The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-24

tary requesting a court OF inquiry. will
specify these grounds OF criticism and that
Secretary Long will In turn. repeat them
in his orders assembling the court
IL is expected that as soon as Secretary
Long receives the request for court or
inquiry from Admiral Schley, he will name
its personnel and issue an order for its
assembling IL may be some time however,
before the court can get squarely down TO
be summoned and these officers are now
scattered over wide area.
Admiral Sampson. who will. next 10 Ad-
miral Schley, be the principal figure at the
inquiry, is stationed al the Boston navy
yard. The captains OF the vessels partici-
pating in the Santiago battle are at various
stations. Capt. Cook. OF the Brooklyn. is al
Annapolis; Capt. Clark, of the Oregon, is
at League island; Capt. Chadwick. of Ad-
miral SIMPSONS fia gship. the New York, is
at Newport; Captain, now Rear Admiral
Taylor, OF the Indiana, Is at the Brooklyn
navy yard; Captain, now Rear Admiral
Evans Is detailed as member of the
Dut is now on on a yachting trip. Capt.
Higginson. of the Massachusetts,, is COM
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright. OF the
Gloucester, is superintendent of the Naval
Academy at Annapolis; Lieut.. Sharp. of the
Vixen. is executive officer of the Hartford.
which is now off the coast of Sweden. Capt.
Phillip, Of the Texas, is dead.
OTHERS WHO MAY BE WITNESSES.
There are other officers who occupied SUBJ
ordinate positions, but whose testimony
will be important. who will have to be
summoned to Washington TO give evidence
before the court. Lieut.. Staunton, who was
SIMPSONS flag lieutenant, is now COM
manding the Yankton in Porto Rican wat
ers Lieutenant Commander Sears, who was
Schley's flag lieutenant, is at the hydro
graphic office in New York. Lieutenant
Wells, Schley's secretary, is on the Kear-
sarge, while Lieutenant Marsh, who was
the navigator Of the Brooklyn, is now at
Newport. OF the various executive officers
or the vessels, Lieutenant Commander
Seaton Schroeder who occupied that posi-
ton on the Massachusetts, is at Guam.
while Executive Officer Harber, of the
Texas. is naval attache at Paris and St.
Petersburg.
court of inquiry differs from court
martial, in that il has no power TO infict
sentence. 1t Is organized simply for the
purpose or investigating questions of fact,
but II has ample authority to make the in
Quiry complete and exhaustive. The naval
regulations says courts of inquiry shall
have power to summon witnesses, admins
ter oaths and punish contempts in the
same manner courts-martial; but they
shall only state facts and shall not give
their opinion unless expressly required so
TO do in the order for converting" Recent
congressional enactments conferred on
these courts ample authority to compel wit
nesses TO testify, including civilians
An important officer OF the court will be
the judge advocate and recorder, who in
terrogates the witnesses. Secretary Long
will undoubtedly take unusual care in the
selection Of this officer, who may be chosen
from the list of captains who participat ted
with Dewey in the Manila battle Under
the naval regulations Admiral Schley will
be allowed the attendance of counsel, who
will have the right to suggest questions to
the judge advocate. 1t is not known
whether Admiral Sampson will ask the
privilege OF being also represented by coun-
sci.
The sessions of the court undoubtedly will
be open. although its members have the
right 10 prevent this There is no appeal
from the decision Of the court as 10 the ex-
clusion or admission of testimony, ques-
tions arising as to the relevancy or pro-
priety OF which are invariably decided be-
hind closed doors.