The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-14


The inquiry was ordered last July by
Secretary Long. Admiral Dewey, Ad-
miral Benham and Admiral Ramsey
were detailed to serve on the court The
court was instructed to inquire into the
conduct of Admiral Schley during the
war with Spain and, more particularly,
in the language of the order:
l. His conduct in conneG ton with the
events of the Santiago campaign.
2. The circumstances attending the
reasons controlling, and the prolriety
of the movements of the flying squad
rom 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 Santi-
ago.
A. 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.
B. The circumstances attending and
the reasons for the disobedience by
Commodore Scnley of the orders of the
department contained in its dispatch
dated May 25. 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
a. 1898; its coaling facilities; the neces-
Sity, if any. fer. or adviSability of, the
return of the squadron to Key West
for coal; and the accuracy and pro-
priety of the official reports made by
Commodore Schley with respect to this
matter.
Z. Whether or not every effort in
cumbent upon the commanding officer
of a fleet under such circumstances was
made to capture or destroy the Spanish
cruiser Colon she lay at ancnor in
the entrance TO Santiago harbor May
21-31, inclusive, and the necessity for, or
advisability of, engaging the batteries at
the entrance to Santiago harbor, and
the Spanish vessels at anchor within the
entrance to said harbor, at the ranges
used and the prOpriety of Commodore
Schley's conduct in the premises.
s. The necessity if any, for, and ad =
visibility of, Withdrawing at night the
flying squadron from the entrance to
if such shall be found to have been the
case; the extent and character of such
withdrawal; and whether or not a close
adequate blockade of said harbor to
sells therefronn, was established; and the
propriety of Commodore SchIey's con-
duct in the premises.
9. The position of the BROOKLYN on the
morning of July 8, 1898, at the time of
the exit of the Spanish vessels from the
harbor of Santiago. The circumstances
attending, the reasons for and the Incl
dents resulting from the turning of the
Brooklyn in the direction in which she
turned at or about the beginning of the
action with said Spanish vessels, and
the possibility of thereby colliding with
or endangering any other of the vessels
of the United States fleet, and the pro-
priety of Commodore Schley's conduct
in the premises.
10. The circumstances leading to and
the incidents and results of a contro-
versy with Lieut. Albon c. Hodgson,
United States navy, who, on July 3,
1898. during the battle of Santiago, was
navigator of the Brooklyn in relation
TO the turning of the Brooklyn; also the
colloquy at that time between Commo-
dore Schley and Lieut.. Hodgson and the
ensuing correspondence between them
. thereof nd he r~fofx "
of the conduct of Admiral Schley IN
the premises.
Capt. S. c. Lernly was named as Judge
advocate of Ine inquiry, and Isador
Raynor, of MARYLAND, was the principal
counsel for Admiral Schley. The court
began its sessions September 12 1891 and
nearly all of The officers and many OF
the men engaged in the battle testified
Many of the witnesses were brought
from foreign stations at q considerable
expense both to the government and
Admiral Schley. During the inquiry at :
tempts were made by Admiral Schley's
counsel to attack Admiral SIMPSONS
conduct, but the court ruled out all ref
erences and refused to permit the ad-
miral to be represented. One of the
was that he had in his fla gship made a
turning movement or loop which was
unjustified under the circumstances and
endangered the other American ships.
Captain Clark. of the Brooklyn, said
that he had ordered the "loop," and Ad-
miral Schley justified it in his testi-
mony. The inquiry concluded Novem-
Der z. Since that date the inquiry court
has been preparing its decision in secret.