The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-27
WILL NOT USE
MACLAY'S BOOK
No Place for Third Volume
at Naval Academy.
VIEWS OF OFFICIALS ON qHESUBJECT
Department Would Drop SohIey
Controversy Altogether = The
Changes in Text VIII Not
Save the Work.

"Maclay's History Of the United States
Navy, Volume III, viii not be adopted as
a text or reference book for use al the
annapolis Naval Academy Ttis is the
opinion Of naval officers, irrespective Of
their position and views upon the samp-
son-Schley controversy.
It is the prevailing impression that the
hook had been received at the Academy
for use in the naval course, and that was
one of the chief causes which led the
friends of Admiral schley to advise him
TO ask for a court of enquiry.
The first two volumes Of Maclay's his
tory have been in use at The Academy for
a number Of years. not as text books. but
as books Of reference, and it was the IL
tention of the author to submit the third
volume TO the Academic Eoard for ap-
provaI AID admission to the library and
cIassrooms of the Academy.
Beginning of the Controversy.
The first copies were reviewed by the
newspapers, the criticism of Admiral
schIey we're pointed out, and this led to
the request for an Investigation IF Ad-
niraI SchIey's conduct.
The matter Of the admission of the book
to the Naval Academy was brought to the
attention of Secretary Long, and he dis
covered upon investigation that Maelay's
history was included IN the curriculum
He Immediately wrote Commander Vain
wright. the Superintendent Of the Aead-
emy, upon the subject and learned that
the first two volumes were the only
ones used at the Academy and that the
third had not been received there.
MaeIay's Claim OF VfndIca ion.
While the conduct Of Admiral sehley
was under investigation Maelay stated
that he would amend his book in accord
ance with the findings OF the court. The
court did not find that Admiral SchIey
was a "caitin'' and a coward but Ma
clay has since stated in an interview that
] the verdict vindicated him and hrs book
Even if he should change the book in
so far as to modify his charges against
schIey. naval officers declare that it will
not be adopted for use at the Academy.
In the first place. it is stated that the
book contains a large number of mac
curaefes. both as to details and important
facts. Many of these not heretofore es-
tablished were brought out at the Court
of Enquiry, and are in direct contradic-
tion to the statements contained in Ma
clay's history
Would Not Be Good Policy
Again it is pointed out that it would not
be polite to adopt the book as an official
history, in view of all the trouble it has
! caused The department wants to drep
the Schley matter. and to sanction Ma
cIay's book would be but to stir the mat
te- up still more. This is the view taken
by a large number Of naval men. They
also say it would ae bad policy to adopt
the work Of nan who has been dis
| charged from the service by order of the
President.
The matter Of providing the curriculum
! for the Annapolis Academy is in the hands
/ of the Academic Board, with the approval
I of the superintendent, but the Secretary
Of the Navy has the right to reject any
book recommended by the board and the
/ Academy.