The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-02

W, Washington. u. G"
Navy Department..
Washington. Aug 2 1901
Sir The department is IN receipt
or your letter Of 18th Of July. eX-
pressing a regret on your part at be-
ing obliged 20 ask that you may be
detached from the duty OF serving
upon the Court OF Enquiry convened
the l2th Of September next The de-
partment learns with regret that you
are suffering from a weak heart and
its attending complications, for which
yoT are under medical treatment
such being the case, the department
Is reluctantly compelled 20 grant your
request
Your letter coutiuUeS-'much 70 my
mortihcatiou, this is the FIRST depart
mcHI order that 1 am unable % honor
during naval life of httE-hve years
Let me hasten TO assure YOU that
there is no cause for modification at
this incident. ON the contrary. It al
fOrds an opportunity of which the de-
parJment gladly avaiIs itself 30 con-
gratulate YOU for "a record so loyal 10
the service Moreover. this record
amply juSJides the wisdom Of the
Secretary or the Navy IN assigning 20
YOU the grave and conspicuous duty
Of serving upon the court
Permit me 10 express the hope
that your health VIII continue 10 i'm
prove SD that in future should a less
arduous duty De required Of you You
may be fully able TO respond
Very respectfully,
r W HACEETT
Acting Secretary
Rear Admiral L. A Kimberly. T. 5
Navy, retired. West Newton. Mass
The Navy Department is experiencing
trouble in selecting some
one to take Admiral Kimberly $ place on
the Court Of Enquiry Secretary Long
desires, If possible. TO name some rear
admiral on the retired list and while
there are about forty OF these officers, II
is difficult 10 find one acceptable under
the circumstances Many OF them are
incapacitated from such service by rya-
son Of old age and physical disabilities
and among those who would not be bar
rec ry these conditions IL is difficult 20
find one who has not at some time or
other expressed some bias in the SchIey
matter
Probably a majority Of them have stat
ed opinions indicating a prejudice against
SchIey. Such is said to be the case in
regard TO Rear Admiral Luce. who was at
one time fayOrabIy considered as an avail
able member Ii Is noW practically Ger
tain that he VIII not be chosen When
the court was being made up Secretary
Long looked with considerable favor upon
Rear Admiral Francis NJ Ramsay. but for
some unknown reason he was not select
ed
10 is now thought that he may be as
signed 20 take Admiral KimberIy's place.
Secretary Long has expressed himself as
determined 60 appoint a court which shall
be- as fair and impartial as possible
This. il may be said. is considered nee
=ssary for Admiral SchIey has the right
10 object TO any member who might be
selected. and the fact Of an expressed
opinion is considered good ground for
aNcusiug an officer from service Thus
Tar Admiral Sch!ey has made no protest
lgainst anyone considered In this coInec-
.ion- Many Of the rear aduirals on the
retired list have never been IN command
IF a station which is considered necessary
u this case. and hence the rear admiraIs
who were bureau chiefs are not deemed
available. As a rule they are not sup
posed TO possess the necessary knowledge
IF tactics 90 enable them TO judge Of Ger
aiu questions which are 20 be brought be-
fore the court Otherwise there are "a
number Of these officers who would be
AVAILABLE.
The name Of Rear Admiral Albert
Nautz. who was retired on January 81.
sol. is being flyorahIy mentioned He is
lHl KNOWN To nave expressed any opinion
10 the SchIey controversy ana is held in
nigh regard
10 was Omitted today by the naval Off
.ials that Captain James Parker, Adrri-
-aI SchIcy-s assistant counsel, had COM
planned 10 the Acting Secretary that De
.ad been annoyed by the detail of au otii-
ar 90 watch the papers under e-auiua-
ION It was sa.3 officially. however that
ne whole matter was SO trivial that no
iflcial action viii De-, taken on the com
faiut
The War Department has taken official
notice of the published interviews atJrib-
1t,J 20 Captain SchIvy In regard To his
athyr.s controversy with the department.
Acting Secretary Sanger has directed
hat "a letter De- sent 10 Captain Schl-y.
'aIiug his attention To- the interview.
md asking for am explanation. x is not
believed at the War Department that
aptaiu Schle- made the statements at
ributed 20 him, and IL is said that the let
er was sent partly 10 enable him Co place
himself on record if hr had been misguot-
q OF uisreprr~yutgd.