The Penn's Grove record., 1901-07-26
SCHLEY COURT OF INQUIRY
Secretary Long Grants the Rear-Ad-
-4v miraPs Request.
ADMIRAL DEWEY WILL PRESIDE

Statements In Maclay's Naval History the
Ground of Rear-Admiral schIey's Ac.
t~ion-Court, Consisting of Three Mem.
bers, May Meet Early in September -
Points Investigation win Cover.
Washington. d. C.-Secretary Long
received Il letter from Rear-Admlral
Schley, calling attention to the critic
isms against him contained in Ma
clay's History OF the Navy" and the
inuendoes which have appeared in the
press for several days, and stating
that, in his opinion, the time had now
come to take such action as would
bring the entire matter under the
''clear and calm review OF his brothers
In arms" He asked that the Depart.
ment take such action as was deemed
best to accomplish this purpose
Although Rear-Admiral Schley did
not ask specifically for n court of in
quiry, but left the action TO be taken
to the judgment of the Department,
the Secretary decided that such a
court would be the best means of
making the investigation which the
R~ear-Adniral had requested.
After n conference with Admiral
Dewey, Secretary Long said that ne
had not had time to decide upon the
composition Of the court, but in re-
Spouse to a question as to whether
Admiral Dewey would serve upon such
a court, If requested to do so, the
Secretary said:
admiral Dewey will do his duty"
Although no positive declaration was
given on this point, it was assumed
about the Navy Department that Ad-
miral Dewey will be president of the
court, which win inquire into the
whole controversy concerning Admiral
Schley's action during the Spanish
War.
There also is an impression that the
two other members Of the our will
be retired naval officers, or at least
officers who had no connection with
the Santiago campaign.
The court Of inquiry probably will
moi proceed with Its work until fall.
Following is the text of the cores
pondence between Rear-Admiral Schley
and Secretary Long:
"Great Neck. Long Island, n. Y:
"Slr-Within the past few days a
series Of press comments have been
sent to me from various parts of the
country of a book entitled The His
tory of the Navy written by one
Edgar Stanton Maclay. From these
reviews it appears that this edition
is a third volume of the said history,
extended to include the late war with
Snasn x-ls1L a.. 4--z a,nA .-.lrrr,An
did not contain, and were in use rs
textbooks at the naval academy.
80. From excerpts quoted IN some
reviews, in which the page and para
graph are given. there is such per-
version Of facts, misconstruction of
intention, such Incorporate abuse and
defamation of myself as subject Mr..
Maclay to action in civil law.
"While | admit the right of fair
criticism of every public officer, 1 must
protest against the low filings AID
abusive language of this violent, parti-
san opponent, who has infused into
the pages of his book so much of the
malice of unfairness as 10 make it
unworthy the name of history or Of
use in any reputable institution of the
country.
49, | have RETAINED heretofore from
all comment upon the i%nuendoes of
enemies, muttered or murmured in
secret, and therefore with safety to
themselves. | think the time has now
come TO take such action as may bring
this entire matter under discussion
under the clearer and calmer review
of my brothers in arms, and to this
end l ask such action NJ the hands
IF the Department as it may deem
best to accomplish this purpose.
~. But | would express the re-
quest in this connection, whatever the
action may be, that it occur In Wash
ington, where most of my papers and
data are stored. Very respectfully,
w. S. SCHLEY,
"Rear-Admiral u. s. n.
ITO the Secretary of the Navy, Wash
ington, d. c."
Navy Department, Washington.
= "Sir-I an in receipt OF yours of the
22d inst, with reference to the criti-
cisms upon you in connection with the
Spanish American war, and heartily
approve of your action, under the cir
eumstances. in asking at the hands Of
this Department such action as may
bring this entire matter under discus
sion under the clearer and calmer re-
view OF my brothers in arms The
Deparement will at once proceed In
accordance with your request. Very
respectfully, JOHN d. LONG.
"Rear-Admiral w. S. Schley, U. S, N"
! With respect to the matters to be in
qulred into by the court of inquiry
the Post says that 1t might be difficult
to state briefly the exact questions
which will come before the court, but
that Admiral Schley condensed them
in a letter written to Senator Hale,
Chairman Of the Senate Committee on
Naval Affairs, on February Is, 1899.
This letter divides the criticisms of
himself into four heads, as follows:
First-The alleged delay OFF Cienfue.
gos, Cuba.
Second-The alleged slow progress
toward Santiago de Cuba from Glen
fuegos.
Third The %retrogradc movements
on May 2G and u. CFhis refers to the
turning Of the feet from Santiago to-
ward Key Vest.
Fourth-The battle of Santiago and
the destruction of Cervera's fleet.
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