The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-07-31
SE6k'NG JU UsTICE.
Rear Admiral schlsy Asks for An
investigation

aeoSiFeu AetteC IRON hosr admiral
Sehley calling attention to the criti.
eisms against him which are contsined
In Mac.sy history of the navy ard the
lnnuepdos which have appeared in the
the press for several days, and stating
that, In his opinion. the time had now
come TO iasc such action as would bring
the entire matter under the "clear and
calm review Of his brothers in arms. -"
He asked that the department take such
action AS WAS deemed best 20 accomplish
this purpose. he also requested that
whatever action bs taken should OCCUR
IN Washington where his papers and
dsts sre stored. The secretary i'm
mediately decided to comply with
Admiral Schley's request aud dictated
letter to tho rear admiral saying that
under he circumstances ne heartily
approved of his action and that the de-
partment would proceed at once in ac-
cOrdsnce with his request. =
THE ADMIRAL S LETTER
Admiral Schioy's letter is as follows:
Great \ ck, Long Island, N. Y, July
22nd, 1901.
Sir: Within the rast few days a sc.
ries of press com nents have been sent
to mo from various parts of the couu-
try of book entitled THE History Of
the Navy" written by one Ed gar Stan
ton MAclay. From these reviws it ap-
psars that this edition is a third volume
of the said history extended to include
the late war with Spain, which the
frat two volumes did not contsin, and
we're in uso as text books at the naval
academy.
z From excerpts quoted in some re-
views, in which the page aud para
graph are given, there is such perver
9ion of facts, misconstruotion of iuten.
ton, such incorporate abuse ard de-
famation of myslf, which subjects Mr..
Maclsy to action in civic law. While
admit the right of fair criticism of
every public officer, l must protest
sgsinst the low dings and abusive Ian.
guage OF this violent, partisan oppon.
eut, who has infused into the pages of
his book so much of the malice of un-
fairness as to make it unworthy the
name OF history, or of use in any
reputable insii ution of the country.
'3. l have refrained heretofore from
all comment uDon the innuendoes of
enemies muttered or murmured 10 Sc.
ccet and therefore with safety to them
selves. think the time has now come
to take such action as may bring this
entire matt under discussion under
the clearer aud oAlmer review of my
Srethets ip arms, and TO this end ak
@uca action at the hands of the depart
'pent, as it may deem best to accom-
blish this purpose.
"A Rut l would express the request
IN this connection that whataver the
hoIIon may be that it occur in Wash
tngton where most of my papers and
data are stored
Very respe fully,
: (S'gned) w. S. Sshley,
Rear Admiral U. S. n.
TO the Secretary of the Navy, Wash.
ingtop, ID G"
LONG s QUICK ASSENT.
Navy Dapartment, Washington, D. c.,
July "a 1901.
Sir: | am in receipt Of yours of the
Z2cd instant, with reference to the
CRITICISMS upon you in connection with
the Qanish-American war, and hear.
lily approve OF your action under the
circumstances in asking at the hands
of this department suoh action IS will
BRING this entire matter under discus
sion uuder tue clearer and c.lmer re-
view OF my bro hers in arms.
The department viii st once pro-
ceed in sccovdaucs with your request.
Very respectfully,
John ID. Long"
'Rear Admiral w. s. Schley, II. S. n"
ACTED WITHOUT CONSULTATION
Secretary Long acted without con-
sultstion with any one and without
communicating the requcs. of the ad.
mirsl to tie president He called into
his Office Rear Admiral Crowninshield
and Cspt. Cowles, chief aud assistant
chief, respectively, of the bureau of
navigation, and also Judge Advocate
General Lemly, who has charge of for
malIties of naval courts He also sent
for Admiral Dewey. Although Rear
Admiral Sohloy did not ask specially
for court of inquiry, but left the &C
tion to be taken 10 the judgment of the
department, the secretary decided that
such court would be tho best meaos
OF making the Investigation which tho
rear admiral had requested and tho
three bureau officers were cSlled in for
The purpose of discussing the mode of
procedure in such cases. After his
conference with Admiral Dswey, who
had responded Immediately to the
secretsry's request for an interview.
the secretary said that be had not had
time to decide upon the composition of
the court, but in response to ques-
tion as to whether Admiral Dewey
you'd serve upon suoh q court, if re.
quested to do SO, the secretary said {:
Admiral Dewey will do his duty. ."
Gen. Hampton Leaves.