Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-08-08
THE SCRLEY CASE.
War Department Refuses TO Modify
the original Charges.
THE CORRESPONDENCE PASSED.
The Navy Department Holds That Ac.
cording to His Own Official State.
ment He Disobsyed Orders.

Washington, d. c.. Special-The
I Navy Department has refused to ac-
cede to Admiral Schley's suggestion
! that the language in the fifth splcid.
cation of the precept TO the court of IN
Quiry be modified The admiral. in the
letter, challenges that specification 0!
the Drecept which states as fact that
he had disobeyed orders and sugges-
ted that it be modified. The Depart
ment, in its reply, declines to make
the suggested modification on the
ground that according to the Official
records Admiral Schley himself ac.
knowledged that he had disObeyed or.
ders. Tile disobedience Of orders was
an established fact whether unwilling.
ly or willingly.
The following are the letters tina,
have passed between Admiral Schlcy
and the Navy department. respecting
the rrecept:
Great Neck. n Y. July 27,1301.
Sir: | have the honor TO ackncwl.
edge receipt Of the Departments COM
nunicatiOn CT July IS, instant, enclos.
Ing copy of an order cuuyening. pursu-
ent TO the request contained in (myl
communication Of the 22nd a court OF
inquiry.
''lnasmucn as the court is directed
10 Investigate and after such inves-
tigation, report a full and detailed
statement of ell the pertinent facts
which 1t may deem to be established.
together with its opinion and recon-
mendation In the premises | would re-
spectfully suggest to the Department
that paragraph 5 Of tho Department 8
precept, which is as follows. viz: o
The circumstances attending and the
reasons for the disobedience Of Goa,
modore Schley CT the orders of the De
partment contained in dispatch dated
May 25. 1898, AMI the propriety of his
conduct in the PREMISES be modified
30 as to emit the Departments expires.
sion of opinion and thus leave the
court free to express its own op'n q
in that matter
Very respectfully,
"W. 5. SCHLEY,
Rear Admiral
Hon. john D. Long. Secretary OF
the Navy"
Washington. d. c.. Aug. /. 1901.
Sir: The Department has received
your letter of the 27th ultimo, in which
you acknowledge the receipt of a
copy Of the order ,conyening, at your
request, court q inquiry to inyesti.
gate your conducs during the war
with Spain, and Suggest that para.
graph Of said order, directing the
court to inquire in4 the circumstances
attending and the reasons for the dis.
obedience by Commodore Schley Of
the orders OF the Department. etc,
be SO modified as to omit the Depart
ment's expression III opinion, and thus
leave the court free 20 express its own
opinion In that matter
In reply you ere advised that the
preCept calls for an icqnirv by the
court and tie ;.:CeTtainrlent OF peril
nent facts. F'o- the purpose OF set,
ting on foot this inquiry, the precolt
treats certain matters as established,
such, Tor instance, IS the arrival CT
the flying squadron Off ClenfIegos,
a1.I Of Santiago; the rctrOgrade move
rent westward: The turn of tEo
Brooklyn on l&!y 3, 1893, and the fact
that YOU ciaobcyEd o-ders as reported
by you In yolc telegram dated Kings
ton, May 22. 1895, ir which you say:
Much to be regretted. cannot obey or
dcrs # the Dcpal tmCnt
'ICasnluch, however, as II is the
Dep.- tmcnts purpose that the court
shall be absolutely flee to report, If
such shall be found 10 be the case
that you dix; not wilfully Gisobey the
orders, or that you were justified in
discbeying them, and that this may
be clearlY understood, YOUR letter Of
the 9th u!timo, with copy Of this re
ply will be duly forwarded to the
couit.
Very respectfully,
IF. w. HACKETT.
"Acting Secretary OF the Navy.