Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-14

try came 10 ~ CloSc lolhyi HuNluB III
open and secret session lasted one
week short Of three months, when Secy,
Long was handed the findings
Of the court Of inquiry which inquired
into the conduct Of Rear-Admlral
schley during the Santiago campaign,
For seven weeks the court heard tes-
timony and for fully month II de-
liberated upon that mass of evidence,
finally reaching the conclusions am
nounced today.
A COMPLETE SURPRISE.
The result was a complete surprise,
and It is probable that no prophecy
has approached the truth. Instead OF
one report there are two. Both are
signed by George Dewey president,
and by Samuel c. Lemly as judge-ad-
vocate This is form said to be rec
ognized in all courts of inquiry, the
signatures Of the other members not
being necessary. But 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, besides himself Admlrals
Benham and Ramsay In the first re-
port.
NO FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.
It Is said at the navy department
that there viii be no further proceed
iugs In this celebrated case on the de-
partments initiative Secy, Long
and Judge Advocate Lemly positively
decline TO discuss the findings In any
phase. The secretary received the re-
ports at o'clock this evening, and he
has not yet acted upon them. It is
probable that he win simply append
his signature with the word "Ap-
proved to the whole record, TIC
court itself recommends no further
proceedings, owing to the lapse Of
time.
SCHLEY is INFORMED.
A representative of the Associated
Press conveyed the first information
OF the findings of the court to Admiral
Schley He was seated In the public
reception room OF a hotel chatting
men and evinced no signs Of nervous
ness over the outcome
When the conclusions Of Admiral
Dewey were read to him Admiral
Schley showed his pleasure and 1t was
evident from his manner that he re.
garded the statement from Admiral
Dewey as a vlndicaton of his cause,
He declined to make any statement
concerning the courts findings, and,
excusing himself from the little COM
pany, which had gathered about him,
went to his apartments, where Mrs
Schley had been anxiously awaiting to
hear the courts decision. Later the
official copy was brought to the hotel
by messenger from the navy depart
ment. The reports are as follows;
THE REPORTS
Court Of Inquiry, Mclean building,
1917 II street, N. W., Washington, d. G..
Dec. 49, 1901 The court having, by the
authority of the navy department occu
pied rooms Nos. Q and 10 Mclean build
ing, No. 1917 II street, ~ W., Wash
ington d. c., while celebrating upon
IT'S proceedings, and the members there
OF having assembled daily since Mon
day. November H. with the exception
OF Sunday and holidays and having
concluded the investigation, reports Its
proceedings and the testimony taken,
with full and detailed statement OF all
the pertinent facts which II deems TO
be established together with its opinion
and recommendation In the premises.
FACTS.
Facts-The flying squadron, consist
ing Of the Brooklyn, Massachusetts,,
Texas and Scorpion, under the COM
mand Of Commodore w s. Schley, Y.
s. ~. sailed from KEY West about q.
m. of MAY 49, 1885, with orders from the
navy department and from the COM
mander-in-chief Of the North Atlantic
station to proceed with dispatch (ut-
mosO of Cienfuegos to capture the en-
envy Off that port II possible, or to
blockade him, and to make the block
ade as close as possible.
The flying squadron arrived off Glen
fuegos on the morning Of May % and
established q blockade. During the
day the ships lay off the port at various
distances In no particular order. Al
night thev formed in column Of vessels,
headed offshore and moved at only suf-
flcient speed for keeping positions. The
small vessels performed picket duty in
shore Of the large ships.
OPINION OF MAJORITY,
Commodore Schley did not proceed
with utmost dispatch off Cienfuegos
and block that mort as close as possible.
At 10 a. m. May 20, the Dupont arrived
ct Cienfuegos with a dispatch from the
commander-in chief, dated Key West,
May 20 1898 which Informed Commo-
,1ore Schley Of the probability Of the
Spanish squadron being In Santiago de
Cuba. and ordered him 10 hold Glen
fuegos until the receipt Of more posi-
tive information,
At 1:SO u. m. May 49, the Iowa ar
rived at Cienfuegos and at Z p. m. Of
Che same date the Scorpion left Clenfue-
gos for Santiago.
At S;15 a. m. Of May o. Commodore
Fchley received nv tho dispatch vessel
Hawk the following dispatch and mem
orandums from the commander-in-
chief:
Dispatch No 81 date Key West Nav
2l.tS9S. which stated thot the Srani4h
squadron was probable at SANTIAGO any
ordered Commodore Schley n ho was
satisfied that the Spanish squrdron was
not az CienfucgOs TO proceed With an
dlsDatch but cautiously 10 SANTIAGO Do
Cuba. and II the enemy is there, block
ade him IN that port"
A memorandum dated off Havana.
May p, 1898 which directed Commo-
dore Schley 10 mask his movements in
leaving Cienfuegos
MCALLA'S LANDING PLACE.
A memorandum which stated that q
good landing ulece had been found by
Commander McCalla. thirteen and one
half niles west OF Savanlla Point that
the Cubans had perfect knowledge Of
what was going on within Cienfuegos,
that the Cuban forces In the San l""p
mountains controlled the railway be-
tween Cienfuegos and Trinidad; and
that there were fair roads from the
landing places 20 Cienfueg1s
At $50 a. m. May 90, the Castine ana
the collier Merrimac arrived at Cienfue-
Cos. Al noon on the same date the
British steamer Adula was permitted to
go into Cienfuegos
At Z a. No., May e. the Marblehead
and Eagle proceeded to the landing
place thirteen and one-half miles west
of savanlla Point communicated with
the insurgents, landed stores FOR them,