The Washington times., 1901-08-24
THE MISSING DISPATCHES.
Enquiries Instituted to Learn
Where the Documents May Be.

A Theory That They May Have Been
Taken Away by General Greedy
scbIey's Counsel Anxiousiy Wait
ing for the Recovery Of~the Papers
No trace was discovered yesterday OF
the missing dispatches OF the Signal
CORPS. and the officials of the War De
partment are not a little concerned re-
garding the matter. They are hoping
that General Greedy will be able to throw
some light upon the subject. Colonel
Sanger made certain enquiries yesterday
and after his investigation said that he
was not prepared TO make any statement
in regard TO the missing dispatches. par
ticularly the one from Colonel Allen ad-
visng General Greedy of the presence OF
Cerperas fleet in Santiago Harber. Col
onel Sanger called Major Scrivens, the
Acting Chief of the Signal Corps. into
consultation with him yesterday morning
and the two men talked over the matter
Major Scrivens was unable TO give the
Acting Secretary of War any information
in regard TO the despatch for which Cap
tain Parker has asked. Major Scrivens
is acting as chief of the corps in the alb
sence OF Colonel Dunwoody. who is away
upon a few days leave of absence.
The information to the effect that Ger
vera had taken refuge in Santiago was re-
ceived by Colonel Allen while he was at
Key West 1t came to him from one OF
the secret agents of the United States in
Havana, who had learned it from the ad-
vices which had been sent to the Governor
General of Cuba from Santiago. AS is
well known the cable connections be-
severed. although the cable was supposed
not to have been used during the war.
It is said, however, that the secret agent
of the United States. at an opportunc
moment. flashed across the water to Key
West the intelligence which he had learn
ed from the telegram from Santiago. an
nouncing the arrival of the Spanish feet.
Colonel Allen at once communicated this
fact to General Greedy. who. in turn,
advised the Navy Department. The news
Notwithstanding this positive assurance.
he delayed eleven days before starting
for Santiago to establish blockade.
Captsin Nesbitt. who was chief assist
ant to General Greedy during the Spanish
American war, and is supposed 20 have
some knowledge of the despatch, is at
present in Cuba.
Meanwhile counsel for Admiral Schley
are anxious to obtain the document for
their Information and guidance in pre-
pairing their case. A transcript of the
message would be practically yaiu eless TO
them as evidence. While what purports
to be a copy of the telegram in question
is contained in General Greelys annual
report for 1895 to the Secretary of War.
it is well known that such important des-
patches are not published verbatim. for
the reason that they come in code. and
if translated word for word would afford
a partial key to the cipher should the des-
patch as originally written ever be com
pared with il by anyone not entitled to
know the secret code.
The practice of making certain changes
in a published message is frequently re-
sorted to in both the Army and the Navy
Departments. and the reason for this Is
obvious. Again. there are often certain
omissions in such kilograms, so that for
purposes of evidence in court notnins but
the original despatch as received is re-
garded OF any material value. A tram
script would be of no use as long as the
original is in existence. and this original
the counsel for Admiral Sciiley have not
been able to secure.
1t is regarded as probable that The de-
partment will communicate with General
GreeIy, who is now in the Philippines.
and ask him to throw some light upon the
missing documents.
1t is said that officials Of the War De
partment have known for some time that
the dispatches were missing, but the fact
OF their disappearance was not made gen.
orally known until Captain Parker called
at the Signal Office Let Wednesday and
asked TO he shown the original messages.
Then he was informed that they could no-
be found il the archives Of the depart
ment
A new explanation of their possible
whereabouts was offered yesterday 1t
is said that General Greedy may have
considered that the original kilograms
were OF no further value and have taken
them to add TO his private collection for
the purpose of publishing them in a book.
which he intends 10 issue at some future
time. No one is willing to say that this
has been done. but IL is given as a sUg-
gestion as to their possible whereabouts.
Late yesterday afternoon il was stated
at the Navy Department that the letter
Admiral Schley is said to have written to
the Acting Secretary. Mr.. Hackett, con-
corning the Howison matter had not been
received.
Inc SldIuS OF the ocntty NdS-, III prep
aration for presentation to the Court 81
Enquiry. will remain IL is now tor al
most a week. Until next Monday IT Is IN
likely that any additional steps VIII be
taken in the matter SO far Admiral
Schley is concerned. His counsel feel
that they have about completed the pre-
lirninary steps before the Navy Depart
ment-
judge Wilson and Mr.. Rayner. counsel
for Admiral Schley. have left the city. AIR.
Rayner has returned 70 Baltimore while
Judge Wilson has gone North, and will
not return until Monday. 1t MS rumored
yesterday that Judge Wilson ONE time
ago contemplated visiting Boston for
conference with Francis A Frost. who
wrote the interview in the Boston Rec
ord In which Admiral HowisOn is report
ed as making statements which tend To
show that he is prejudiced in favor of
Rear Admiral Sampson. and that he had
gone to Boston in order to see Ny. Frost
and to make arrangements 10 have the
newspaper writer give testimony before
the Court of Enquiry. Whether Boston is
the destination OF Judge Wilson or not
could not be verified
CAPTAIN LEMLY'S RETURN.