The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1901-07-27
WANTS AN INQUIRY.
REAR ADMIRAL 4scHLEY WILL
ASK INVESTIGATION 1Y ". Nj
NAVAL COURT.

High Rank Of OFFICERS Involved and
intense Public Feeling Gives It a
Dramatic lnterest-Admiral Dewey
and Rear Admirals Ramsey and
Renham Will Probably Conduct the
Proceedings.
Washington, July 24.-The Wash.
ington Post telegraphed Admiral
Schley that in an editorial 1t insisted
he owed it to himself as well as to his
friends to begin proceedings against
Mr.. MacLay, the author of the history
of the United States navy, to disprove
the latter's charge, adding:
"Wiu you do this? Please wire
statement"
It has received the following tele-
gram from Admiral Schley:
Il believe the first step should be
an investigation Of all matter by a
court, then a civil action afterwards.
am preparing to take this course" :"
The Post, as a result of extensive
Inquiries based upon the admiral's
dispatch, says in part: S
Admiral Schley proposes to ask an
investigation at the hands of a naval
court of inquiry and then to sue His
torian MacLay for libel. His action
Is the sequel to the developments dur
ing the past week, when the entire
country has been stirred. by the publi-
cation of the unexampled abuse
poured out upon him in the third vol
ume Of E. S. MacLay's history of the
United States navy, in which publica-
tion Schley is said to have run away
''in caitiff fright" and is, in addition,
denounced as a coward, cur and a
traitor. The Schley court of inquiry
will! undoubtedly be
One of the Most Celebrated 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 dramatic interest.
Nothing has occurred in Washington
for many years that will compare
with it.
Admiral Schley's letter asking for
the appointing of a court is addressed
to Secretary Long, his immediate SUI
perior officer. The ignoring of Secre-
tary Long would not only be breach
of etiquette, but at variance with the
secretary's careful observance of
punctillious procedure. The court,
therefore, will be named by Secretary
Long unless he prefer to refer the
matter, to the president. Secretary
Long has already stated that If Ad-
miral Schley requested an inquiry he
would appoint a court and has ex-
pressed his willingness to personally
select the court.
Although he has made no announce
ment in regard to the selection of the
court members there is reason to be.
lieve he will select Admiral Dewey,
Rear Admirals Ramsey and Benham,
the two latter being now upon the re.
tired list.
With respect to the matters to be
inquired into by the court of inquiry
The Post says that it might be li
cult to state briefly the exact ques-
tions which
Will Come Before the Court,
but that Admiral Schley condensed
them in letter written to Senator
Hale, chairman of the senate commit.
tee on naval affairs, Feb 1S, 1899
This letter divided the criticisms OF
himself into four heads as follows:
First-The alleged delay of Glen.
fuegos, Cuba.
Second-The alleged slow progress
towards Santiago de Cuba from Glen
fuegos. 4
Third-The retrogade movements
on the 26th and 9th of May (this re
fers to the returning Of the feet from
Santiago toward Key West).
Fourth The battle of Santiago and
the destruction Of Cervera's fleet.
It is to be expected, says The Post
that Admiral Schley in his letter to
the secretary requesting court of In.
quiry will specify these grounds OF
criticism and that Secretary Long
will, in turn, repeat them in his orders
assembling the court.
A court Of inquiry differs from q
courtmartial in that it has no power to
infiict sentence. It is organized
simply for the purpose of investigat
Ing questions Of fact, but it has ample
power to make the inquiry complete
and exhaustive. The sessions of the
court will undoubtedly be open.