Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-07-26
INQUIRY WILL BE ORDERED
Secretary Root Replies to Admira
Schley'S Request.

Long, in accordance with a request
from Admiral Schley, today advised
that officer that he would order a
court OF inquiry to examine into the
entire matter of Admiral Schley's
course in the Santiago naval cam
paign.
Later the secretary announced that
the court would not meet until Sep
TENDER. The secretary was asked if
the sessions of the court would be
open.
'Unquestionably,' was the emphat-
ic reply. 1T would be great mis-
take to have a secret court. The.
country has the right to know all
that transpires in the way of testi-
mony offered. / hope to name the
personnel of the court tomorrow, and
this will give the judge advocate and
recorder ample time to prepare a
list OF witnesses who are to be sum-
moned.'
will Admiral Schley be allowed
to name witnesses?'
admiral Schley,'' was the reply,
twill be afforded every opportunity
for the appearance of all the witness
es he may desire. He is also entitled
under the naval regulations to be rep
resented by counsel"
The correspondence follows:
Great Neck, Long Island. N. Y, July
%, 19O1.--Sir: Within the past few
days a series Of press comments have
been sent to me from various parts OF
the country OF a book, entitled .'Tke
History of the" Navy" written by one
Edgar Stanton Maclay. From these
+ hot hi obi &c.
a third volume of the said history ex-
tended to include the late war with
Spain, which the first two volumes did
not contain, and were in use as text
books at the naval academy.
From excerpts quoted in some re-
views, in which the page and para
graph are given, there is such perver-
sion of facts, nliscOnstruction of in
tention, such incorporate abuse and
defamation of myself which subjects
Mr.. Maclay to action in civil law.
While I admit the right of fair criti~
cism of every public officer, l must
protest against the low filings and
abusive language of this violent, par
tisan opponent, who has infused into
the pages of his book so much of the
malice of unfairness as to make it I'M
worthy the name of history or of use
in any reputable institution Of the
country.
l have refrained heretofore from all
comment upon the innuendOes OF enc
mics muttered Or murmured in secret
and therefore with safety to them
selves. / think the time has now come
to take such action as may bring this
entire matter under discussion under
the clearer and calmer review of my
brothers in arms, and to this end l
ask such action at the hands OF the
department. as it may deem best to ac-
complish this purpose.
But I would express the request in
this connection that whatever the ac-
ton may be that it occur in Washing
ton, where most of my papers and
data are stored. Very respectfully,
w. S. Schley, Rear Admiral, U. s. N.
TO the secretary of the navy, WASH
ington, ID. C.
Navy Department, Washington,
July "a, 19O1.--Sir: / am in receipt OF
yours of the 22nd instant, with refer
ence to the criticisms upon you in
connection with the Spanish-Ameri-
can war, and heartily approve of your
action, under the circumstances. in
asking, at the hands of this depart
ment, such action as may bring this
entire matter under discussion under I
the clearer and calmer review OF my
brothers in arms.
Then the navy department will at
once proceed in accordance with your
request Very respectfully,
John ID. Long.
To Rear Admiral w. S. Schley, U.
S. n.