Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-27
OFFICIAL ORDERS
Issued by Sec. Long for Schley
Court Of Inquiry.
Precept to Court Is Long and Covers
All Points in Dispute.
Capt. Sam. lemIey Appointed Judge Advocate
and Accepts Position.


Lemley, the law officer of the navy de-
Schley court of inquiry. Captain Lem
ley has accepted the detail
Up to noon, Secretary Long had not
Heard from Rear Admiral Kimberly
Who is reported to have sent letter to
him. explaining that the state of his
health will hardly permit him to act
as member of the court. Hope is
still expressed at the navy department
that the indisposition from which the
admiral is reported to be suffering will
be only temporary and he will be able
to serve.
The precept to the Schley court Of in
quiry which the navy department have
been preparing for several days was
given to the public, today. 1t is a
document addressed to Admiral Dewey
as president of the court instructing
him concerning the matters 10 be in
vestigated.
While it declares that the .'entire
matter" Of Admiral Schley's conduct
during the operations in West Indian
waters shall be investigated. making
use of the very words employed by Ad-
miral Schley in his letter to Secretary
Long, it also selects certain distinctive
acts OF the rear admiral concerning the
facts and propriety of which it calls
for particular investigation. These
points cover briefly Admiral Schley 5
alleged delay with the flying squadron
at Cienfuegos. the slowness of his pro-
gress towards Santiago after leaving
Cienfuegos, the retrograde movement
toward Key West. the effectiveness OF
the bombardmant of the Spanish fleet
at the ranges used in the recOnnois-
sance of May 81. the state of the coal
supply or various ships when he tele-
graphed the department that he would
return 10 Key West, the loop of the
Brooklyn at Santiago, the accuracy of
his reports and matters relating to the
controversy between him and Com
mander Hodgson over the alleged col
loquy which is said to have taken
place aboard the Brooklyn when the
loop was made during the naval en-
gagement off Santiago.
With the exception of the last two
counts the others practically sum up
the criticisms of Admiral Schleys con-
duct made by Secretary Long to the
Senate which the secretary character
zed as Schley's 'reprehensible con
duct"
one of the important points in the
precept is the direction to the court to
report in its conclusions all the per-
tinent facts which it may deem to be
established. together with its opinion
and recommendation in the premises.
The prccept in full follows:
| ITO Admiral George Dewey, u. $. N:
Washington. u. G.
Upon the request of Rear Admiral
Winfield Schley, L. s. ~. made in a
letter dated July -. 1901, copy here
with. a court of inquiry which you are
hereby appointed president. Rear Nd
n raj Lewis 4. Kimberly and Andrew
+. X Pcnham, l.. s. n. Members, and
capt. Samuel q. Lerniey. I. :. N,
jude advocate general, jndcH advo-
cate, is hci cby ordered To tcG.,ac ut
the navy departing Mt, Washington, -.
g.. at o'clock 7. NJ. on Thursday, the
18th day of September. 1901. or as soon
thereafter as may be practicable. for
he purpose Of inquiring into the con
duct of the said Schley. commodore in
the navy. during the recent war with
Spain. and in connection With the
events thereto
The court will thoroughly inquire IN
20 all the circumstances bearing upon
the subject of the investigation hereby
ordered, and to this end. besides exam
ming orally all proper witnesses where
attendance can be secured, VIII call
Upon the department for all document
airy evidence in relation thereto on its
files.
Upon the conclusion of the investi
cation the court will report its pro-
ceedings and the testimony taken. with
full and detailed statement of all the
pertinent facts which it may deem to
be esta bished. together with its opin-
ion and recommendation in the prem
Uses
While the department relies upon
tie discretion of the court to make
its examination into this matter full
and complete. as requested by the Of
ficer at whose instance it is convened,
the report should show the conclusions
reached upon certain important points,
to which attention is specifically di-
rected. as follows:
Hills conduct in connection with
the events of the Santiago campaign.
''2-The circumstances attending. the
reasons controlling and the propriety
of the movements of the flying squad
ron off Cienfuegos in May. 1898.
''3-The circumstances attending. the
reasons controlling and the prOpriety
of the movements of the said squadron
in proceeding from Cienfuegos to San
tiagO.
1.-THE circumstances attending the
arrival of the flying squadron off San
tiago. the reasons for it's retrograde
turn westward and departure from off
Santiago and the propriety thereof.
"5-The circumstances attending and
the reasons for the disobedience of
Commodore Schley of the orders of the
department contained in its dispatch
dated May %. 1898. and the propriety Of
his conduct in the premises.
"6-The condition of the coal supply
of the flying squadron on and about
May q. 1898: it's coaling facilities: the
necessity if any. for and ACCESSIBILITY
CONTINUED on page %