Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-07-25
SCnlEY WILL ASK
AN INVESTIGATION
Court Of Inquiry to Probe Charge.
in Regard to His Con-
duct.
DEWEY MAY TAKE PART IN IT
Rear Admirnls' Benham and Ramsey sug-
gcsted as tho Other Members of
tho Court-To Sue sxnclny
for Libel.

Washington, July 25.-The Washing
ton Post yesterday telegraphed Adj
natral Schley that in an editorial 1t in
sisted that he owed it to himself, as
wen as to his friends, to begin pro-
ceedings against Mr.. Maclay, the au-
thor of the history of the United States
navy to disprove the latter's charge,
adding:
will you do thise Please wire
statement
,rhe Post received the following tele-
cram yesterday.
Great Neck, l.. L., July 23.--Editor
Washington Post: believe the first
step should be investigation of all
matters by a court, then a civil action
afterwards. i ann preparing to take
this course. w. S. Schley.'
The Post, as ~ result of extensive in
quiries, based OF, the admiral's dis
patch will say in part:
Admiral Schley proposes to ask an
investigation at the hands of naval
court of inquiry, and then to sue His
torian Maclay for libel.
His action is the sequel to the deyel
opments during the past week, when
the entire country has been stirred by
the publication of the unexampled
abuse poured out upon him in the third
volume of f. S. Maclay's History of the
United States Navy, IN which publica-
ton Schley is said to have run away
''in caitiff flight, and is, in addition,
denounced as Il coward, a cur and
traitor.
The Schley court of inquiry will un-
doubtedly be one of the most celebrat-
ed cases in the naval OF military his
tory of the country. The high rank OF
the officers involved i'm the controversy
and the intense public feeling which
has been aroused will combine to give
to the Investigation Il dramatic inter
est
Nothing has occurred in Washing
ton for many years that will compare
with it,
The appointment OF the court of in
q,jry is expected to be made by Secre-
tary Long, though it would be in the
power of the president to make the
selection if he choose. This is hardly
likely to occur, however.
Admiral schley's letter asking for
the appointment of the court will be
addressed to Secretary Long, who is
his immediate chief. To address the
communication to the president, ignor-
ing Secretary Long. would not only be
breach of naval etiquette, but would
be totally at Variance with Schley's
careful observance of punctilius pro-
cedure. The court, therefore, will be
nainsd by Secretary Long unless he
shall prefer to refer the matter to the
president.
Mr.. Long has arendy stated that If
Admiral Schley requested a court Of
inquiry he would grant the request.
and has also expressed his Willingness
personally select the court.
While he has not made any state
! ment as to its personnel, there is every
reason to believe that he favors Adj
miral Dewey and Rear Admirals Ram
say and Benham, the two latter being
now upon the retired list. The name
of Admiral Walker has been suggest
ed but 4, is known that he has ex-
pressed views upon the Sampson
SnhleY controversy in antagonism to
SchleH, and his appointment would
therefore be seriously questioned. 1t is
said that Dewey, ramsay and Benham
have always carefully avoided giving
an opinion as to the merits of the con-
| troNersy.
Three names are mentioned because
that number is specified in the naval
regulations for courts of inquiry. There
Is possibility that Admiral Dewey
might ask to be excused as he would
| have right to DO bat it is also moral
ly certain that in this event he would
| be specifically detailed by the secre
tary for service on the board. This
would make his attendance Imperative
| Admiral Ramsay was for eight years
| Mt the head of the bureau of naviga ton.
\ Admiral Benf1a1n came into promi
hence in 1894 during the brief revolu-
| ton against President Fonseca, of
| Brazil.
| With respect to the matters TO be in
| CURED into by the court of inquiry the.
Post will say that it might be difficult
| to state briefly the exact questions
which will conc ee'ere the court, but
| that Admiral Schey condensed them in
q letter written to Senator Hale, chair
| man of the senate committee ON naval
affairs, February 1S, 1899. This letter
divided the criticisms of himself into
four heads, as follows:
/. The alleged delay off Cienfuegos,
Cuba.
.. The alleged slow progress toward
| Santiago de Cuba from Cienfuegos
| 3. The retrograde movements on the
Goth and 9th of May. (This refers to
| the turning of the fleet from Santiago
| toward Key West)
| 4. The battle of Santiago and the de-
| struction of Cervera's fleet.
| 1t is to be expected. says the Post
that Admiral Schley, in his letter to the
secretary requesting a court of inquiry.
| Will specify these grounds of criticism
and that Secretary Long will in turn
repeat them in his orders assembling
| the court
New York. July 24.-The Herald will
| say tomorrow.
Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley
is staying in the village of Great Neck
| l.. L.. with his son-in-law, r.. NJ. S.
4 Wortley. The admiral drove from Elm
| Point, Where the Wortey cottage is
| situated, to the Great Neck postofiice
| Tuesday afternoon and mailed letter
| which was addressed to John ~. Long
secretary of the navy. at Washington,
| ID. G. There is no doubt that Secretary
Long, when he opens it, will find re-
| quest for a formal and official inquiry
When Admiral Schley was pressed tic
1 make some statement of his position
| he wrote the following sentences:
| II really think that as the matter is
| liable to take the form of judicial
| investigation, | ought not to be subject
to interview.
] II think action is preferable to words,
| and ] have decided to act More than
| this. i ought not To be expected to say.
but | will add that it is a very great
1 pity that there should be controversy
over matters where everybody did hi.
l best
| Brick Works Destroyed.
Golden, Colo, July 23-rhe entire
l o..