law md
at the foot of the list Of comsio-
dores. You will remember that you your
self were inclined to demur to the choice
when mentioned his name. This appoint
ment gave him a command which was e.
pscially desirable. and one on which any
one of his seniors would have congratulated
himself. He expressed particular salts
faction to me when l notified him OF the
appointment, accepted II readl!y, ana
manifested pleasure at the prospect OF
this service in Atlantic waters under the
commander chief.
when the Spanish feet under Cervera
command threatened our coasts. Coinmo
dore Schley was given an opportunity to go
in search Of the enemy with the FLYING
Souatron. And here again the department
gave him one of the best chances curing
the war, and until June l, when the COM
mander- in chief took charge, he had an
entirely independent command You know
of course that during that period OF his in
dependent command his conduct was salts
factory neither to you nor the Department
He did not succeed in ascertainins whether
or not Cervera was at Cienfuegos. although
he had several days in which to establish
the fact that The Spanish feet was not
there. 1t was Captain McCalla. who had
subsequently Joined him, who ascer;ained
this fact Immediately and without any
trouble. In his subsequent run TO Santiago
and his extremely unfortunate and unnec-
essary retreating mareuvre, when ne was
only twenty miles distant from the latter
harbor the commodore ignored existing in
struc.ions in an unjustiiiable manner In
addition to this, there is his cruise toward
Key West occupying one or two days. and
his assertion that he was short OF coal.
while the reports show that all the ships
still had a coal supply sufficient for from
six to twelve days. II thsre was coal
enough or hand 10 steam back hundreds OF
miles to Key West, there must have been
sufficient supply OF coal TO go to Santiago.
which is further shown by the fact that he
changed his mind once more, this time for
the better by going 10 Santiago after all.
All these facts show that he committed
serious error which il the full facts had
been known at the time. would no doubt
have been considered sufficient ground for
relieving him of his command, or even pro-
cseding against him in disciplinary man.
ner. You will remember that you were
much troubled and grieved when you re-
ceivad the news of his retreating maneuvre.
which was the only one on the part of the
navy during the war. But as Commodore
Schley's independent command expired
about that time and month later the bat
tie of Santiago, in which he took part, was
fought and a glorious victory won. the De-
partment considered disciplinary proceed
ings unnecessary.
The Department therefore recommended
the promotion of all the commanding Off
GERS who had taken part in the battle, and
you acted on the recommendation, subject
to subsequent confirmation by the Senate.
The first promotion was intended for the
commander -in-chief, the second for Com
modore Schley. etc. Up to that time 1t
could hardly be said that there was any
persecution but rather a very considerate
course of action on the part of the Navy
Department Since then the Navy De-
partment has taken no action in this mat
ter, nor expressed any opinion except on
the following occasions:
First when in February last the Sen
ate called for reports on Admiral Schley's
case. these were compiled from official re-
ports and furnished as requested. In order
that no errors or omissions might occur,
tho department appointed three officers for
the purpose of compiling the same, and as
sociated with them Admirals Schley's own
flag officer, to attest the accuracy of the
reports.
Second. when the newspaper controver-
sy arose in which the department had no
share. as to a conversation which was said
to have taken place during the battle OF
Santiago between Commodore Schley and
his navigating officer. Lieutenant Hodgson.
One newspaper published this conversation
several times. stating that Lieutenant
Hodgson had divulged it. Subsequently |
another paper published a letter from
Hodgson to Admiral Schley de- |
claring that such conversation had not ia
ken place. Then the first paper. ostensibly |
on the testimony Of another officer. stated |
that Lieutenant Hodgson had nevertheless |
declared that such conversation had ia.
ken place. Under these circumstances, it |
looked as though one OF the two officers |
had publicly made false statement in a |
matter concerning the navy. As this, un- |
less cleared up, might work prejudice to |
the service and involve it in scandal, 1t |
became necessary. as customary in such |
cases, to call for an explanation. Both |
officers were therefore asked by the de- |
partment to furnish such an explanation. |
The result was that Lieutenant Hodgson |
declared that his denial of the conversa-
ton was to be construed that the CONVEX
sation had not taken place in the terms re-
ported, but that the substance of the same