Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-14
DIVISION IN COURT
AS TO ADMIRAL SCHLEY
Naval Board Not Unanimous, But
Dewey Gives Him Full Credit
for Santiago Victory.

Washington, Dec. I4.-Secretary
Long has before him for review the
report of the Schley court of in
quiry. which he is carefully review
ing. The question has been raised
as to how far Admiral Dewey sub
scribed to the opinion expressed in
the first report and in the findings by
aPpending his signature, that sigma
ture being required of him by the
regulations. regardless of his indi-
viduaI opinion.
In response to question on that
point the judge advocate general of
the navy says: According to naval
practice Dewey. by affixing his sig
nature to the report expresses full
concurrence in all the findings of the
face and opinions reached by the
court. except those with respect to
which he has in terms signified his
dissent in his minority opinion"
Opinion in the senate is divided as
to the probability of congressional
investigation of the Schley contro-
versy but is upon the whole against
such a course.
Washington. Dec. 1.-THE most pro-
tOnged. interesting and important ma
val tribunal ever held in this country
came to n close yeSterday-having in
open and secret session lasted one
week short of three mOnths-when
Secretary Long was handed the find
ings of the court of inquiry which in
luired into the conduct Of Rear Adj
miral Schley during the Santiago cam.
paign. For seven weeks the court
heard testimony. and for fully Il month
it deliberated upon that mass OF evil
dence, finally reaching the conclusions
announced. The result was Il COM
Piete surprise. and it is probable thai
no prOphesy has approached the truth.
Instead of one report there are two.
both are signed by George Dewey,
president. and by Samuel c. Lemly, as
judge advocate.
simply n Matter OF fFOF1a-zs-------
This is form said to be recognized
ia all courts OF inquiry. the signatures
81 tie other members not being neces-
sary. But it is explained that Admiral
Dewey signed the second report. mi
nOrity report, TO express his qualihca-
tion of or dissent from the views ex-
pressed by the cOurt-cOmprising be-
side himself Admirals Benham and
Ramsey-in the first report. 1t is said
at the navy department that there viii
brated case on the departments initial
tive. Secretary Long and Judge AdvO-
cate Lemly positively decline to dis
cuss the findings in any phase. The
secretary received the reports at
o'clock last evening. and he has not
yer acted upon them. II is probable
that he VIII simply append his sigma
tIIre with the word Approved" to the
" hole record.
Schley Will Make no Statement.
4 representative of the Associated
Press conveyed first information of the
findings of the court TO Admiral
Schley. He was seated in the public
reception room Of n hotel chatting
with friends and several newspaper
men, and evinced no signs of nervous
ness over the outcome. When the CON
ciusiOns of Admiral Dewey were read
t. him Admiral Schley showed bis
pleasure, and il was evident from his |
manner that he regarded the state |
ment from Admiral Dewey aS n vindi- |
cation of his cause He declined to |
make any statement concerning the /
courts findings. and eXcusing himself /
from the little company which had |
gathered about him. went TO his apart |
mPnts. where Mrs. SchIcv had been /