Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-07-25
A COURT OF INQUIRY.
Admiral Sehley to Ask for q Ma.
val Investigation.
WASHINGTON POST ON The NATTER.


6 so"t WY =" AAS Vooh-
ington Post telegraphed Admiral
Schley that in an editorial it insisted
that he owed it to himself as well as
to his friends to bagin proceedings
against Mr.. Maclay, the author Of the
History Of the United States Navy,
to disprove the latter's charge, add
ing: "Will you do this? Please
wire statement" Yesterday it re-
ceived the following telegram from
Admiral Schley, dated Great Neck,
L. l., July 30: II believe the first
step should be investigation of all
matter by a court, then civil ac-
ton afterwards. am preparing to
take this course"
The Post this morning, as a result
of extensive inquiries heard upon the
admiral's dispatch, says in part: Ad-
miral Schley proposes to ask an in
testigation 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 pub
LEGATION of the uneXampled abuse
poured out upon him in the third
volume of f. s. Maclay's History of
the United States Navy, in which pub
LEGATION Schley is said to have run
away "in caitiff fight" and is, in ad-
dition, denounced as u coward, a cur
and 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 investiga-
ton dramatic interest. Nothing
has occurred in Washington for many
years that will compare with it. The
appointment of the court of inquiry
is expected to be made by Secretary
Long, though it would be in the
power Of the president to make the
selections If he chose. This is hardly
likely to occur, however.
Mr.. Long has already stated that If
Admiral Schley requested court OF
inquiry he would grant the request,
and has also expressed his willing
ness to personally select the court.
While he has not made any statement
as to its personnel. there is every
reason to believe that he favors Ad-
miral Dewey and Rear Admirals Ram
say and Benham. the two latter being
now upon the retired list. The name
of Admiral Walker has been sug-
gested, but it is known that he has
expressed his views upon the Samp-
son-Schley controversy in antagonism
TO Schley. and his appointment would,
therefore, be seriously questioned.
II is said that Dewey, Ramsay or Ben
ham have always carefully avoided
giving an opinion as to the merits of
the controversy
With respect to the matters to be
inquired into by the court of inquiry
the Post says that it might be difficult
to state briefly the exact questions
which will come before the court,
but that Admiral Schley condensed
them in a letter written to Senator
Hale, chairman of the senate COM
mittee on naval affairs, February is,
1890. This letter divided the criti-
cisms of himself into four heads, as
follows: First, the alleged delay off
Cienfuegos, Cuba; second, the alleged
slow progress toward Santiago de
Cuba from Cienfuegos; third, the ret
rograde movements on the Goth and
9th of May (this refers to the turn
ing Of the feet from Santiago toward
Key West); fourth, the battle of San
tiago and the destruction of Cervera's
fleet