The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-03
KIMBERLY EXCUSED
,rTIREp REAR ADMIRAL WILL
NOT SERVE ON COURT.
WEAK HEART REASON GIVEN.
r 1s PROMPTLY RELEASED BY
THE ACTING SECRETARY.

u,s Letter Requesting Detach-
Dt From the SchIey-Sampson
court of Inquiry He Expresses
.,ortif,cation That After His Long
,ice He should BE Compelled
,,;v.t TIme to Prefer Such Re-
quest.
washington, Aug. 2.-The Navy De-
..ortroent did not announce to-day the
s,ccessor to Admiral Kimberly on the
cohlav court of inquiry. The follow
,., correspondence with Admiral KIM
harlv relative to the latter's declina-
zion was made public to-day:
"West Newton, Mass, July 20, 19Ol.
Cir. have the honor to acknowledge
tho receipt of the rescript of a court
Of inquiry which is to convene on the
10Th of September, in which L am
named as a member. l regret to have
70 request that 1 may be detached
from said duty, owing to disability
from weak heart, and it's attending
complications; being under medical
treatment for the same.
"NIuch to my modification this Is the
first department order that 1 am un-
able to honor, during my naval life of
Aftv-fve years. 1 am, very respect
fully, your obedient servant,
IL. A. Kimberly,
Rear Admiral, u. S. N.
(retired)
John D. Long, Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, D. c."
Navy Department, Washington,
Aug. .. 1901. Sir: The department is
in receipts of your letter of 29th July
expressing a regret on your part at
being obliged to ask that you may be
detached from the duty of serving upon
the court of inquiry convened the
18th of September next. The depart
ment learns with regret that you are
suffering from a weak heart and its
attending complications, for which you
are under medical treatment. Such be-
ing the case, the department is reluct-
antly compelled to grant your request.
Your letter continues Much to my
modification this is the first depart
ment order that 1 am unable to honor
during a naval life of fifty-five years
Let me hasten to assure you that there
is no cause for modification at this in
cident On the contrary it affords an
opportunity of which the department
gladly avails itself to congratulate you
for a record so loyal to the service.
Moreover this record amply justified
the wisdom of the Secretary of the
Navy in assigning to you the grave
n nf
the court
Permit me to express the hope that
your health will continue to improve
so that in the future should a less ar
duous duty be required of you you
may be fully able to respond. Very
respectfully, f. w. Hackett,
acting Secretary.
"Rear Admiral L. A. Kimberly, u. S.
N. RetireO. West Newton Mass"
StenOGraphers Selected.
The Navy Department has selected
the firm Of Smith & Hules to make the
stenographic report of the proceedings
IN the Schley court of INJURY. 1t is
now said that the proceedings in open
court probably will not occupy more
than two weeks or a month, at the
most. This comparatively short time
is based upon the expectation that 1t
WIN pe necessary to call only very
leW OF the persons who participated in
tne West Indian naval campaign. The
oinclals do not care for repetitions of
uncontroverted testimony and they feel
tnat only few of the naval officers
VINO were on the fleet really know
anything of the motives which moved
the naval commanders. Judge Advo-
cate Lemly leaves Washington to-mor-
row morning for a months vacation
along the st. Lawrence. During his
absence the judge advocate generals
once will get in touch with the wit
nesSes whose testimony is desired, so
t uIdt they will all be ready to appear
ed.
Oapt; Parker of Admiral Schley's
counsel o left Washington to-day, ex-
pecthg to return next week to COM
Plete his search of the records in the
Navy Department