Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-07-25
~ 1--1l- : -
Secretary Of the Navy Notified Admiral
FL ..% Scbley that Inquiry will be
-, Granted. --h e.
Admiral Dewey will Probably be Presi-
~ dent Of Board Appointed to Con-
duct Hearing.
Proceedings Not Likely to Begin I'm
til the End Of the Extremely 4
= Hot Weather.

Washington, July 25.-Secretary
Long has received a letter from Rear
Admiral Schley calling attention to
the criticisms against him which are
contained in Maclay,s history of the
navy and the innuendoes which have
appeared in the press for several days
and stating that, in his opinion. the
time had now come to take such ac-
tion as will bring the entire matter
under the "clear and calm review of
his brothers-in-arms." He asked that
the department take such action as
was deemed best to accomplish this
purpose. He also requested that what
ever action be taken shall occur in
Washington, where his papers and
data are stored. The secretary i'm
mediately decided to comply with Ad-
miral Schleys request and dictated a
letter to the rear admiral, saying that
under the circumstances he heartily
approved of his action and that the
department should proceed at once in
accordance with his request. The Sec
retary took this action without con-
sultation with any one and without
communicating the request Of Admiral
Schley to the president. He then
called to his Office Rear Admiral
Crowninshield and Captain Cowles.
chief and assistant ch: f. respectively,
of the bureau of navigation, and also
Judge Advocate General Lemly, who
has charge Of formalities of naval
courts. He also sent for Admiral
Dewey. ! Although Rear Admiral
Schley did not ask specifically for a
court of inquiry, but left the action to
be left to the judgment of the depart,
ment, the secretary decided that such
a court would be the best means Of
making the investigation which the
rear admiral had requested and the
/ three bureau officers were call
ed in for the purpose of discussing the
mode Of procedure in such cases.
Dewey President Of the Court.
After his conference with Admiral
Dewey, who had responded Immediate
" to the secretary's request for an in
terview, the secretary said that ne had
not had time to decide upon the COM
position Of the court, but in response
to question as to whether Admiral
Dewey will serve upon such court,
If requested to do, SO, the secretary
said: 4 admiral Dewey will do hls
duty ". %.~r'
Although no positive declaration mas
been given on this point, it is assumed
about the navy department that Ad-
miral Dewey will be president Of the
naval court which will inquire into the
whole controversy concerning Admiral
Schley's action during the Spanish
war. There also is an impression that
the two other members of the court
will be retired naval officers, or at
least officers who had no connection
with the Santiago campaign. I
The selection of retired officers will
have a double advantage. Not only
will they be free from any prejudice
growing out of their active connection
with the department, but they will
have no fear of future consequences
arising i from their course while
members of the board. The court Of
inquiry probably will not proceed
with its work until fall. Secretary
Long said that 1t would be unfair to
ask a court OF inquiry to convene In
Washington during the present ex-
treme1y hot weather for the prosecu-
tion OF an inquiry which promises to
be quite protracted. tF ,ss,s ss St sE s-s
schIey's letter and Longs Reply.
Admiral schley's letter to Secretary
Long follows: -. :, $. .I/ II5
III \ Sir: Within the past few days a
series Of press comments have been
sent to me from various parts Of the
country Of q book entitled THE His
tory fof the Navy, h written BY one I'D.
gar Stanton Maclay. From these re
views It appears that this edition Is q
third volume of the said history ex-
tended to include the late war with
Spain. which the two fifst volumes did
not contain. and were ii use as u text
book in the naval academy
rom excerpts quoted in some re.
views, In Which the page and para
graph are given, theresis such perSer-
sion Of facts. miscons nstrlet etion Of inten.
ton, such intemp perats abuse and de-
famatfon Of yself VII hich subjeets ,Mr,
Maclay to action IN civil law. lie
4 admit the right to fair criticism 81
every public ofl1cer must protest
against the low filings and abusive la1i-
guage Of this partisan opp ponent who
has Infused into the pagesfof his book
30 much of the malice Of unfairness
as tp make 1t unworthy the name III