The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-14
Entitled to Credit for Destruction Of
Spanish Fleet.
THE REPORTS ARE MADE PUBLIC
End of the Most Notable Naval Trial in
the Victory of The country-No Further
Steps Expected Hero of San
,lago Silent, But Smiles at
What The Hero of Ma
uiis Says.
Rr Assoclatcd rress.l

fRy Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 12.-The
most prolonged, interesting and import
ant naval tribunal ever held in this
country having in open and secret ses-
sion lasted thrcc months, short o. one
week. came 10 a close to-day, when Sec
retary Long was handed the findings OF
the court of inquiry which inquired iato
the conduct OF Rear-Admiral Sohle" dur
ing the Santiago campaign.
For seven weeks the court heard tcsu-
mony and for fully a month 1t dellber-
ated upon that mass of evidence, finally
reached the conclusions announced To-
day The result was a complete sur
prise. and it is probable that no prophecy
has approached the truth. insteaa oil
one report there are two. Eoth are
signed by George Dewey as president,
and by Sam c. Lenly, as Judge-auNo-
cate This is form said to be recoG-
1lized in all courts of inquiry, the sig
natures OF the other members not being
necessary. But it is explained that Ad-
miral Dewey signed the second report,
a minority report, to express ms qtiah-
fication OF. or dissent FROM the views
EXPRESSED by the court. comprising be
side himself Adnirals Benilam and Ram
say in the first report.
10 FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.
1t is said at the Navy Department that
there VIII be no further proceedings III
This celebrated case on the Department
initiative Secretary Long and Judge Ad-
yocata Ielnly positively decline TO DIS
cuss the findings in any phase. Inc sec
retarv received the reports at O'Clock
this evening. anG he has not yet acted
lIpou them II is probable that he VIII
simply append his signature win ;he
J1tn
The court itself recommends no iur-
ther proceedings, owing 10 the lapse OF
time.
representative of the Associated
Press conveyed the first information VI
the findings of the court to Aoinilai
Sctlev. He was seated in the public ! 6
ception-room of hotel, chatting with
friends and several newspaper men, ana
ryincei no signs Of nervousness over the
outcome When lhe conclusions OF A.
,niral Dewey were read to him Admlrai
7SchIcv showed his pleasure, and II was
evident from his manner that ne rs-
carded the statements from AaHllral
Dewey as a TinGication OF MS coutt'S.
1Io declined to make any statement coil
corning tho conrt's findings. and cNcuS-
inc himself from the little company
which had gathered about nm, went 70
his apartments, where Mrs Schiey hao
been auNiously waluhs - i'"A
rourt's decision.
,,,o l,nto, hv messenger from the Navy
Department
Tie Majority report.
Court of inquiry. Mclean Building,
No 151T II Street Northwest, NASH
ineton. d. c.. December Is. 1901
The court having, by authority Of the
NAVY Department occupied rooms num-
scrs Q and 10, Mclean building, No. lol'
II Street \. w, Washington, u ~
While celebrating upon its proceedings
and the members thereof having assem-
alcd daily since Monday, November lltn,
NTH the exception of Sundays and holl-
lays, and having concluded the lnvesti-
cation. reports its proceedings and the
testimony taken, with a full and detailed
statement of all the pertinent facts nhi:h
II deems to be established. together with
its opiuion and recommendation III the
premises.
Facts-The flying Squadron, consisting
Of the Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Texas
and Scorpion, under command of Com
.nodore W.>S, Schley, U. S. n, Sailed
from Key best about S A. NJ. of May
70. 1895. Wa orders from the Navy De-
eartment and from the commander-In-
1bief of the North Atlantic Station. TO
prot&ed with dispatch utrnostl off Glen
fueros to capture the enemy off that
bort. If possible or to blockade him, and
Ia maintain the Blockade as close as pos
.ible
The FLYING Squadron arrived off Glen
luecos on the morning of May I'd, ana
established a blockade. During te2 'IaE
The ships lay off the port at various uls-
,ances. in no particular order. At night
i. ;,,., Of vessels
of shore and moved at only suticlent
speed for keeping position. The small
vessels nerforined picket duty in-shorc OF
the large ships.
Commodore Schley did not proceed with
utmost dispatch off Cicnfuegos and block
ade that port as close as possible Al
10 a. NJ, May I'D. The Dupont arrived
nj Cienfuegos with a dispatch from the
commander-in-chief. dated Key West,
Nav 20 1898. which informed Commodore
Schley Of the probability of the Spamsh
squadron bei:.s..s in Santiago dc Cuba. and
ordered him TO hold CienfueSos until the
receipt of more positive information Al
1870 z. NJ, May 22d, the Iowa arrived at
Cicnfuegos and at p. NJ OF the same
date the Scorpion left Cientuesos lor
Santiago. At sis A NJ, of May 90
Commodore s5chley received by the aus
patch sessel Hawk the following dispa1cH
and memorandum from the com!haiioei
ln-chef:
dispatch CSc. 81 dated Key West. May
n. 1895 which stated that the Spanish
tcuadron ~,as probably at Santiago and
ordered Commodore Schley. If he was sat
,sfied that the Spanish squadron was not
al Cienfuegos. to proceed with all dis
patch but .cauiiously. TO Santiago de
Cuba, and II the enemy is there bloc.,-5
ade him in that port memorandum
dated off Havana, May II, 1895. which
directed Commodore Schley to mask his
movements IN leaving Cienfuegos. A