The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-08-02
SCHLEY CONDEMNED
By the Navy Department Before the
Trial Is Under Way.
ADMIRAL TURNED DOWN
Ga His Request for a Change ID the
Language Of Precept.
He MUST FURNISH THE PROOF
Ut Innocence and Not Simply Combat tie
Proof Against Him.
TWO LETTERS ARE MADE PUBLIC
One Of Them Is from the Admiral and
the Other Is the Answer Of tho
Department.
wO LETTERS ARE MADE PUBLIC
One Of Them Is from the Admiral and
the Other Is the Answer Of tho
Department.

Washington, August 1.-The navy depart.
ment has refused to aecede 70 Adra.rsl
sehiey's suggestion that the language In
the fifth specification OF the precept "a
the court Of inquiry be modified. The ad.
ntiral In his letter challenges that specsa.
cation. which states as fact that he had
disobeyed orders and suggested that It be
modified. The department In Its reply
declines to make the suggested modiaea.
tion on the ground that according to of.
fetal records Admiral schley himself nc.
lnowiedged that ho had disobeyed orders.
The disobediencc OF orders was an estab.
lished fact, whether unwilling or willingly.
The following are the letters that have
been passed between Admiral sehley and
the navy department respecting the pre-.
cept:
Great Neck, y. y, July 27-sir; have
thu honor to acknowledges receipts Of the
departments communication Of July 10, in.
closing copy Of an order conveying, pnrsn.
ant OF the request contained in the CmB
communication OF the 22d Instant OF In.
curry" lnnsmuch as the court Is directed
10 investigate and after such lnyestiga.
iion. report n full and detailed statement
of all the pertinent facts which 1t may
deem TO be established. together with Its
opinion and recommendation In the prem.
lses, ! would respectfully suggest to tho
Nepaftnent that paragraph . Of The de.
partment's precepf, which Is as foliuwsi
y. Ahe circumstances attending and the
lessons Tor the dlsobedicnce by IcmmodoYa
ENhlf1 OF tIn orders of he glHnnl
thined In its dlsputch dated May 10 is,,S
ona the fyprle Of his eoadnei ~ tIie
departments EXPRESSION OF opinlpn aud thus
/ leave me court fteU 10 express ITS own
opinion Ia TINT matter, Very respeetruas.
Hon. ]. y, Long, Secretary Of the Navy
navy Department Warrington y. {. An.
Ter OF the 9th nltiino IN which you ac-
knowledge the receipt Of The ctpy OF tne
order coivening AZ your request , court OF
inquiry to Investigate polf' conduct during
me wnr with Spain anu suggest that para
grnph 5 Of said order directing the court
Of inquiry % look Into the circumstances
attending aud the reasons for the dlsobedi
cnee by Commodore Schley OF the orders
Of thc department., etc, rbe 40 modified a.
70 omit the DEPARTMENTS expression OF
opinion aud thus leave the court free To
express lis own opinion Of that matter.'
In reply, you are advised TINT the procept
eai's tds "a, an inquiry pI the court, and the
purpose OF setting GU foot this inquiry the
precept treats certain matters as estab-
liehed. such. for instance as the arrival OF
the flying squadron OH Cienfuegos aud on
Bantiagoi the retrogfadr movement west
9, 1893, and the fact that YOU disobsyed
orders as reported BY You 81 your tcie-
gram dated klngsttf2n, May IS 1S0s, y
can not obey orders OF the Department.
lnasiuuch, however, as Il Is the depart
ment's purpose that the court shall be
absolutely free 70 report. II such shall ha
found TO be the case. thar %ou did not will.
fully disobey the orders or that you were
justified IN disobpylne them aud that this
may he clearly understood. your letter OF
the 2Ith ultimo, with copy Of thts reply,
will be duly forwarded 70 the court Very
respectfully, Il w. nackett,
Acting Secretary
Rear Admiral Wlnneid s. sebley, U. s. N,