The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-27
DIRECTIONS ID THE
COURT OF INQUIRY
The Investigation is to be
Sweeping.
SPECIFIC ACTS NAMED
Among Them Schley's Alleged Delay
at Cienfuegos.
AMI TUE M0uEMFNT TOWARD kEY WEST
SPECIFIC ACTS NAMED
AND THE MOVEMENT TOWARD KEY WEST
Criticisms Of Schey's Conduct by Long Will
be Practically Covered in the lnvesliga-
ton. The Court Expected to Sit
For Several Months.
For Several Months.
(By the Associated Press.)

| Washington, July 26.-The precept to
the Schley court of inquiry which the
Navy Department has been preparing for
several days was gwen to the public
this afternoon 1t is a document address,
ed to Admiral Dewey as president of
the court, instructng him concerning
| the matters to be Investigated While
| it directs that the centre natter of
Admiral Schley's conduct during the op-
erations n West Indian waters shall be
| investigated, making use of the very
words employed by Admiral Schlcy in
hs letter to Secretary Long, it also Sc
lects certain distinctive acts Of the rear
admiral concerning the facts and pro-
priety of which it calls for particular
investigation. These points cover briefly
Admiral Schley's alleged delay with the
flying squadron at Cienfuegos. the
slowness of his progress toward Santi
ago, after leaving Cienfuegos, the re-
trograde movement toward Key West,
the effectiveness of the bombardment
of the Spanish fleet at the ranges used
in the reconnaissance of May 81, the
state of the coal supply on various
ships, when he telegraphed the De-
partment that he would return to Key
West the loop of the Brooklyn at San
tiago, the accuracy of his reports and
matters relating to the controversy be-
tween him and Commander Hodgeson over
the alleged colloquy which is said to have
taken place aboard the Brooklyn when
the loop was made during the naval en-
gagement off Santiago.
With the exception of the last two
counts, the others practically sum up the
criticisms of Admiral Schley's conduct
made by Secretary Long to the Senate
which the Secretary characterized as
Schleys "reprehensible conduct" One OF
the important points in the precept is
the direction to the court to report in its
conclusions "all the pertinent facts which
it may deem to be established together
with its opinion and recommendations in
the premises"
Secretary Long made the following
statement about the precept: 1T is SIM
ply an enumeration of the facts that have
been. to use the applicants own words.
under discussion they are referred to IN
formally and suggested to the court as
matters which have been under discus
sion. and as such, should be inquired INTO
by them. They are enumerated In accord
ance with general rule that when inquiry
is made the person interested Shoulu
have notice before hand as far as possi-
bic of all the specific things about whlch
inquiry is likely to be made"
Judge Advocate General Lemly, who was
designated as judge advocate of the court
today. now will proceed with the prepara-
ton of his case He will examine all doc
uments and prepare a list of witnesses
The court probably will sit for several
months, more than likely until after Con-
gress convenes in December
Judge Lemly has not yet decided who
the witnesses before the court shall be.
They may be taken from the navy, from
the army or from civil life-for un-
doubtedly some of the newspaper cOrre-
spondents will be called in this case. 1t
is even probable in view of the recently
published interview of Captain Eulate,
of the Spanish Navy that he and Nd
miral Cervera himself will be called II
Admiral Schley desires it. OF course, the
court of inquiry has no authority to COM
pei their attendance, and 1T is more
than doubtful whether they would re-
spond to simmons but the opportunity
will be afforded. No word has been re-
ceived from Admiral Kimberly who it was
reported had written to the Department
saving that his health made it inadvis-
able for him to attempt to serve on the
court. He will not be officially notified
of his selection as a member of the
court until he receives the precept which
was mailed to him today. A copy Of the
precept also will be sent to Admiral
Dewey and Rear Admirals Benham and
Schley.
TEXT OF THE INSTRUCTIONS.
The precept to the court is as fol-
lows:
ITO Admiral George Dewey, U. S. N,
Washington:
Upon the request OF Rear Admiral
Winfield S. Schley. L. s. N, made in a.
letter dated July % 1901, copy herewith,
q court of inquiry, of which you are here
by appointed president, Rear Admrals
Lewis A. Kimberly and Andrew r. X.
Benbam, U. S. N. members, and Captain
Samuel c. Lemly, L. s. N, Judge advo-
cate general, Judge advocate is hereby
ordered to convene at the Navy De-
par tment, Washington D. c.. at o'clock
p. m, on Thursday. the 18th Gay of Sep
tember, 1901. or as soon thereafter as may
be practicable for the purpose Of inuuiring
into the conduct of the said Schley. COM
modore in the navy. during the recent
War with Spain and in connection with
the events thereof
"The court will inquire into all the