Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-07-27

and has also expressed his willingness
to personally select the court. While
he has not made any statement as 10
its personnel, there is every reason 70
believe that he favors Admiral Dewey
and Rear Admiral Ramsay and Ben
ham the two latter being now upon
the retired list. The name of Adj
miral Walker has been suggested but
it is known that he has expressed
views upon the Sampson Schley con-
troveisy in antagoinsm to Schley
and his appointment would, therefore
be seriously questioned.
Three names are mentioned because
that numer is specified in the naval
regulations for court of inquiry.
There is possibility that Admiral
Dewey might ask to be excused.
Admiral Ramsey was for eight
years at the head of the bureau of
navigation.
inence in 1894 during the brief revolu-
.tion against President Fonseca OF
Brazel. The Brazilian navy, under
Admirais Mello and Da Cana had re-
volted and Da CANA, IN command of
the Brazilian ships in the harbor of
Rio de Janeiro, had declared a
blockade. A 4mirai Benham was in
the harbor with on American fleet,
consisting of the New York, Charles
ton, Detroit, Newark and San Fran
cisco All the European naval COM
manders had quietly submitted to Da
Gama's offensive orders the German
commander even failing TO resent the
deliberate firing upon the German
flag. But Admiral Benham sent word
to Da Cana that the American flag
must be respected and that any mer-
chairman flying the stars and stripes
would land when and where the cap
tain pleased. The Brazilian admiral
defled the American.
Thereupon Benham notified him
that American ships would be convey
ed into the harbor and then he order
ed his fleet cleared for action. That
ended the controversy and thereafter
every American ship entered the har-
Dor at will.
SCHLEY ASKS INQUIRY.
Washington, ID. O. July 25.-When
Secretary Long found in his mail
a letter from Rear Admiral Schley,
asking for Court of Inquiry, he sum-
moned to a conference with him
Judge Advocate General Lemly, Adj
miral Crowninshield and Captain
Coles, assistant chief of the Bureau of
Navigation and also sent for Admiral
Dewey, at the lattsr's country home, ),
near this city. The Admiral was
prompt in responding and when his
presence was announced the confer
ence was dissolved, and the Secretary
was soon closeted with the Admiral
of the navy.
SCHLEY'S LETTER OF REQUEST
In his letter to the Secretary Adj
miral Schley does not specify any of
the criticism to which he takes ex-
ception,. The text of the letter fol-
lows:
Great Neck. l.. l. N. Y, July %,
1901 Sir: Within the past few days
series of press comments have been
sent to me from various parts OF the
country of book entitled The His
tory of the Navy. written by one Ed
gar Stanton Maclay.. From these re-
views appears that this edition is
third volume of the said history ex-
tended 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
2.-From excerpts quoted in some
reviews, in which the page and para
graph are given, there is such perver-
sion of facts, misconstruction of IN
tention, such Incorporate abuse an
defamation of myself which subjects
Mr.. Maclay TO action In civil law.
While admit the right of fair criti-
cism of every public officer, ! must
protest against the low filings and
abusive language of this violent,
partisan opponent, who has infused
into the pages of his book so much
of the malice OF unfairness as to
make it unworthy the name of his
tory or of use in any republic institu-
tion of the country.
81 have refrained heretofore from
all comment upon the influences of
enemies muttered or in secret and
therefore with safety to themselves.
/ 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 ia arms and to this end / ask
such action at the hands of the de-
partment as it may deem best to &C