The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-31
TPersonal.l
mo. y Ashburton Avenue.
uVonkars ~ Y. Aug. ~

spondence follows:
PERSONAL
No. 70 Ashburton Avenue,
"Yonkers, y. Y, Aug. "A.
Dear Sir-I have just returned TO my
home after a short visit TO saratoga ana
AXE George. Owing TO my detail as a
membe of the court of inquiry ordered 10
Jneet on Sept. II next L find that man"
newspapers are giving me credit Tor nav
ing served my country in the United States
navy FOR nearly half a century with honor.
/ see also that L am thought TO be oDJec-
tionable as a member of this court OF IN
quiry, 1t being stated that l pupnely eX-
pressed opinions on the conduct of the bat
tie of Santiago while serving as cominan-
dant at the Boston navy yard shortly after
the result OF that engagement was known.
II believe the service knows. as / do, that
l do not attempt TO make public speeches.
write for magazines or papers or make
jects. 1t has been impossible for me 10
avoid the visits and questions of repre-
sentatives of newspapers while serving at
important stations and at times when the
navy has been so busily employed. At
Mare island during my long service there.
particularly during the great railroad
strike, the papers contained many state
ments said TO have been obtained in my
office. Most, if not all, OF these reports
were harmless, readable articles on the
operations of the several naval detach-
ments serving for the preservation of law
and order. During my two years service
at the Boston station there was seldom "A
day passed without receiving visits from
the representatives of the several Boston
papers, and during the Spanish-American
war the navy yard there was seldom with
out newspaper reporters. | found them
to be polite and gentlemanly at all times.
and whatever or news | could
reasonably impart L gave them. l have
often interpreted to a number of them the
laws and regulations for the navy by at
tempting to answer their numerous ques-
tons relating to the duties and response
bilities of the several grades of officers
throughout a feet of vessels from the
commander-in-chief to the lowest rate
among the crew.
when the news of our navy's success at
Manila and again at Santiago reached Bos-
ton the people there were not behind the
rest of the United States in giving honor
and praise to the navy and to the COM
manders-in-chief of the fleets, The enthu-
sIasm of the population in praise and honor
for the officers and men engaged at San
tiago lasted for some time, until later. when
the troubles commenced as to where the
credit and honors should go for the sue
cess of this engagement 1t is no news to
the navy to say that where all do their duty
the first honorS for success 90 to the officer
in chief m Censure for failure also
belongs to him. This newspaper cutting in
question contains "A statement in which IL
is said that | made a comparison between
Schley and Sampson unfavorable to Schley.
THE word respected, as used by the re-
porter, is seldom or never employed by
navy men in comparing the qualities pos
sessed by officers. and [ am sure | could
never have said this as he reports, nor said
that Schley had the reputation of being
nervous and hot-headed in the Naval Acad-
envy. one may say an officer stands high in
his class. If true; another may stand higher
in scientific attainments, while another be
distinguished for eminent diplomatic and
social qualities, while all under discussion
are of good standing and proficient in their
necessary professional calling.
Il have no recollection Of the gentleman
representing the Boston Record, and | do
not approve of his public statement as mine.
L cannot say that l have not discussed with
acquaintance matters published in the
newspapers relating to our navy's success,
ne xn-a11 ms tho I'm y frrn n 4 N rt.f 60 wsl~
ly commented Oh. There are few or no per-
sons in the navy or i'm our country who
have not daily discussed these newspaper
articles.
From the newspapers it appears that
Admiral Schley has strong doubts as to my
fitness to fairly judge this case with Ad-
mirals Dewey and Benham. AS Ii is a case
of grave Importance to those concerned and
to the country, | am DESTROYS of giving my
little help to clear away the troubles. The
duties of members of cOurts-martial and
courts of inquiry are not sought or desired
by officers. While l feel highly honored by
the departments selection of myself for
this duty, ii is anything but a pleasant task
to sit I'm judgment on brother officers. How
ever, the honor of the selection nor the I'M
pleasantness of court duties do not enter
into the reasons for my now writing IN saw
to you. personally, three things. namely:
"First-To reassure you that | am not re-
sponsible fer and did not give out such an
interview as is alleged in the dispatches
from Boston and as stated in the news
papers to have been mentioned by Admiral
Schley in a recent letter 10 the depart
ment.
'Second-If, however, the department
feels that the cause of the navy, and of
justice. will be better served by relieving
me from duty on the court, 1 am entirely
ready TO withdraw voluntarily or to have
the department relieve me upon it's own
initiative.
''Third-If. on the other hand. the de-
partment, knowing all the circumstances.
desires that | should perform the duty.
am entirely ready TO perform IT. and can,
on my conscience ana oath. do my duty
as a member of the court without PARTIAL
ity. as the law requires. Yours sincerely
and respectfully,
III. l.. HOWISON.
Rear Admiral, United States Navy
Hon. Frank w. Hackett, Washington,
ID. c.