Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-12-28
President is Determined That it
Shall Be Put Down.
THE SCHLEY CASE AT AN END
Administration Win Not Allow il to be Re-
opened in Any Event Condemned Rear
Admiral win Consult With Counsel
and Friends Before Taking
Any Further Steps.

Washington. Dec, 23-The admin
istration regards the Schley case as
finally closed President Roosevelt
is determined that it shall not be re-
opened. If an appeal should be made
TO him on behalf of Admiral Schley,
he will, it is understood. dispose of
it promptly by expressing approval of
the action of the Navy Department.
The final CHAPTERS. so far as the gov
eminent is concerned. we're written
on Saturday, when Secretary of the
Navy Long endorsed the findings of
the majority of the court of inquiry,
and, by direction of the President.
sked for the resignation of Edgar
Stanton Maclay of his position in the
BrooKly Navy Yard, and when Secre-
tary of War Root, sharply censured
Lieut.. Gen. Miles for his comment
upon the naval controversy. A re-
port that, concurrently with the ac-
Brown an d BelkEap had been called
up for explanation of their recent
comments commendatory of Admiral
DeweY's attitude could not be verified
yos 5erday.
sehIey's Future Course Undecided.
Rear Admiral SchIey will go to
New York today for the Christians
holidays and later Will make a trip
South in fulfillment of promises Civ
en- some time ago Enroute to New
York he will probably stop in Balti-
more for conference with his chief
counsel Hon. Isidor Rayner as to flu
ture proceedings, if any. The Admiral
declined yesterday to make any state
mont. Whether he will institute
criminal action against Maclay, who
libelled him so grossly in his alleged
naval history. and sue the publishers
for damages doubtless will depend
upon the advice of his friends and
counsel His claim IN libel proceed
ings is regarded as having been ma
terially strengthened by the removal
OF Maclay from his position, obvious
ly for his defamation of Schl ev,
although out of consideration for
others identified with the alleged hi
tory, no reason was assigned III the
request for Maclays resignation. Per-
sonally, however, Admiral Schley has
all along been averse to taking anv
action against Maclay. He believed
his proper course was to seek vindi-
cation at the hands of his brother
in arms, and he had implicit faith
that Justice would be forth coming.
AS the case now stands he has been
condemned by the Navy Department
but upheld by the highest officers in
both the navy and army, and thus
the case may be allowed to rest.
The Navy Portfolio
In spite of Secretary Longs explic-
it statement on Saturday night
that ne had no intention of resign
ing, the belief prevails that he will
not retain the Navy portfolio any
length of time 1t can be stated mp
ON good authority, however that no
significance attached to the giving
out of the request for the Maclay res
lgnation, through Secretary Root,
and that no discourtesy to Secretary
Long was intended. Secretary Root
was made the medium of communica-
ting the matter to the country, simply
because he happened to be at the White
House when it was finally acted upon.
Admiral Dewey Undisturbed.
Admiral Dewey continues to OBJ
serve the rule of not discussing the
Schley case for publication. A friend
who is acquainted with his views,
said last night that the hero of Ma
nilla had rather expected the depart
men to disapprove his action in rem
derlng an opinion on the question Of
command during the battle of Santi-
ago. The Admiral looks upon the
approval by Secretary Long of the
tailue of the majority OF the court to
submit finding upon the question
of command as a quasicensure, but
he is not at all disturbed over it. The
friends who discussed the Admiral 8
action in connection with the Schley
case gave this statement of the Adj
miral' s position. which may be ac-
cepted as practically authoritative
"The Admial regrets as sincerely
as any other officer of the navy or any
other citizen OF the country that a
controversy should have risen out If
the late war. During the recent in
vestigation if the court of which he
was pesident he refused to permit the
entrance of Rear Admiral Sampson 8
counsel because he believed it was
Unnecessary. Seeking solution which
would end the controversy, he deter