The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-14
Admiral DeweNSays Sch Was Supreme Command the Battle Of Santiago ana
 Deserves All the Credit for the Glorious Victory
Benham and Ramsay Con demn the Maryland Man in Nearly Every Instance, but are Compelled to Pay Homage to His Bravery While the
 Battle Was
 Raging,

Washington, Dec. 13.-The most pro longed, interesting and important naval tribunal ever held in this country came to a close, after having in open and secret session lasted three months, short of one week, when Secretary Long at D. m, today received the findings Of the Court of Inquiry which inquired into the conduct of Rear Admiral Schley dur ing the Santiago campaign. The result was a complete surprise and it is proba- bly, that no prophecy has approached the truth. Instead of one report, there are two. Both are signed by George Dewey, the president of the court and by s. C.. Lemly, the Judge Advocate. This Is form said to be recognized in all courts of inquiry, the signatures of the other members not being necessary. But it is explained that Admiral Dewey signed the second report, a minority report, to express his qualification of or dissent from the views expressed by the court comprising beside himself Admiral Ben ham and Ramsay, in the first report LONG APPROVES
 COURTS FINDINGS.
 It Is said at the Navy Department that there will be no further proceedings in the case on the departments initiative. Secretary Long and Judge Advocate Lemly positively declire to discuss the findings in any way The Secretary probably will simply append his signature with the word Approved" to the whole record. The court itself recommends no further proceedings owing to the lapse of time.
 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 with friends and several newspaper men, and showed no signs of nervousness over the outcome.
 When the conclusions of Admiral Dewey were read to him, Admiral Schlcy showed his pleasure and 1t was evident from his manner that he regarded the statement from Admiral Dewey as ]. g.ndication of his cause. He declined to make any statement concerning the | courts findings and, excusing himself 1 from the little company which had gathered about him, he went to his apartments where Mrs. Schley had been anxiously awaiting to bear the courts | decision.
 Admiral Dewey declined to make any statement concerning the courts findings. | He said that the court was not dissolved and that he was still bound by his oath | of secrecy.
 The reports are as follows:
 THE REPORT OF THE
 INQUIRY BOARD. Court of Inquiry. Mclean Building. l5lf H Street, N. w.
 l Washington. D. C., Dec. 13. 1901.
 The court reports its proceedings, and | the testimony taken with full and de- | tailed statement of all the pertinent facts, which it deems to be established together with its opinion and recommendation in the premises. ILL., :. The flying squadron, consisting of the Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Texas and | Scorpion, under the command of Com modore w. S. Schley, U, S. N, sailed from Key West about a. m., on May 1e, 1898, with orders from the Navy De- partment and from the commander-in- chief of the North Atlantic station tu proceed with dispatch (utmosD of Cien- fuegos to capture the enemy off that port. if possible, or to blockade him, and to make the blockade as close as possi- ble. The flying squadron arrived of | Cienfuegos on the morning of May 2 | and established a blockade. During the day the ships lay off the port at various distances, in no particular order. Al night they formed in column of vessels headed off shore and moved at only sui ficient speed for keeping positions. The small vessels performed picket duty in shore from the large ships,
 Commodore Schley did notIproceed with utmost dispatch off Cienfuegos and blockade that port as close as possible ORDERED TO AWAIT
 MORE INFORMATION
 At 10 o'clock a. m, May % the Dupont arrived at Cienfuegos with dispatch from the commander n-chief dated key West May 20, 1898. which informed Com modore Schley Of the probability of the Spanish squadron being Tn Santiago de Cuba, and ordered him to hold CienfuegOs until the receipt of more positive infor- nation.
 At 1:3O p. m, May 9, the Iowa arrived | nf | tI1a date the Scorpion left Cienfuegos for Santiago.
 At s:15 a. m of May 9 Commodore 1, schley received by the dispatch vesse Hawk the following dispatch and memo, .arda from the commander in-chief: ., ,N,. Q, ra+ad Rev, West Ma,