Evening journal., 1901-07-24
SCHLEY DECIDES
TO TAKE ACTION
Wants Investigation by
Court Of Inquiry
SUIT AGAINST MACLAY NEXT
Hero Of The Battle Of Santiago Will
Request Judicial Research Of
His Conduct
SUIT AGAINST MACLAY NEXT

Washington, July 24.-The Washing
ton Post tclegraphed Admiral schley
that in an editorial It insisted that he
owed it to himself as well as TO his
friends to begin proceedings against
Mr.. Macley. the author of the History
of the United States Navy" to dis
prove the latter's charges, adding:
"Wll you do this? Please wire
statement"
Yesterday it received the following
telegram:
Great Neck, /. l., July %.
I believe the first step should be an
investigation OF all matter by court
then a civil action afterwards. l am
preparing to take this course.
w. S. sch,ey.
The Post, as a result Of extensive
Inquiries based upon the admiral's dis
patch, said in part this morning:
Admiral Schley proposes to ask an
investigation at the hands of a naval
court Of inquiry and then to sue His
torian Maclay for libel His action
is the sequel to the developments dur
ing the past week, when the entire
country has been stirred by the publi-
cation of the unexampled abuse poured
out upon him in the third volume of
Z. S. Maclay's History of the United
States Navy, in which publication
Schley is said to have run away in
caitiff fight and is, in addition, de-
nounced as a coward, a cur and trail
tor.
THE Schley court of inquiry will un-
doubtedly be one OF the most cele-
brated cases in the naval or military
history of the country. The high rank
of the officers involved in-the contro-
versy, and the intense public feeling
which has been aroused will combine
to give to the investigation a dra-
matte interest. Nothing has occurred
in Washington for many years that
will compare with It.
The appointment of the court of
inquiry is expected to be made by Sec
retary Long, though it would be in
the power of the president to make
the selections if he chose. This is
hardly likely to occur, however.
MI l4blH lAcAn dllGdn9 oAaNGu AhcI
II Admiral Schley requested a court
of inquiry he would grant the request.
and has also expressed his willing
ness to personally select the court.
While he has not made any state
ment as to its personnel. there is
every reason to believe that he favors
Admiral Dewey and Rear Admirals
Ramsey and Denham, the two latter
being now upon the retired list. The
name of Admiral Walker has been sug-
gested, but it is known that he has
expressed views upon the Sampson
Schley controversy in antagonism to
Schlcy, and his appointment would,
therefore, be seriously questioned"
Owing to tha fact that so many prob
able witnesses are at widely diffused
points, it is not likely that the court
will get to work for some time. Ad
miral Sampson. who will, next to Ad
miral Schley. be the principal figure
at the inquiry, is stationed a. the Bos
ton navy yard. The captains of the
vessels participating in the Santiago
battle are at various stations. Captain
Cook, of the Brooklyn. is at Annapolis
Captain Clark, of the Oregon, is al
League Island; Captain Chadwick, OF
Admiral SIMPSONS flagship. the New
York, is at Newport Captain. now
Rear Admiral. Taylor, of the Indiana
is at the Brooklyn navy yard; Cap
tain. now Rear Admiral. Evans, is de
tailed as a member of the board OF in
spection and survey in this city but
is now off on a yachting trip; Captain
Higginson, of the Massachusetts,. is
commander of the North Atlantic
Squadron; Lieutenant Commando
Wainwright, Of the Gloucester, is su
perintendent Of the Naval Academy a
Annapolis; Lieutenant Sharp. of thu
Vixen, is executive officer of the Hart
ford. which is now OFF the coast O
Sweden, and Captain Philip. of TIL