The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-01
JUST A HINT
That Young Schley Is Talking
Too Much.
Correspondence Between Admi-
raj and Secretary Long.

Washington, Aug.1--The war depart
ment has taken cognizance of the pub
lished interview of Captain Thomas F.
Schley regarding the court of inquiry
upon his father, Rear Admiral Schley.
It is understood that the department
informed the captain that such inter-
views are contrary to the army regula-
tions. 1t is not believed that a general
order directing army officers not to talk
for publication about such matters viii
be necessary.
The following are the letters that
have passed between Admiral 5cnley
and the navy department respecting
the precept:
Great Neck, N Y, July q, 1901.
Sir:-I have the honor to acknowI-
edge receipt of the departments COM
munication of July 26 inst, enclosing
copy of an order "convening. pursuant
to the request contained in my com
munication of 22d inst, q court OF in
quiry." Inasmuch as the court is di-
rected to investigate" and, after such
investigation, report "a full and detail
ed statement of all the pertinent facts
which it may deem to be established
together with it's opinion and recon-
mendation in the premises:"
/ would respectfully suggest to the
department that paragraph of the de-
ment's precept which is as follows viz:
Fifth. that the circumstances attend
ing and the reasons for the disobedi-
ence by Commodore Sch1ey of the or
ders of the department contained in it's
dispatch dated May 25, 1898, and the
propriety of his conduct in the premi-
ises," be modified so as to omit the de-
partment's expression of opinion and
thus leave the court free to express its
own opinion in that matter.
Vorv rpspecffIIllv
w S. SCHLEY, Rear Admiral.
Hon. John D. Long, Secretary of the
Navy.
Navy department, Washington, Aug.
/, 1901.
Sir: The department has received
your letter of the 9th u1timo, in which
You acknowledge the receipt Of a copy
of the order convening at your request
a court of inquiry to investigate your
conduct during the war with Spain and
suggest that paragraph of said order,
directing the court to inquire into "the
for the disobedience by Commodore
Schley of the orders of the depart
ment, etc, be so modified to omit
the departments expression of opinion
and thus leave the court free to express
its own opinion in that matter"
In reply you are advised that the pre-
cept calls for an inquiry by the court
and the ascertainment of pertinent
facts. For the purpose of setting on
foot this inquiry, the precept treats GER
tain matters as established as such, for
instance, as the arrival of the flying
squadron" off Cienfuegos and off San
tiago; the retrograde movement west
ward, the turn of the Brooklyn on July
3. 1893; and the fact that you disobey-
ed orders as reported by you in your
telegram dated Kingston, May IS. 1898,
in which you say; Much to be regret
ted. can not obey orders of the depart
ment."
Inasmuch, however as it is the de-
partment's purpose that the court shall
be absolutely free to report, if such
shall be found to be the case that you
did not wilfu1ly disobey the orders, or
that you were justified in disobeying
them and that this may be clearly un-
derstood your letter of the 27th ultimo.
with copy of this reply, will be duly
forwarded to the court.
Very respectfully,
F. w HACKETT
Acting Secretary.
Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schley u S.
N, Great Neck, N. Y.