New-York tribune., 1901-07-25
TEXT OF THE LETTERS
RULES AND REGULATIONS wu,o--
GOVERN THE COURT
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TINE rRIsrxr

tsY TELEGRAPH THE rRIsUSEI
washington July 24--Secretary Long t,,
morning received d letter from Rear-Asr,i-sI
/ Schiey. requesting action by the Department, =
terminate the abusive attacks upon him b,
various publications Within an hour the ssr-
retary had sent an assurance to the adnira,
| who is Long Isl nd. of immediate cor,
rliance with his requ,s,. Admiral Schley.s la-.
ter is follows:
Great Neck. Long ISLAM " Y Jufv %
Sir: Within the last few DAYS a series =,
press comments have been sent TO me from va
| rious parts of the country of a book entitIsd
| The History of the Navy written nv or
Edgar Stanton Maclay- From these reviews II
appears that this edition is a third volume ~
/ the said history. extended to include the late
war with Spain, which the two first volumes
did not contain, and were in use textbooks
at the Naval Academy
| Second-From excerpts quoted in some r..
| views. in which the page and paragraph are
| given, there is such perversiOn of facts mis-
construction of intention. such internperate
| abuse and defamation of myself. which suh-
| jects Mr.. Maclay TO action in civil law. While
l admit the right of fair criticism of every pub
lie officer, I must protest against the low fings
and abusive language of this violent, partisan
| opponent, who has infused into the pages OF
his book much of the malice Of unfairness
to make il unworthy the name of history or
of use in any reputable institution Of the coun-
Third have refrained heretofore from all
comment upon the innuendoes of enemies NUT
tered or nurmured in secret, and therefore
| with safety to themselves I think the time
| has now come to take such action as may bring
| this entire matter under discussion under the
| clearer and calmer review Of my brothers in
arms and TO this end ask such action at the
hands of the department as IL NAV deem best
/ to accomplish this purpose
Fourth-8ut / would express the request in
this connection that whatever the action may
be that II occur in Washington. where most Of
nv papers and data stored. Very respect
fully, w > SCHLEY,
Rear-AdmiTal L. 5. "
To the Secretary of the Navy. Washington.
Secretary Long replied to Admiral schley as
| follows:
Navy Department, Washington. July a 1901
Sir: I am IN receipt of yours of the 22d
slant with reference to the criticisms upon you
in connection with the Spanish-American War,
aad heartily approve OF your action under the
circumstances. in asking at the hands OF this
department such action as may bring this en-
tire matter under discussion under the clearer
and calmer review OF my brothers in arms
The department will at once proceed N ae-
cordance with your request very TespecLIq.y'
(Signed) JOHN D. LONG.
Rear-AdmiraI W s schley. U. S. "
The Secretary replied to Admiral Schley with
out consultation with any one md without COM
mrnicating the latter's request TO the President
He then called into his Office Rear-Adnnral
Crowninshield and Captain Cowles. chief ard
assistant chief. respectively. OF the Bureau q
Navigation. and also Judge Advocate-General
Lemly who has charge OF formali'ies Of naval
courts. He also sent for Admiral DvNsy- Al
though Rear-AdniraI Sehiey cid not ask spe-
cifcany for a court of inquiry. but left the ac-
ton to be taken 10 the judgment OF the depart
vnent the Secretary decided that such court
would he the best means of making the investl-
gation which the Rear-Admiral had asked for.
and the three bureau officers were called IN lor
tre purpose of discussing the mode of procedure
rniral Dewey who had responded Immediately %
the Secretary's request for an interview. the
Secretary said that he had not had time 70 de-
eide upon the composition Of the court but IL
response 10 a question 10 whether Admira-
Dewey would serve upon such court il request
ed to do Sc the Secretary said: Admiral Dewey
will do his duty"
The information that Admiral Schley's letter
asking for a court OF inquiry had been received
by Secretary Long soon spread through tne
Navy Department. and not since the recent war
days has one theme excited such general atten-
tion.
An important feature in the order directing
the court is that specifying whether it shall
state only the facts found. or shall also give en-
opinion based on the facts Unless the order
expressly requires the court TO give their opin-
ion they are confined 10 stating the facts found
II is considered quite probable. however. that N
case of this Importance the order would direct
the court to record its opinion, cs well as Us
conclusion OF facts.
Whether the investigation shall be held ~
open court or not is decided by the court itsel
unless specified in the convening order. Ihis
leaves il optional with the President or Secre.
tary Long 10 direct that the proceedings shaH
be open or closed. but in case no specific dlrsc-
ton is given this point, the court VIII ue-
eide il.
When the court of inquiry reaches its decision
all the papers are forwarded to the Judge Ad-
vocate- General of the Navy and the nnal sp-
provaI or disapprOval rests with the Secretary
OF the Navy or the President. according 10
which one has ordered the court
Secretary Long, at the close OF office hours 70,
day said that the personnel of the court wouiu
be made known tomorrow, at which time aIsO
the precept converting the court probably VIII oe
issued. Meanw hile there is much speculation as
| TO the members of the court. other than Admlrai
Dewey The Secretary himself says there IS no
warrant for the announcement OF any particular
name as he still has the question under advise
ment He has been making inquiries durlns
the day as 10 the availability of certain cfeers
and IL is understood that some teleSraphic IN
ouiries have been made Of those absent from the
CITY TO see if there is any reason why they
should not serve.
The sessions of the court will be held IN the
large chamber formerly used as the !Iivale
Once OF the Secretary of the Navy. and now
tary and Assistant Secretary.
MIR. MACLAY'S COMMENT.
Edgar S Macay. author of the History OF the
Novv. remarked yesterday that Rear-Admiral