Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-22
TURNS SCHL[Y down
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Navy Department Refuses to
Recognize His Challenge Of
Admiral Howison.
Latter to Remain on Board OF
Inquiry...Holds Its First
Session.
Schley's Letter Will Then be
Presented and the Court
Can Act.

Washington, Aug. 22.-The navy de-
partment gave out the reply to Adj
miral schley's request that the attention
of Admiral Howison be called to an al
legged interview in which Admiral How
ison was quoted as saying that the
credit for the Santiago victory belonged
to Admiral Sampson. The reply which
was made by Acting Secretary Hackett
follows:
In reply to your letter of the 18th
inst, enclosing a newspaper clipping
and requesting the department to send
it to Rear Admiral Howison together
with copy of your letter. you are in
formed that the appointment of Rear
Admiral Howison as third member of
the court of inquiry was accomplished
only after taking great pains to insure
absolute impartiality in the officer se-
lected. To a question unotficially put as
to his ACCESSIBILITY in case the Depart
ment should require his services; Rear
Admiral Howison replied:
i know of no reason why I should
not be available for such duty, should
the department so decide. have made
no public utterance relating to the sub
ject and / have seen none of the official
reports and papers bearing upon the
question to be decided by the court
Your counsel, Captain Parker, before
the appointment had peen announced,
mentioned to the acting secretary the
names of certain rear admirals, any of
whom, he said, would be perfectly salts
factory to Rear Admiral Schley One of
the names so mentioned was that of
Rear Admiral Howison. 1t may be added
that of four officers consulted by the de-
partment. the names of three We're upon
the list thus mentioned by your coun-
sci.
This much has been detailed in order
to remind you of the fact that fair
minded officer of excellent reputation
and of unblemished character had been
found in the person of Rear Admiral
Howison. who, at the date of his APP
pointment appears to have enjoyed the
confidence of both the department and
yourself.
Your request is based upon news
paper clipping that purports to contain
statements in regard to the truth of
which you do not yourself express an
opinion. You ask the department to lay
before Rear Admiral Howison state
ment wholly unsubstantiated, that APP
pears to have been made by some person
unknown at a time and place likewise
unknown.
/ The department is unable to view
your request in any other light than
| that of a preliminary challenge of the
fitness of Rear Admiral Howison to
serve as member of the court. 1t will
be treated as is usual in cases of courts
Of inquiry. The established practice in
the military as we'll as in the naval SER
| vice have fixed the method In which the
| right OF challenge before courts martial
and courts of inquiry shall be exercised.
4 THE department having constituted
the court, should not at this stage of
I the proceedings, undertake to hear and
determine questions that may arise re-
4 speeding the competency of its mem
4 bers. Such proceeding would be irreg-
ular. all questions of this nature being
left to the determination of the court it.
\ self. This correspondence will be trans
4 mitted to the president of the court for
4 it's Information -