New-York tribune., 1901-12-15
DEWEY PRAISED AND BLAMED
EXCEEDED THE PROVINCE
OF THE INQUIRY.

The findings Of the schley court Of inquiry IN
which Rear Adnnirals Benham and Ramsay CEN
sured Schley ali points, but found MIN not
coward and in which Admiral Dewey sustained
cb1ev on most points and gave him credit for the
Santiago victory was the chief topic Of conVersa-
ton Yesterday the Army and Navy ano other
clubs The justice Of the two Verdlcts was also
eagerly discussed by lawyers and others VINO nave
heen more or less Intimately connected with the
case.
THE whole matter of the decision OF the court
said Park Benjamin yesterday resolves ltseI llto
three divisions: First-The cowardice issue in
which the court voted unanimously In faVor oI
Schley and against Maclay. whose written charges
were entirely refuted; second, the actual events
the blockade movement leading up to and lncluuits
the tactics the battle Of Santiago On TINS issue
the court was divided Admiral Dewey's decision
being diametricaly opposed to that OF AdIniraiS
Ramsay and Benham. AS between the feldtl'e
merits of these opposing views the pupic ihuSl
Judge Thrd-That of Schley's doing his utmost TO
attack the Colon. On this point the court appar-
emily decided adversely to Admiral Schley. II this
decision can be regarded as verdict and Schley
assigns error, he is justly entitled to a feVle" OIL
the whole proceedings. In my judgment the error
lies in the Interpretation of the order then in force
of the Navv Department, which prohibits the risk
ing of battleships against fortflcatons 1t Is lor
a reviewing tribunal to say whether or not the
court erred in interpreting these orders There is
NO tribunal which can review this question except
Congress. .
II should like to point out as signihcant fact
that in acouitting Schey of cowardce and in CEN
spring him for not doing his utmost in destroying
the Colon the court used the words of the penal
articles in the for the Government OF the Navy
The majority however, in censuring him for vac
ilatton dfatoriness and lack of enterprise re-
Trained from using the words of the act and sub
stituted instead substantially the same words
which the Navy Department used two years ago
uben tt defined and condoned Schley's shortcom-
tnRs In other words. the majority apparently did
not find Schley censurable for offences under the
Articles of War but for offences as originally de-
aned bv the Navy Department.
II want 10 express my great admiration for the
r,agnaninity courage and independence shown by
Admiral Dewey. His action under the circum-
stances is uneXampled in the history Of the de-
nartment None but those familiar with the
tree conservatism and respect for tradition which
characterize the navy appreciate his bold
ness He recognized that the real question in which
the public interested was who actually de-
now stands recognized by the victor of Manila"
1T is said. Mr. Benjamin, that nearly every Of
fcer of the navy is and has been unfliendly TO Ad-
rnirai Schley," the reporter suggested
That report Is wrong entirely wrong, was me
reply From my own observation. L know that
majority of them favored the Admirafs cause
VIII Schley win his case If he appeals to Con-
gress?"
better the investigating committee, at the outset
so limited the scope of its inquiry that much evl-
dence favorable to Schley excluded. Congress
Will exclude evidence 1t will ascertain whether
securing a complete vindication of Schley. Con-
gress will inquire why evidence concerning events
after June l. wnen Sampson took command. should
be considered. 1t will ask why Sampson Is not