The suburban citizen., 1901-07-27
SCHLEY ASKS FOR
NAVAL INQUIRY.
The Admiral Will Follow These Pro.
ceedings by a Civil Action.
DEWEY TO BE PRESIDENT OF COURT.
Major Lauehheimer Likely to Be Judge
Advocate. Sehley's Letter Saying He Has
Rsfrainsd From "cOmmsut Upon The ln'
nueudOs Of Enemies, Muttsred or Mur.
INJURED 10 Secret"

Washington (SpeciaD Admiral
Schley will be given an opportunity to
defend himself before a board of navy
officers against the imputations which
have been put upon him since his great
victory off Santiago. Secretary Long
has granted his request for an exam
inatiOn into the matter which was con
veyed in a letter received at the Navy
Department. Admiral Dewey has been
selected as president of the board
though his selection has not yet been
officially announced and Secretary
Long saws that il will be his aim TO
secure for service on the board officers
whose finding must be accepted by the
country as impartial and untainted by
any personal feeling either toward
Schley or Sampson.
II is hoped that this action means
that Admiral Schley will have the full
est opportunity OF presenting all phases
OF his case and to refute the charge,
made by his enemies Admiral Schley
will unquestionably take the opportu
nifty OF bringing out evidence that ha:
not appeared in either the official docu-
ments or kilograms bearing on in.
cidents leading up to the Cienfuego
in the battle OF Santiago
Admiral Schey's Letter
Admiral Schleys letter to the Navy
Department was dated July p and
mailed on July 49, at P, NJ, reaching
the Secretary early this morning The
letter is as follows:
Great Neck, Long Island, N. Y
July p, 1901.
Sir: Within the past few days a Sc
ries OF press comments have been sent
to me from various parts OF the coun-
try OF book entitled The History OF
the Navy written by oRe Edgar Stan
ton Maclay From these reviews it
appears that this edition is a third vol
ume OF the said history, extended TO in
clude the late war with Spain, which
the two first volumes did not contain
and were in use as textbooks at the
Naval Academy.
?. From excerpts quoted in some re-
views, in which the page and paragraph
are given, there is such peryersion OF
facts, misconstruction of intention, such
intemperate abuse and defamation OF
myself which subjects Mr. Maclay to
action in civil law While | admit the
right OF fair criticism of every public
ofncer, | must protest against the low
fiings and abusive language OF this VIC
lent, partisan opponent, who has infus-
ed into the pages OF his book so much
OF the malice of unfairness as to make
it unworthy the name OF history or OF
use in any reputable institution OF the
country
8. / have refrained heretofore from
all comment upon the innucndoes OF
enemies muttered or murmured in Sc
cret, and therefore with safety to them
selves. ! think the time has now come
to take such action as may bring this
entire matter under discussion under
the clearer and calmer review OF my
brothers in arms, and to this end |
ask such action at the hands OF the
department as it may deem best to ac
complish this purpose.
a. But ! would express the request
in this connection that whatever action
may be, it occur in Washington, where
most OF my papers and data are stored.
Very respectfully,
w. S. SCHLEY,
Rear Admiral, u. S. N.
Tc the Secretary OF the Navy,
Washington d. C..
Reply of Secretary Long.
After conference with several officer.
in the department. Secretary Long re.
Piled as follows:
Navy Department Washington,
July "a, 1901
Sir / am in receipt of yours of the
22d instant, with reference to the crti-
cisms upon you in connection with the
Spanish-Amercan War, and heartily ap-
prove of your action, under the circum-
stances, in asking at the hands Of this
department such action as may bring
this entire matter under discussion TN