The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-07-26
Of discussing the mode Of procedure

Oh QlScuSSIU& the mOuc Oh pfOcceQuEc
in such
Speaking of his conference with Adj
miral Dewey who responded imme-
diately to the s~ecretary's request for
an interview, the secretary said that
he had not had time to decide upon
the composition of the court, but in
response to a question as to whether
Admiral Dewey will serve upon such
a court, If requested to do SO, the Sec
rotary said: admiral Dewey will do
his duty"
Although no positive declaration
has been given on this point, it is as.
sumed about the navy department
that Admiral Dewey will be president
Of the naval court which will inquire
into the whole controversy concern
ing Admiral Schley's action during
the Spanish war. There a'D is an
impression that the two other men,
bers of the court will be retired naval
officers or at least officers who had no
connection with the Santiago CAM
paign.
The selection of retired officers will
have a double advantage. Not only
will they be free from any prejudice
growing out of active connection with
the department, but they will have no
fear Of future consequences arising
from their course while members of
the board.
The court of inquiry probably will
not proceed with it's work until fall.
Secretary Long said today that it
would be unfair to ask a court Of in
quiry to V in Washington dur
ing the present extremely hot weather
for the prosecution Of an inquiry
which promises to be quite protract-
ed.
SECRETARY Long at the close Of office
hours today said that the personel of
the court would be made known to-
morrow at which time also the precept
| converting the court probably will be
issued. Meanwhile there io much
speculation as to the members Of the
court other than Admiral Dewey. The
secretary himself says there is no
warrant for the announcement of any
| particular names as he still has the
question under advisement. He has
been making inquiries during the day
as to the advisiility of certain officers
and it is understood that some tele-
graphic inquiries have been made of
those absent from the city to see i
there is any reason why they should
not serve. The sessions of the court
will be held in the large chamber form
erly used as the private Office Of the
secretary of the navy and now uset
as an ante-room to the Offices Of sec
rotary and assistant secretary.
Admiral Schley's letter is as fol-
lows:
"Great Neck, L. l., New York, July
%. 1901-Sir: Within the past few
days a series of press comments have
been tent to me from various parts
of the country on a book entitled His.
tory of Navy written by one Edgar
Stanton MacLay. From these reviews
it appears that this edition Is the
third volume of the said history TX
tended to include the late war with
| Spain, which the two first volumes
did not contain and which were in
use as text book at the naval academy.
From excerpts quoted in some re-
views, in which page and paragraph
are given, such Incorporate abuse and
defamation of myself as would sub
ject Mr.. MacLay to action in civil law.
While l admit the right to a fair
criticism Of every public officer, l
must protest against the low filings
and abusive language of this partisan
opponent who has infused into the
pages of his book so much of the NAL
ice of unfairness as to make it un-
worthy the name of history or of use
in any reputable institution Of the
country.
81 have refrained heretofore from
all comment upon the inuendoes Of
enemies, mutterede or murmured in
secret and therefore, with safety to
themselves, I think the time has now
come to take such action as may
bring the entire matter under discus
sion under the clearer and calm re-
view of my brothers in arms, and to
this end I ask such action at the
hands Of the department as it may
deem best, to accomplish this pur-
pose.
"But l would expressly request in
this connection that whatever action
49, go, - 49, s- Ty--l -A~n