The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-27
MAY CALL CERVERA.
Schley Court of Inquiry to Last
Months.

Washington, July 27--Secretary Long
has made the following statement
about the precept issued to the Schley
court Of inquiry:
1T is simply an enumeration of the
facts that have been. to use the ap-
plicant's own words, under discussion;
they are referred to informally and
suggested to the court as matters which
have been under discussion, and as
such should be inquired into by them
They are enumerated in accordance
with the general rule that when inquiry
is made the person interested should
have notice beforehand as far as posi-
BILE of all the things about which IN
quiry is likely to be made"
Judge advocate, General Lemley, who
was designated as judge advocate of
the court, viii now proceed with the
preparation of his case. He will ex-
anime all documents and prepare a list
Of witnesses. The court probably will
sit for several months, more than likely,
until after congress cOnVeneS in Decem-
Der Judge Lemley 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 undoubtedly some of the newspaper
case. 1t is even probable, in view or
the recently published interview ofCap-
tain Eulate, of the Spanish navy, that
he and Admiral Cervera himself viii be
called if Admiral SchIey desires it. OF
course the court of inquiry has no au-
thority to compel their attendance and
it is more than doubtful whether they
would respond to a summons, but the
opportunity viii be afforded
The extracts regarding the Santiago
sea fight from the History Of the
United States Navy" by Edgar g.
Maclay, to which the friends of Ad-
miral Schley took exception, are as fol-
lows:
he, al 7ev- lrf "a nd
exhibited either a timidity amounting
to absolute cOwardice or a prevarica-
ton of facts that were intrinsieally
faisehoOdS-
.sSehiey, on May %. 1898, sullied the
brightest of American notices by PEN
ming. Much to be regretted, can not
obey ORDERS and turned in caitim flight
from the danger spot toward which
duty. honor and the whole American
people We're most earnestly urging him.
Viewed in whatever light it may be,
the foregoing dispatch can not be
characterized otherwise than as being,
without exception, the most huTniliat-
ing, cowardly and lamentable report
ever penned by. an American naval OH
GER"
As to the reconnaissance at Santiago,
Historian Maclay says:
This timid and nerveless attack on
Cervera's ships is the more d1sappolnt-
ing when we remember the elaborate
and brave preparations Schley had
made to get at the enemy in earnest
ssSchley's farcical blockade can not be
described otherwise than willful dis
obedience of orders"
AS to the '1oop'' of the Brooklyn.
Maclay comments as follows:
s.Schiey hastily ordered the helm
aport But that will carry US into the
Texas said the officer. Let the Texas
take care of herself, was the heartless
reply; and the shameful spectacle of
an American war ship, supported by a
force superior to the enemy's- war
ship whose commander had expended
target practice in the presence of
fashionable hotel at Hampton Roads in
order to meet worthy foe-deliberate-
" turning tail and running away was
presented
"Cervera nobly threw down the gaunt-
ct Schley cravenly declined to pick
IT ID"