Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-23
WHAT A MESS!
Sec. Long Approves Findings
Of the SchIey Court.
Reprimands Gen. Miles for Criticism
of the Courts Decision.
Gives Dewey Dig. .Dismisses maclsy.. Where
will Il End?

Washington, Dec. ga determine
! tion on the part of the administra ton
| absolutely to terminate further discus
! sion of the Sampson-Schley contrO-
versy took shape in the publication,
Saturday, of some remarkable corre-
spondence that has passed between
Secretary Root and Lieut.. Gen. Miles
relative to the latter's interview, pub
lished in Cincinnati paper, comment
ing upon the Schley case. When the
interview appeared it attracted consid-
cradle attention officially, but after the
lapse Of two days without any sign Of
Official action the conclusion became
general that the interview would be
ignored. Therefore. the publication Of
the full correspondence on this subject
created a sensation in army and naval
circles. 1t is seldom that so severe a
reprimand is administered to an officer
of high rank in either service. What
the result will be cannot be foretold.
although it is assumed that Gen. Miles
Will submit without further comment
The nearest parallel to this case of
late years, excluding the incidents con-
nected with the celebrated beef inquiry,
was that Of Rear Admiral Richard
Meade, who, upon returning from a
cruise in Venezuelan waters with the
! White Squadron, accorded an inter-
view to a New York newspaper, se-
verely criticiZing the administration
! for its lack Of vigor in dealing with the
Venezuelan question. The outcome of
that case was the early retirement of
| the rear admiral from active service
That Gen. Miles appreciates the situ-
alton is shown by the deep concern he
ma infested. Saturday. and his frequent
visits to the Office of Secretary Root.
1t was necessary for him to write two
letters to meet the demands Of the de-
partment. and even then there was no
expression of satisfaction on the secre-
| tary's part at the second explanation.
However. Secretary Root himself re-
CARDS the incident as closed. At least,
he does not propose to take any further
acton. unless obliged to do so.
The fact that simultaneously with
the publication of the Miles corre-
spondence Secretary Root gave out a
copy of Secretary Longs letter direct
ing that Maclays resignation be re-
quested. taken in connection with the
publication of the final chapter of the
Schley case. so far as it has figured
as an indication of the Presidents pur-
pose to clear the official records of all
pending issues in that matter. Secre-
tary Roots publication of the Maclay
letter is explained by the fact that he
left the White House some time after
Secretary Long had been there, and
thus was in a position to carry out the
Presidents latest wish in the matter.
This is the order in the Maclay case
made public, Saturday, by Mr.. Root:
Navy Department,
Washington, ID. c., Dec. 20.
Rear Admiral a. s. Barker. Command
ant Navy Yard. New York:
'Sir-I am directed by the President to
ask Edgar 8. Maclay, special labOrer
general storekeeper's office. Navy Yard.
New York. to send in his resignation
(signedD JOHN D. LONG.
Secretary"
Secretary Root was designated to make
public the request for Mr.. Maclays res
ignation after a conference with the Pres
ident.
E. S. Maclay is the writer whose his
tory of the naval engagements of the
Spanish War attracted much attention.
The reprimand to Gen. Miles is contain
ed in the following letter of Sec. Root to
Gen. Miles:
War Department.
Washington. Dec. Il. 1901.
'Sir-By direction Of the President I
communicate to you his conclusions upon
your course in the interview to which
your attention was called by my letter
of the 19th inst.
Your explanation of the public state
CONTINUED on page ~