The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-26
DEWEY WILL HEAD BOARD Sept. 12 is Set For Its Assembling. BENHAM AND KIMBERLY SamueE Lemley Will Be the
 5. ige Advocate. comman, '. '. Pillsbury Had Been
 Decide rpon, But Secretary Lo Reconsidered the Matter.
BENHAM AND KIMBERLY

Lcng announced today that the Board of Inquiry which is to investigate the controversial points in connection with Admiral Schley's conduct during the Spanish war will be composed of Ad- miral Dewey, President of the court. and Rear Admirals Lewis Kimberly and Andrew E. K. Benham.
 The court will meet in the Navy De- rartment. Washington, September l2. The Judge Advocate of the court has not yet been selected and the precept to the court which is being prepared by Captain Lsmiey. Judge Advocate General, has not yet been completed.
 The scope of the inquiry will not be known until the precept and order for the converting of the court are Issued. It is expected they will be promulgated by the department tomorrow. Secre- tsry Long says. however, the proceed tngs of the court will be open and that the widest latitude will be permitted in the matter of witnesses and that Rear Admiral Schley will be allowed to be represented by counsel.
 The Secretary had nothing to say about the composition of the court ex- cept that 1t spoke for itself and to hope that the members would be satisfacto- ry to all concerned He pointed out that none of the officers chosen had. so far as he knew, expressed an on4nfion con- corning what is known as xaie Samp- son-Schley controversy and, it was therefore to be presumed ehat they would enter upon their wor0 in an im- partial spirit.
 The members of the court are dis tinctively fighting men. Each has been connected with celehsated events in naval affairs. Of Admiral Dewey. the hero of the battle of Manila bay, it is unnecessary to speak. His record is familiar to aii -~-- @'ssSsa'' '.4s'i s'-r~e
 His associates. Rear-Admirai Kim berly and Rear-Admiral Benham, are both retired officers. The former was retired in 1892 and the latter in 1894 Admiral Kimberley is 71 years or age and Admiral Benham 69 years. Each saw oyer forty-five years of active ser vice. Both had fine records during the civil war.
 The great event with which Admiral kimberley's name is associated is the destruction of the American feet in the harbor of Apia. Samoa, during A terrific hurricane which occlrrc there In 1889. Admiral Kimberley had been sent to Samoa at the head of an Amer ican squadron during the trying period or our negotiations with Germany there and he conducted himself before the storm with marked dignity and ability. When the hurricane occurred his entire squadron was wrecked. Tho Vandalia and Trenton were completely destroyed and the Nipsic was cast ashore.
 The story of that great disaster and the heroism displayed by the Ameri- can officers and men under the direc- 0f A whole world and made an impression never to be forgotten.
 Admiral Benham played a dramatic part at Rio De Janeiro during the great naval revolution in 1894, the particu- lars of which were recounted in these dispatches a few days ago.
 Secretary Long decided on Comman- der John E. Pilisbury for Judge Advo- cate. and then changed his mind, re- calling that as commander of the dyna- mite cruiser Vesuvius, he had served under Sampson off Santiago. and as equipment officer of the Boston Navy Yard was now again a subordinate of the same admiral. Later Secretary Long selected Capt. Samuel C. LemIey who, it is thought. will accept the as- signment.
 In all the time he has been at the head of the legal department of the navy. his service, dating back to 1892, he never has had occasion to pass upon any question that involved either Sampson or Schley in any personal as- pect.
 He was one of Schley's personal friends when he Gemley) was in ac- tive line service. He accompanied Schley on the famous Greedy relief ex- petition and he rendered valuable ser vices to him on that occasion, which service the senior officer recognized. On the other hand. Captain Lemley has known Sampson officially in the Navy Department, when the Admiral was at the head of the Ordnance Blu reau. and they thus were thrown into close contract in a business point of view for several years. Captain Lem ley was Judge Advocate of the Jean ette court of inquiry
 The precept to the court probably will be issued tomorrow. It promises to be a rather extended statement of the scope of the inquiry. Whether it will direct the court to return an opin- ion or simply to ascertain the facts, Secretary Long thus far declines to state. Secretary Long was disappoint- ed to learn that Rear Admiral Kim NerlY-weuld ask to be relieved on ac- J6unt of III health. If he declines Read Admirals Luce. Ramsay, Jouett, Gherardi or Walker may be named to take his place