The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-31
sGHLEY WILL DEMAND
AG0URT OF ENQUIRY.
It viii Make or Mar His Reputation.
Dewey, Ramsey and Banham Men
toned as Likely TO Constitute
the Court.

Washington, July 23.-The Wash
ington Post last night telegraphed Ad-
miral Schley that in an editorial it
insisted that he owed it to himself as
well as to his friends to begin pro-
ceeidngs against Mr.. Maclay, the au-
thor OF the history of the United
States, to disprove the latter's
charges, adding:
will you do this? Please wire
statement. -
Today it received the following tele-
gram:
Great Neck, L. l., July %.
Editor Washington Post.
I believe the first step should be an
investigation of all matter by a court,
then civil action afterward. l am
preparing to take this course.
". S. Schley.
The Post in the morning, as result
of extensive inquiries based upon the
admiral's dispatch, will say in part:
Admiral Schley proposes to ask an
investigation at the hands of naval
court of inquiry and then to sue His
torian Maclay for libel.
ssHis action is the sequel to the
Developments during the past week,
when the entire country has been
stirred by the publication Of the unex-
ampled abuse poured out upon him in
the third volume of E. S. Maclay's
history of the United States navy IN
which publication Schley is said to
have run away In caitif fight, and
is. in addition denounced as coward :
cur and a traitor.
"The Schley court of inquiry will
undoubtedly be one of the most cele-
brated cases in the naval or military
history of the country. The high
rank of the officers involved in the
controversy and the intense public
feeling which has been aroused will
combine to give to the Investigation a
dramatic interest. Nothing has occur
red in Washington for many years
that will compare with 1t.
1.-The appointment of the court Of
inquiry is expected TO be made by Sec
retary Long, though it would be in
the power for the president TO make
the Selections if he choose. This is
hardly likely to occur, however. Ad-
miral Schley's letter asking for the
appointment of the court will be ad-
dressed to Secretary Long. who is his
immediate chief. To address the COM
munication to the president, ignoring
Secretary Long, would not only be a
breach Of naval etiquette. but would
be totally at variance with Schley's
careful observance of punctilious pro-
cedure. The court, therefore, will be
named by Secretary Long unless he
shall prefer to refer the matter to the
president
Mr.. Long has already stated that
if Admiral Schley requested court of
inquiry he would grant the request,
and has also expressed his willingness
to personally select the court. While
he has not made any statement as to
its personnel, there is every reason to
believe that he favors Admiral Dewey
and Rear Admirals Ramsey and Ben
ham, the two latter being now upon
the retired list. The name of Admi-
raj Walker has been suggested. but 1t
is known that he has expressed views
upon the Sampson-Schley controversy
in antgonism to Schley and his ap-
pointment, therefore. would be seri-
ously questioned. It is said that
Ramsey, Dewey and Benham have al
ways avoided giving an opinion OF the
merits Of the controversy. All these
officers are residents of Washington
although temporarily out Of the city
to escape the summer heat and could
be quickly summoned to their places
around the table of the court.
"Three names are mentioned be-
cause that number is specified in the
naval regulations for courts of inquiry.
There is a possibility that Admiral
Dewey might be asked to be excused,
as he would have a right to do. but
it is also morally certain that in this
event he would be specifically detailed
by the secretary for service on the
board. This would make his attend
ance imperative. Secretary Long has
from the moment that court of in
ouiry was suggested, favored the ap-
poinment Of Admiral Dewey. believing
that his appointment would give the
highest character to the court, and
that any decision shat it might reach
would be accepted by the American
people. Admiral Ramsey was for
eight years at the head Of the bureau
of navigation.
with respect to the matters to be
INQUIRED into by the court of inquiry,
The Post will say that it might be
difficult to state briefly, the exact
ouestions which will come before the
court, but that Admiral Schley con-
densed them in letter written to
Senator Hale, chairman OF the senate
committee on naval affairs. Feb. Is,
1899. This letter divided the criti-
cisms of himself into four heads as fol-