The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-09-05
HOWIS0N UNC0YERS
EvasiveIy Denies Interview Dis:
paraging Admiral Schley.
HE IS UPHELD BY DEPARTMENT
Personal Letter Is Sent to Assistant"
Hackett-Attorneys For Schley
Not Satisfied and Will
Challenge.

A Washinton special says: Rear
Admiral Howison is to remain 4 men,
her Of the schley court Of inquiry, not
withstanding the alleged interview
with him printed in The Boston Rec
ord.
Though the navy department refused
to comply with Rear Admiral Schleys
request that Rear Admiral HoWlson
should be asked whether the inter-
view was correct, that officer evidently
thought that the publication of the in
terview made it incumbent upon him
to write a Letter of explanation to the
navy department. He accordingly
wrote an unofficial letter to Acting
Secretary Hackett.
In effect this letter denies The Bos'
ton Record interview, but does SO by
inference, rather than explicitly. Rear
Admiral Howison admits that he has
discussed with acquaintances the "un'
fortunate disputes so widely comment
ed on"
AS is indicated by Acting Secretary
Hackett's reply to Rear Admiral How
ison, the navy department is entlrely
satisfied with his course and consld-
ers him qualified to sit as member
of the court of inquiry.
The correspondence was sent to Ad-
miral Schley, who discussed l. with
his counsel. Later in the day the fol-
lowing announcement was made:
Admiral Schley's counsel is entire
" dissatisfied with the position OF Ad-
miral Howison, as disclosed in his let
ter to Acting Secretary Hackett."
Has Forgotten the Interview.
In his communication to the de-
partment, Howison says in part:
81 have no recollection OF the gen.
tleman representing The Boston Rec
ord, and 1 do not approve OF his pub
lie statement as mine.
81 cannot say that I have not dis
cussed with acquaintances matters
published in the newspapers relating
to our navy's success, as well as the
unfortunate dispute 30 widely CON-
mented on.
while feel highly honored by the
departments selection Of myself for
this duty, it is anything but pleas
ant task to sit in judgment on broth
er officers.
However, the honor Of the selec-
ton nor the unpleasantness OF court
duties do not enter into the reasons
for my now writing to say to you, per-
sonally, three things: viz:
First. To reassure you that am
not responsible for and did not give
out such an interview as is alleged in
the dispatches from Boston and as
stated in the newspapers to have been
mentioned by Admiral Schley in a re-
cent letter to the department.
Second. If, however, the depart
ment feels that the cause Of the navy
and of justice will be better served
by relieving me fro mduty on the
court, am entirely ready to withdraw
voluntarily, or to have the department
relieve me upon its own initiative.
Third. If, on the other hand, the
department, knowing all the circum-
stances, desires that l should perform
the duty, I am entirely ready to per-
form it, and can, upon my conscience
and oath, do my duty as member OF
the court without partiality, as the
law requires. Yours sincerely and
respectfully, H. L. HOWISON,
Rear Admiral, U. S. N"
Hackett's Reply to Howison.
Rear Admiral: Your personal let
ter of the oath deserves an immediate
reply.
"You say substantially that there is
no foundation for the statements at
tributed to you as having been set
forth in an interview afterwards pub
lished in The Boston Record, and late
ly made the subject of communica-
ton from Rear Admiral Schley to the
department. You evidently have read
the correspondence between the admi-
raj and the department as published
last week in the newspapers.
''The department, let me assure you,
has no purpose Of relieving you off,
cially Of this duty. 1t has implicit con-
fidence in your sense Of justice and
fair-mindedness.
SHOULD the counsel for Rear Admi-
raj Schley proceed to offer to the court
objection to you, it will be for the
court itself to decide the question OF
your competency to sit as member.
What you have said only confirms
me in the belief that the department
has been fortunate in selecting you as
the third member of the court.
Kindly accept the assurance OF my
personal esteem and believe me yours
truly. FRANK w. HAOKETT."
ranneeeee VaiIey's First Bale,