Evening star., 1901-07-30

Who Win Serve the schley Court Of Inquiry
the precept was mailed to the department
last night by his counsel. Captain James
Parker, a retired naval officer from New
Jersey. The letter has not been received up
to this time at the Navy Department, and
Admiral Schley's counsel declines to make
any statement as to the character of the
communication at this time.
Secretary Long will act personally upon
Admiral Kimberly's application, and 1t is
possible that he has with him on his way
to Boston the letter from Admiral Schley' 6
counsel.
No confirmation can be obtained here of
the report that Admiral Schley has raised
formal objection to the fifth specification
of the precept to the court of inquiry ap-
pointed to investigate his conduct before
charge Of disobedience. The officials of
the department take refuge behind the
ironclad order of the Secretary issued yes
terday prohibiting them from discussing
any phase OF the matter. The acting Sec
retary said. however, today that he had
seen no such letter.
Preparing Schley's Case.
Admiral Schley has already begun the
preparation Of his case. At his request
Capt. Parker his assistant counsel, today
made application to the department for
permission to examine the logs and official
records In connection with the movements
Of the ships the south side Of Cuba,
and this permission was granted. Mr..
Parker was given access to these docu-
ments and was examining them today.
Both Admiral Dewey, the president Of
the court, and Admiral Benham, a mem
ber, were at the department today The
latter has formally acknowledged the re-
ceipt Of the order OF Secretary Long de-
failing him on the court. There Is no ques-
tion of acceptance of such a detail, where
an officer is physically able to serve, and
Admfra! Benham expects to be present
when the court convenes September u.
Both he and Admiral Dewey will leave
shortly for q period Of rest in a cooler
climate to prepare themselves for the ar
duous work which is ahead of them.
To Replace Kimberly.
Now that Admiral Kimberly has asked
to be relieved from service on the SchIey
court, it will be necessary for the Secretary
Of the Navy to select some high ranking
officer on the retired list to take his place.
There is long list to select from, inc,lld-
ing Admirals Thos. o. Selfridge. jr.; s. B.
Luce, Jas. E. Jouett, Gherardi, Belknap.
Greer, Weaver, George Brown, j. G. Walk
er, F. NJ Ramsay, Erben and Howison.
The difficulty In selection from the list
OF retired rear admirals is that most OF
these officers are far advanced in years,
and as indicated in the case Of Admiral
Kimberly are not in q state of health to
warrant them in assuming the extremely
onerous duties of a court of inquiry, such
as this Is likely to be. There are all no
less than forty of these old admirals, and
share Of them are officers lately Of the
engineer branch. who would not be regard
ed as good judges in questions of pure
strategy. while many Of the others, taking
advantage of bureau service or the proyis-
ions of the personnel act, retired with an
added degree in rank and actually never
commanded a squadron and are thus DOS
sibly unified for membership in a court
which must pass upon the sound Judgment
of fleet commander.