Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1901-07-31
SCHLEY COURT OF INQUIRY
;ccretary Long Grants the Rear-ad-
mira''s Request.
ADMIRAL DEWEY WILL PRESIDE

statements In Maclay's Naval History the
Ground OF rscar-Ad,niral SchIev's Ac-
tion-Court. Consisting of Three Menu
bers, May Meet Early In Septeinbar -
Points Investigation VIII Cover.
Washington. ID. C.-Secretary I.on..
received Il letter from Admiral
Schiey, calling attention to the critic
isins against him contained in MAJ
clays History OF the Navy" and the
'nuendoes which have appeared in the
/ p:css Tor several days, and stating
that. In his opinion. the time had now
come TO take such action as would
bring the entire matter under the
clear and calm review of his brothers
i'll arms" He asked that the Depart
ment take such action as was deemed
best to accomplish this purpose
Although Rear Admiral Schley did
rot ask specifically for Il court OF in
curry. bat left the action to be taken
10 the Judgment of the Department..
the SECRETARY decided that such Il
court would be the best means of
making the investigation which the
Ncar-Adlhiral had requested
After u conference with Admiral
Dewey. Secretary Long said that nc
ha.i 70, had time to decide upon the
, co,ppos. tipn OF the courr, but in re-
Spnse TO question as to whether
Admiral Dewey would serve upon such
a court, if requested to 10 So the
Secretary said:
Admlrai Dewey Will do his duty"
Although no positive declaration was
given on this point, il was assumed
about the Navy Department that Al
miral Dewey will be president OF the
court. which will inquire into the
whole controversy concerning Admiral
Schiey's action during the Spanish
War.
There also is an impression that the
two other members of the court will
be retired naval officers, or ut least
officers who had no connection with
The Santiago campaign.
The court of inquiry probably viii
aot proceed with lis work until fall
Following is the text of ;he cores
iondence between Rcar-A lmiral Sch!c;
AID Secretary Long:
Great Neck. Long Island. y. Y:
"Sir-Within the past few days Il
series OF press comments have been
sent TO me from various parts CT tic
country OF n hook entitled The lis
tory OF the Navy. written by ore
Edgar Stanton Maclay. Prom these
reviews it appears that this edition
is Il third volume of the said history.
extended To include the late war with
spain. which the two first volumes
lid not contain. and were, in use IS
tcNi-books ut the naval academy.
-. From excerpts quoted in some
5cvicws. in which the pacd and para
graph are given, there IS such per
version OF facts. misconstruction of
attention. such incorporate Rbuse and
defamation OF myself as subject Ny.
MaciHv to action in civil LAW.
While 1 admit the right of fair
criticism of every public office. | muse
protest against the low Wigs y. q
abusive language of this viohnt. parfi-
san opponent. who has infused in;o
ihc pages OF his hook so mk,h OF the
malice of unfairneSs rs ID make it
! unworthy the name of hiSVoy or of
rsH in any reputable institutsin of the
country.
-. have refraincd heret Epfre from
MI comment upon the inuFnJ.0es OF
enemies. muttercd or murIhured i'm
secret. and therefore with safety 10
themselves. / thinl; the timh has nov.
"ome to take such action rs Inay brine
thiS entire matter under discussion
dnder the clearer and calm@r review
d my brothers in arms. and to this
end | ask such action at the hnnds
Of the Department rs 1t nbay deem
hcSt to accomplish this purpbse
"A But I would cxpresd the re-
quest in this connection. whatever the
lctlon may be. that it occur i'm Wash
lhCton. where most of my palpers and
data are stored. Very respectfully,
w s. SCHILEY.
"Rear-Admiral nj s. n.
To the Secretary o" the NAVY. Wash.
ington, ID. c."
Navy Department, Washington.
"Sir-I am 10 receipt of YOURS of the
I'D inst, with reference to the criti.
cisms upon you In connection with the
Spanish-American war, and heartily
approve of your action. under the cir
cumstances. IN ask ing at the hands OF
this Department such actionI as may
bring this entire matter undet discus
sion under the clearer and cmlmer re.
view of my brothers In arms The
Deparement will Mt once prbceed in
'ccordance with your request. Very
respectfully. JOHN ID. LONG.
"Rcar-Admiral w. s. Schley, II. s. n"
With respect to the matters to be in
i""cu mo ny me court or inquiry
'hc Fost says that 1t might be difficult
u" state breny the exact questions
which VIII come before the court. but
mat Admiral Schley condensed them
IN letter written to Senator Hale.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Naval Affairs. ON February IS. 1899
i his letter divides the CT t.c1l Us 'of
himself into four heads. as follows:
First-The alleged delay off Cienfue
goS. Cuba
Second-The alleged slow progress
toward Santiago de Cuba from Glen
fucgos.
Third - TIL. rctroeradc movements
on May 26 and %. CThis refers to tho
turning OF the feet from Santiago 10
ward Key WesO.