The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-07
HOWlSON HAS ACCEPTED
He Has Expressed no Opinion on the
Controversy.
PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE WITNESSES
Among Those Desired by Schley is Lieutenant
Wells Who Was Member Of the Ad-
mra's Staff Throughout the
Spanish War,
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, August 6.-The vacancy
in the Schley court of inquiry caused
by the inability of Rear Admiral Kim
berly to serve on account of i'll health
has been filled by the selection of Rear
Admiral Henry l.. Howison, whose ap-
pontment was announced by Assistant
time it was announced that this APP
pointment would be agreeable to Ad-
miral Schley. The department before
taking action had submitted a list of
names to Admiral Schley which includ-
ed that of Rear Admiral Howison and
Admiral Schley had indicated his entire
willingness to accept any officer on the
list. The department also communi-
Gated the selection to Captain Parker
before making it public Assistant
Secretary Hackett befoxe issuing the
order, communicated with Admiral
Howison, who is at present at Sara
toga Springs, N. Y, and ascertained
from him that he had given utterance
to no expression of opinion regarding
the merits of the Sampson Schley con-
troversy.
Later in the day the department an
nounced that Admiral Howison had
been heard from and. would accept the
detail The department thereupQQ- -lnpti-
fled Admiral Dewey of Admiral Howl
sons selection and sent to the latter q
copy of the precept together with Adj
miral Schley's letter relative to the
fifth paragraph of the precept and the
departments response thereto which
correspondence is part Of the official
record.
Rear Admiral Howison is one of the
youngest retired officers of his grade.
having been retired October 10th, 1899,
when he reached the age of 62 1t is
rather an interesting coincidence that
he was in command of the cruiser Van
daia at Samoa, which later went down
in the hurricane in Apia harbor while
flying the flag of Rear Admiral Kim
berly, who had succeeded him as senior
officer on the station. and whom he
now succeeds on this court. He was in
command of the Boston yard during the
Spanish War and later was commander
Of the South Atlantic Station. He made
the famous long distance cruise around
Africa in the Chicago, as the last act
York the day before Admiral Dewey
arrived in the Olympia. 1t will be re-
membered that although he outranked
Admiral Sampson, who was in command
of the receiving fleet at that time, he
refrained from assuming command, but
courteously allowed Admiral Sampson
to do the honors upon that celebrated
occasion.
| preliminary list Of the witnesses
who will be called to appear before the
court has been prepared at the Navy
| Department. Some of these officers are
on foreign stations and will be obliged
to leave for home almost Immediately
in order to arrive in time. Armiral
Schley has also submitted list of wit
| nesses, some of whom are on foreign
stations, and these also will be ordered
| home.
! Among the witnesses desired by Adj
miral Schley is Lieutenant Rodger
| Welles, who was aboard the Brooklyn
as a member of Commodore Schleys
staff throughout the Spanish War.
| There are no Spanish officers ON Adj
miral Schley's list.