The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-12-20
SCHLEY IS CENSURED
REPORT OF The COURT OF IN
CURRY is GIVEN TO THE
4 PUBLIC.
TWO OPINIONS RENDERED

AdmiraIs senham and Ramsay Finc
Against the Applicant on Clever
Points, While Admiral Dewey sus
tains Him on Most Particuars-Rec
Commended That No Further Proceed
Ings Be Taken in the Premises.
Washington, Dec. lathe most pro
konged, interesting and important ma
val tribunal ever held in this country
came to a close, having in open ant
secret session lasted three months
less one week, when Secretary Ions
was handed the findings of the cour
which inquired into the conduct O.
Rear Admiral Schley during the San
tiago campaign. The result was 6
complete surprise. and it is probable
Cnat no prOpheSy has approached the
truth. Instead of one report there are
two Both are signed by George
Dewey, president, and by Samuel c.
Lemly, as judge advocate. This is a
form said to be recognized in all courts
Of inquiry, the signatures of the other
members not being necessary. But ii
Is explained that Admiral Dewey
signed the second report, minority
report, to express his qualification OF
or dissent from the views expressed
by the court, comprising beside him
self AdmiralS Benham and Ramsay, in
the first report.
1t is said at the navy department
chat there will be no further proceed
ings in this celebrated case on the de-
paTtment's initiative. Secretary Long
and Judge Advocate Lemly positively
declined to discuss the findings in any
phase.
The secretary has not yet acted on
the reports. 1t is probable that he will
Simply append his signature with the
word Approval" to the whole record.
A representative of the Associated
Press conveyed the first information
Of the findings of the court to Ad-
niral Schley. He evinced no signs of
nervousness over the outcome.
When the conclusions of Admiral
Dewey were read to him Admiral
SChley showed his pleasure and it was
evident from his manner that he re
garded the statement from Admiral
Dewey as a yindication of his cause.
He declined to make amy statement
concerning the courts findings.
The TGnOrtS are as follows:
The court of inquiry, having con-
cluded the investigation, reports its
proceedings and the testimony taken,
with full and detailed statement of
all the pertinent facts which it deems
to be established, together with its
opinion and recommendation in the
premises.
Statement of Facts.
The flying squadron, consisting Oh
the Brooklyn, Massachusetts,, Texas
and Scorpion, under the command Of
Commodore w. s. Schley, U. S. NJ,
sailed from Key West about s a. m.
of May 10, 1898, with orders from the
navy department and from the COM
mander-in-chief of the North Atlantic
station, to proceed with dispatch cut
most off Cienfuegos to capture the
enemy off that port, if possible, or to
blockade him and to make the block
ade as close as possible. The flying
squadron arrived off Cienfuegos on
the morning of May % and established
a blockade. During the day the ships
lay off the port at various distances,
In no particular order. At night they
formed a column of vessels headed
off shore and moved at only sufficient
speed for keeping positions. The small
vessels performed picket duty in shore
of the large ships.
Commodore Schley did not proceed
with utmost dispatch off Cienfuegos
and blockade that port as close as pos
sible.
At 10 o'clock a. m, May %, the Du-
pont arrived at Cienfuegos with a dis
patch from the commander-in-chief
dated Key West, May 20, 1898, which
informed Commodore Schley of the
probability of the Spanish squadron
being in Santiago de Cuba and ordered
him to hold Cienfuegos until the re-
ceipt of more positive information At
1870 p. m, May %, the Iowa arrived
at Cienfuegos, and at p. m. of the
same date the Scorpion left Cienfue-
COS for Santiago. At 8:15 a. M of May
% Commodore Schley received by the
dispatch vessel Hawk the following
dispatch and memorandums from the
ommander-in-chief: Dispatch NO
81 dated Key West, May 81, 1898,
which stated that the Spanish squad
ron was probably at Santiago and or
dered Commodore Schley, if he was
satisfied that the Spanish squadron
was not at Cienfuegos, to proceed
with all dispatch, but cautiously, to
Santiago de Cuba, and il the enemy is
there blockade him in that port" A
memorandum dated off Havana, May
Ri, 1898, which directed Commodore
Schley to mask his movements in leav-
ing Cienfuegos. A memoran Mum
which stated that good landing place
had been found by Commander Nc
Gala 1872 miles west of Savanilla
Point; that the Cubans had perfect
knowledge of what was going on with
in Cienfuegos; that the Cuban forces
IN the San Juan mountains controlled
the railway between Cienfuegos and
Trinidad, and that there were fair
roads from the landing place to Glen
fuegos.
Communicated With insurgents.
At $50 a. m, May %, the Castine
and the collier Merrimac arrived at
Cienfuegos. At noon on the same date
the British steamer Adula was permit
ted to go into Cienfuegos. At a. M,
May "a, the Marblehead, Vixen and
Eagle arrived at Cienfuegos. About
10 a. m. the Mar'blehead and Eagle
proceeded to the landing place 1871
miles west of Savanilla Point commu-
nicated with the insurgents, landed
stores for them, learned that the Span
ish squadron was not in the harbor at
Cienfuegos, reioined the squadron at
3ss p. m. and reported to Commodore
SchIey the information obtained. After
the receipt of this information Com
modore Schley wrote dispatch TO the
commander-in-chief in which he stated
az shall move eastward tomorrow.