The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-02
BAT TIE OF
ADMIRAL
Feud Leads to
Court.
SCHLEY DEMANDS
INVESTIGATION
AdmiraIs Dewey. Benham and
Kimberley viii Sit in Judgment
on SchIey's Course.

MI SHINGToN. July 24.-secre-
" tary Long, in accordance with
request from Admiral Schley.
today advised that officer that he would
'oider court of inquiry to examine into
the entire matter of Admiral Schley's
course in the Santiago naval cam
paign. Later the Secretary announced
that, owing to the extremely hot wealth
er, the court would not meet until Sep
TENDER, and that he would turn over
his reception room to the court
Admiral Schley's letter is as follows:
GREAT NECK, L. l., N Y, July %,
19e1.-Sir: Within the past few days
series of press comments have been
sent to me from various parts of the
country of a book entitled 1.-THE His
tory of the Navy written by one Ed
gar Stanton sMaclay. From these re-
views it appears that this edition is a
third volume of the said history eX-
tended to include the late war with
Spain, which the two first volumes did
not contain, and were in use as text
books at the Naval Academy.
Second-From excerpts quoted in
some reviews, in which the page and
paragraph are given, there is such
perversion of facts, misconstruction of
intention, such Incorporate abuse and
defamation of myself which subjects
Mr.. Maclay to action in civil law. While
l admit the right of fair criticism of
every public officer, I must protest
against the low filings and abusive lam
guage of this violent, partisan oppo-
nent, who has infused into the pages
1r<xl- - Ito ~
unfairnesS as to make 1t unworthy the
name of history or Of use IN any rep
utable institution of the country.
Third have refrained heretofore
from all comment upon the innuendoes
of enemies muttered or murmured in
secret. and, therefore, with safety to
themselves. / think the time has now
come to take such action as may bring
this entire matter under discussion I'M
der the clearer and calmer review of
my brothers in arms, and to this end 1
ask such action at the hands of the
department as it may deem best to
accomplish this purpose.
Fourth--But I would express the re-
quest in this connection that whatever
the action may be that it occur in
Washington, where most Of my papers
and data are stored Very respectfully,
w. S. SCHLEY,
Rear Admiral, U. S. N.
To the Secretary of the Navy. Wash
ington, d. G.
Secretary Long replied to Admiral
Schley as follows:
NAVY DEPARTMENT. Washington,
d. c., July "a, 1901.-Sir: / am in re-
ceipt of yours of the 22d instant, with
reference to the criticisms OF you In
connection with the Spanish American
war, and heartily approve of your ac-
ton, under the circumstances, in ask
ing at the hands of this department
such action as may bring this entire
matter under discussion under the
clearer and calmer review OF my proth-
ers in arms" The department will at
once proceed In accordance with your
request. Very respectfully, ,oNc
Rear Admiral w. S. Schley, U. S. N
MEMBERS OF THE COURT.
WASHINGTON, July 25.-The Board
of Inquiry which is to investigate the
controversial points in Admiral Schleys
conduct during the Spanish war will De
composed of Admiral Dewey, president
of the court, and Rear Admirals Louis
A. Kimberley and Andrew K. Benham.
The court will meet at the Navy De-
partment in Washington September
18th. Secretary Long announced these
facts today. The precept to the court,
which is being prepared by Captain
Lemly, the Judge Advocate General,
has not vet been completed. The scope
of the inquiry will not be known until
the precept and order for the conven-
ing of the court are issued. 1t is SAID
that they will be promulgated by the
Department tomorrow Secretary Long
snvs. however, that the proceedings Oh
The court will be open and that the
widest latitude will be permitted In the
matter of witnesses, and that Rear Ao-
miral Schley will be allowed to De rep
resented by counsel. The Secretary had
nothing to say about the composition
nf the court except that he thought IL
smoke for itself and to express the
hone that the members chosen weulo
be satisfactory to all concerned. ne
pointed out that none OF the oIncers
chosen had. so far as he knew, eA-
pressed an opinion concerning what 10
known as the Sampson-Schley contro-
versy. and it was therefore to be pre-
summed that they would enter upon their
work In impartial and unpreJuoiceu
shirt. The members of the court are
distinctively fighting men, Each les
been connected with celepraleu
event in Naval annals. oof Al
miral Dewey, the hero of the pattle
of Manila Bay, It is unnecessary "
speak. His record is familiar 10 an.
HE associates. Rear Admiral kimperley
and Rear Admiral Benham, are oo'i
retired officers. -.
The former was retired in 1877 anu
ne letter. in 1894 Admiral Kimberley