The age-herald., 1901-07-25
NH Examine Into Entire Mat ter of the AdmiraPs Course
 at Santiago
DEWEY WILL BE ON THE BOARD
Historian MacIay Is Pleased at the Matter Being Taken Up, and Says schley Can Bring Suit After
 the investigation is Over.

Washington, July A-Secreary Long. fn accordance with a request from Ad- lniral schley, today advised that officer that he would order court of inquiry to exzm,ne into the entire matter of Ad- miral Schley's course in the Santiago naval campaign. Later the secretary an nouaced that owing to the extremely hot weather the court would not meet until September. and that he would turn over his reception room to the court.
 Twill the sessions of the court be open?"
 "Unquestionably. I propose to make that fact very plain. It would be great mistake to have secret court. The pub lie has the right to know all that trans pires in the way of testimony offered. propose to name the personnel of the court tomorrow, and this will give the judge-advocate and recorder ample time to prepare list of witnesses who are to be summoned. This list will be necessari- ly quite lengthy. and it will take some iittl- time to assemble the officers here. do not believe that the sessions of the court will be prolonged because after all a great deal of the talk over the Santiago campaign is like the genirs vaper, which can be condensed into a small bottle.
 '.Sin Admiral Schley be allowed to name witnesses?''
 Admiral Sehley.' was the reply, will be afforded every opportunity for the ap- pearance of all the witnesses he may de- sire. He is also entitled, under the naval regulations, to be represented by coun- seL''
 While Secretary Long was not asked whether the court of inquiry would be asked to form and submit an opinion up- on the facts disclosed by the investigation it is considered quite probable that this eourse will be pursued. Unless the order convening the court expressly requires this opinion to be expressed, its report must be confined to stating the facts found.
 Upon receipt of Admiral Schley's letter the secretary immediately decided to comply with the adnirars request, and dictated letter to Rear Admiral Schley, saying that under the circumstances he heartily approved of his action, and that the department would proceed at once in accordance with his request.
 The secretary took this action without consulting any one and without com
 
 Schley to the President He then called into his office Rear Admiral Crownin- shield and Captain Cowles, chief and as- sistant chief respectively of the bureau of navigation, and also Judge Advocate General Lemley. who has charge of form alities of naval courts. He also sent for Admiral Dewey.
 Although Rear Admiral Schley did not ask specifically for a court of inquiry, but left the action to be taken to the judgment of the department, the secre- tary decided that such court would be the best means of making the investiga- tion which the rear admiral requested and the three bureau officers were called for the purpose of discussing the mode of proseissSe i,l such cases.
 A7ss~ his conference with Admiral Dewey, who had responded immediately to tn5 secretary's request, the secretary said ,e nsd time to decide upon the compo sTssn of the court. but in response to oa:ssrion as to whether Admiral Dewey 1ould servo upon such a court if reocesa:d to do so. the secretary said: Admiral Dewey will do his duty.''
 Dewey at It's Head.
 Although no positivs declaration has been given on this point it is assumed about the navy department that Admiral Dewey will be president of the court winch will inquire into the whole contro- versy concerning Admiral Schley's action during the Spanish war.
 There Is also an impression that two other members or the court will be re- tired naval officers or at least officers who had no connection with the Santia- % campaign. The selection of retired officers would have double advantage. Not only would they be free from any prejudice growing out of their active connection with the department but they would have no fear of future conse- Quences arising from their course while members of tho board
 The court of inquiry probably will not proceed with It's work until fall Secre- cary Long said today that 1t would be unfair to ask court of inquiry to con- vene In Washington during the present extremely hot weather in the prosecution of an inquiry which promised to be qute protracted.
 SchIey's Letter
 Admira. Schley's letter is as follows: ''Great N'j Long Island, New York, July 22, 1901
 .iSir-Wp-,., the past few days a se- rtes of press comments have been sent to me from various parts of the country of book entitled, The History of the Navy written by one Edgar Stanton Maclay. Froim these reviews 1t appears that this edition is third volume of said history extended to include the late war with Spain. which the two first volumes did not contain and were in use as text books at the Naval Academy.
 "Second-From excerpts quoted in some reviews, in which the page and para graph are given, there is such perver- sion of fact, misconstruction of intention, such intsmperate abuse and defamation of myself which subjects MT. Maclay to action in civil laws. While I admit the right of fair criticism of every public of- ficer. I must protest against the low Hfnea and aftyafve lane1IaRe of this vio- lent, partisan opponent, who has infused into the pages of his book so much of the malice of unfairness as to make it unworthy of the name of history or of use in any reputable institution of the country.
 'sThird-I have refrained heretofore from all comment upon the innuendoes of en- : nr in