New-York tribune., 1901-07-25
AT LAST 4 COURT OF INQUIRY.

The naval battle of Santiago was fought to a
finish in a few hours three years ago. The bat
tie of tongues and pens TO which il gave rise
has been raging ever since, with slight pros
pect that it ever would be finished. Though
during all this period there has been strong
desire on the part of some partisans on both
Sides in and out of the service. that the con-
troversy should he officially settled by the only
competent tribunal. naval court of inquiry, II
has been: we think, generally hoped that the
healing processes Of time would make that
course unnecessary. Admiral Schley himself
has apparently been averse to an inquiry, for he
might have demanded one long ago. and the
pressure upon him 10 do so has been great
Yet until within few days there was I<thing
10 indicate that he had ever entertained such
purpose and the universal expectation was that
he would retire from active service in October
without an effort to vindicate his reputation.
leaving it in the care OF friends who have
shown far more ardor than discretion in his
defence 1t is a singular circumstance that
after thousands of persons had said In speech
and print whatever they felt like saying against
the admiral and not few of his brother Off
GERS had seemingly invited official proceedings
by the freedom both of their formal and in
formal utterances, 1t should have been left to a
a crisis in the protracted dispute. If Mr.. Ma
clay's third volume had not been published, IN
deed If an erroneous report Of its adoption as
a textbook at the Naval Academy had not been
circulated. it is altogether probable that there
would have been no court of inquiry and no
authentic determination of the questions at
issue.
IT, as we suppose, there has been in quar-
ters where a controlling influence is exercised
n desire TO avoid an official investigation of Ad-
mral Schley's conduct before and in the battle
of Santiago the prevailing opinion must now
be that it is desirable to have the case tried
and settled, for the sake OF Admiral Schley and
Admiral Sampson and of the whole naval estab-
lishment. The bitter fight which has been 60
ing on for three years has accomplished no
good, but has inevitably infiamed the passions
of a constantly widening circle of combatants
and has tended to scandalze and demoralize
the service. We glad that Admiral Schley,
whatever his motive for inaction heretofore
may have been, has finally felt constrained to
ask the department for inquiry, and that
Secretary Long has so promptly acceded to his
request The time had obviously come at last,
if il had not come long before, for the facts in
dispute TO be authoritatively ascertained and
proclaimed The findings of the court may not
satisfy all who have voluntarily engaged in the
controversy but at least an official record will
be made, and we may hope that an unseemly
strife within the navy itself will cease.
A court having been ordered, II will doubtless
make the inquiry thorough as the case re-
quires and there is no reason to doubt that 1t
will be absolutely fair. confirmation Of the
report that Admiral Dewey and two rear-ad-
mirals on the retired list, whose active service
closed before the Spanish war, will compose the
court would be welcome. A tribunal so consti-
tuted would afford the best possible guarantee
of impartiality and its decision would command
the respect of the country.