The Washington times., 1901-07-20
TEXTBOOK TO Be BARRED.
Maclay's Naval History Not to Be
Used at Annapolis.
Secretary Long Says He Did Not See
the Whole Volume or the Chapter
SavageIy Attacking Rear Admiral

The third volume OF "Maclays History
of the United States Navy" in which
the savage attack is made upon Rear
Admiral Schley. is not to be used as a
text book in the Naval Academy at
Annapolis This decision has been reached
by Secretary Long. who did not read the
book until after his attention was called
to it by the reproduction of the attacks
in the newspapers.
The Secretary denies the truth of the
statement attributed to Maclay, in which
the latter declares that he submitted the
proofs of the work to the Secretary of the
Navy. Maclay, who is on the rolls of the
Navy Department as a laborer in the
Brooklyn Navy Yard, is quoted as saying
that he submitted to Secretary Long and
Rear Admiral Sampson the proof of his
book
Secretary Long stated yesterday that
he had seen but one chapter of Maclay' s
book prior to its publication and its
adoption as textbook at the Naval
Academy. That chapter he asserts was
on the subject of mobilization and con-
stitutes ten pages in Volume III 1t quotes
from Secretary Longs recommendation
to the effect that due credit should be
given to the bureau chiefs. This chapter
was read and approved by tine Secretary.
Other chapters touching upon different
subjects were read in proof by officers of
the navy in Washington, but so far as is
known none of them ever saw the COM
plete proofs of the work Secretary Long
declares emphatically that he did not see
the chapter in which Rear Admiral Schley
is attacked.
| He said yesterday that in response to a
| request from the publishers of the work
| he had written a letter, praising it partic-
ularly for the authors recognition of the
good work done by the younger officers
of the navy in the war and the incidental
| service Of officers who had not received
their due share of praise elsewhere for
their zeal and devotion to duty
Maclay is carried on the rolls of the
| navy as a laborer and as such receives
| compensation at the rate of s2.25 day.
He is not under the civil service rules. al
| Though his duties are all clerical. During
| his leisure hours he wrote the history of
| the navy which is now causing much COM
| ment because of its Incorporate language
| and the violent attack on Rear Admiral
| Schley. He was formerly employed as an
editorial writer on the New York Sun.
When Admiral Schley was Chairman of
| the Lighthouse Board he endeavored to
| obtain position for the Observation-Disclosures
| but failed, but Admiral Schley's successor
| When the attention OF Secretary Long
! was called last night to a letter to the
| President from Gem Felix Agnus, of Bal
| timore. charging that the appointment of
| Edgar Stanton Maclay at the Brooklyn
| Navy Yard was evidence of an official
conspiracy against Rear Admiral Sehley
he said: That is altogether too ridicu-
| lous to discuss.
He declined to say anything further on
! that point. but did consent to talk about
| his knowledge of Mr.. Maclay's appoint
ment, or rather transfer. from the Treas
ury Department, which he happened to
| remember, he said. because the author S
name had become familiar to him through
reading the earlier volumes of his naval
| history qu-- 4.
Il first learned of Mr.. Maclay's connec-
tion with the government service yeaI
\ ago." said Mr.. Long, when l received
an application from him through the
| Secretary of the Treasury for a transfer
! from the. lighthouse seryice.a which Is lun-
/ der the Treasury Department. to the
| Brooklyn Navy Yard i receive such ap-
! plications on an average of one each
| week. and as they are routine in charnc-
| ter they are usually granted. Approval
was given to Mr.. Maclay's request He
was given a position as special laborcI
at, / have been told. S2.24 u day. l re-
member his case becal Sc at the time
acted upon II l connected him with the
history of the American Navy. the two
4 volumes of which then in circulation
had read with much interest. The third
volume i read recently. but / only learned
two days ago that 1t was used as a text
book at the Naval Academy