Evening star., 1901-08-13
NOT SUMMONED
BUT WILL DotBTLEss APPEAR. BE-
FORE THE sCHLBY COURT.
Rule Observed by the Judge Advocate
General inIPreparing the List
a OF witnesses.

A great deal of comment was aroused in
naval circles today by statements which
have been In circulation during the past
twenty-fouf hours pointing out that 1t is
probable that Admiral Sampson will not
be a witness before the forthcoming Schley
court of inquiry ,1
1t was learned today that Admiral Samp-
son mas not yet oeen summoned as wit
ness before the court. but investigation
likewise ELECTED the fact that 1t Is almost
a foregone conclusion that he will be pres
ent, and when called upon will submit all
the facts in connection with the case he has
in his possession.
1t appears that Admiral SIMPSONS name
was not upon the list of officers who are
desired as witnesses, recently submitted to
the navigation bureau by Captain Lemly,
judge advocate general of the navy. The
absence of Sampson's name from this list.
however, Is not significant and in no wise
indicates that the admiral Is not to be
summoned eventually. When the court ct
inquiry was ordered Captain Lemly was
directed to prepare list of officers whose
testimony. was desired who were serving
ABOARD or who had been given assignments
necessitatfng their departure from the
country In the near future.
Inc idea was to take every precautiOn
against the possibility of the absence OF
omcers at the sessions of the court on ac-
count OF service without the limits Of the
country. Such a list was prepared by Capt.
Lemly and forwarded to the navigation bu-
reau 1T included the names of all such Of
ncers indicated and of course, the name
or Admiral Sampson, who has been serving
as commandant at the Boston navy yard.
was not included.
Other Officers Omitted.
Besides the omission Of Admiral Samp-
Of 0t
who saw service during the campaign at
Santiago were also left off the list. These
are the names of officers who are now in
this country and who are not under orders
contemplating their immediate absence
from the United States. 1t may be seen.
therefore, that the list already prepared
has really no significance in this connec-
tion. and that the witnesses enumerated
thus far comprise only partial selection
OF the entire personnel
1t Is virtually certain that Admiral Samp-
son Will be summoned to appear before the
court. He can be reached at any time and
II necessary at present could reach the city
within ten hours. Some of the officers who
Will testify before the court are serving on
the Asiatic station, and 1t will be readily
perceived that due notification of their de-
sired presence here had to be made without
delay.
According to naval procedure Admiral
Schley has full right to summon Admiral
Sampson as a witness If he should deem
such action fit. but he has not done so.
1t is pointed out, however, that scrutiny
of the precept and the specific points upon
which the court is asked to pass will show
that Admiral SIMPSONS testimony will not
be of as much importance as the public
seems to imagine. He had no personal
knowledge, SO 1T is pointed out, of any OF
the facts relating to the charges made
against Admiral Schley. as he was not per-
sonally present until after Admiral Schley
had reached Santiago.
Contention Of schley's Friends.
Admiral Schley's friends, on the other
hand, contend that the basis of all the
charges made against him were based upon
Admiral SIMPSONS report to the Navy
Department. charging him with 'reprehen-
sible conduct. and that he must Of ne
cessity be d very important witness. In
Admiral Schley's1etter to Secretary Long
asking for an investigation he asked for
an inquiry into the entire matter under
discussion" and his friends say that Ad-
miral SIMPSONS criticism Of him will
therefore be proper and necessary field
Of investigation by the court.