The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-12-21

Majority of Court Of Inquiry Finds
Rear Admiral sehley Guilty.
admiral nsweY. However. sustains sohls,s
Conduct ard Declares the NictofY 81
santiago HcionEs to Him nirerrnt
Findings 81 the rftsi Judges.

santiago bHknnEs ta hlm hiHNFThf
Findings 81 the rfisi Judges.
Washington. Dee. l4-Last night
Secretary Long was handed the ind
nes of the court of inquiry which
inquired into The conduct of Rear Id
ulral Schiey during Tho Santiago
campaign Instead ~ one report
there arc two. 10th nrc signed -
George Dewey president, aud hy
samuel G.. iemly. as Judge advocate.
! his Is form said Ia bc recognized
in an courts of inquiry. the sigma
lures OF the other members not be-
ing necessary Hut II Is explained
that Admiral Dewey signed the sec
ond report, a minority report. to ex-
press his qualification Of or dissent
from the views expressed by the
court. comprising. beside himself. ii
mirala Bcnham aud Ramsey. in tho
first report. II Is said at the navy de-
partmcnt that there will be no fur.
ther proceedings IN this celebrated
case ON the departments initiative
Secretary Long aud Judge Advocate
lemly positively decline TO discuss
the findings in any phase. Tho seere-
tary viii probably append his sigma
ture with the word Approved" Ia Tho
whole record. The court itself recon-.
menda no further proceedings, owing
10 the lapse of time.
Admirala nenham and Ramsey con-
eur in the ilrat report. which Is signed
hy Admiral Dewey as matter Of
form. Admiral Dewey makes "a sepa-
rate report, although he agrees with
the findings of faets subscribed to by
The others. Tho majority report con-
demns Admiral Sehley ON n points.
Whlo Admiral Dewey sustaina him
IN most particulars The majority
opinion finds In brief that Admiral
sehley should have proceeded with
the utmost dispatch to Cienfueeos
md maintained close blockade. thai
ho should have endcavorcd TO have
obtained information Of the Spanish
squadron there TINT he should hays
proceeded TO Santiago with diapatehl
that he should not have made the
retrogrndc movement: that he should
have obeyed the departments orders;
that he should have endcnvored 20
capture the Spanish vessels in snnti-
ngo. that hc did not do his utmost
TO destroy the Colon. that he caused
tho squadron to lose distance in the
loop OF the Brooklyn. that he there
by caused the Texas TO back that he
did injustice To 1Iodgson; that his
conduct In the campaign was charac-
lerzed by yacillaiion, dilntoriness and
lack of enterprises that his oilicinl re-
ports on the eoal supply were mis-
leading and inaccurate; that his con
| duet during the bnttle was self=poa-
sesscd and that he encouraged in his
own person his subordinate officers
| ami men
Admiral Dewey Ia his report says
that the passuge 10 CienfueRos was
made with oil dispatch; that in view
Of his coal supply the blockade Of
Cienfucgos WINS effective; that he al
lowed the Adnln 10 enter Cicnfuegos
to get information; that his passage
TO Santiago wns with az much dis
patch as possible, keeping the
squadron together; that the blockade
of Santiago was effective, and, finally.
that he was the senior officer of
Santiago, In absolute command and
entitled to the credit due for the
glorious victory which resulted in
the total destruction ~ the spanish
ships.
A representative of the Associated
press conveyed first information OF
the findings Of the court to Admiral
sehley lie wns seated in the public
reception room Of hotel chatting
with friends and several newspaper
men and eyinced no signs of nervous
ness over the outcome. When the
conclusions of Admiral Dewey were
read to him Admiral schley showed
bis pleasure, and it was evident from
his manner that he regarded the
statement from Admiral Dewey az
vindication of his cause.