Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-08-01
THE PRECEPHS ISSUED.
Secretary of the Navy Long Issues
his Precept for the Schley
Court of Inquiry.
SPECIFIC POINTS OF INQUIRY NOTED.
The Investigation, az Requested by Rear
Admiral Schley, VIII be Thorough and
Searching, and VIII be Held In Open
Court-nTay bs Present In Person or BY
Counsel.

July S5.-lne peTcept
to the Schley court of inquiry, which
the navy department has been prepar-
ing for several days, was given to the
public yesterday afternoon. It is q
document addressed to Admiral Dew
ey as president of the court, instruct
ing him concerning the matter to be
investigated. While it directs that
the "entire matter" of Admiral
Schley's conduct during the opera
tions in West Indian waters shall be
investigated, making use of the very
words employed by Admiral Schley in
his letter t Secretary Long, it also
selects certain distinctive acts of the
rear-admiral concerning the facts
and propriety of which it calls for
particular investigation.
The precept to the court is as fol-
lows:
ITO Admiral George Dewey, U. S.
Navy, Washington, d. c.:
"Upon request of Rear-Admiral
Winfield S. Schley, q. S. N, made in
= letter dated July %, 1901, copy here
with, a court of inquiry. of which
you are hereby appointed president;
Rear-Admirals Lewis A. Kimberly
and Andrew E.. K. Benham, U. S. N,
members, and Capt. Samuel C. Lemly,
U. s. n, judge acknowledgement,
judge advocate, is hereby ordered t
at the navy department.,
Washington, d. c., at one o'clock p.
m, on Thursday, the 18th day of Sep
TENDER, 1901, or as soon thereafter as
may be practicable, for the purpose
ID 49, 81
said Schley, commodore in the navy,
during the recent war with Spain and
in connection with the events there
of.
"Tne court will thoroughly inquire
into all the circumstances bearing
upon the subject of the investigation
hereby ordered, and to this end, be-
sides examining orally all proper wit
neSses who's attendance can be Sc
cured, will call upon the department.
for all documentary evidence in rela-
ton thereto on its files.
Upon the conclusion of the inyes-
tigation the court will report it's pro-
ceedings and the testimony taken,
with a full and detailed statement of
the pertinent facts which it may deem
EOSCtuCI WIFI 1IS
opinion and recommendations in the
premises.
While the department relies upon
the discretion of the court to make
It's examination into this matter full
and complete, as requested by the of
hcer at whose instance it is convened.
the report should show the conclu-
slons reached upon certain points, to
which attention is specifically direct
ed, as follows:
l. His conduct in connection with the
events OF the battle of Santiago.
< The circumstances attending. the rea-
sons controlling, and the propriety of the
Cienfuegos in MAY. ISIS. on
:. Inc circumstances. attending, the rea-
movements of said squacron in proceedinS
from C1enluegos to Santiago.
=: Inc circumstances attending the ar
riValoI the nylng squadron" off Santiago.
the reasons for It's Tetrograde turn west
ward and departure from off Santiago.
and the propriety thereof.
D. The cit cumstances attending and the
reasons for the disotedience by Commo-
ment contained in its dispauch dated May
70. 1898, and the propriety of his conduct
s. The condition OF the coal supply of
5 SE , eedHlying squadron on and about May
slty. if any, for. or advisability of. the
retIrn OF the SQUADRON to Key West to
the official reports made K by pcsoomnrmreooggo oa
Sehiey with respect to this matter.
n Il Mhftn apon G The not comm esefY e 6f5ter i of
a fleet under sucn circumstances was
made to Capture or destroy the Spanish
cruiser Colon as she lay at anchor in the
entrance of Santiago narbor, May II to 81.
inclusive, and the necessity for, or adj
the entrance to Santiago harbor, and the
Spanish vessels a: anchor. within the en-
and the propriety of Commodore Schley's
conduct in the premises.
Visibility Of. 7WsitRdrawinnugs at mi night an Of the the
flying squadron from the entrance to
such shall be found to have been the case:
the extent and character of such with
araWal and whether a close and adequate
escape of the enelny's vessels therefrom,
was established, and the .propriety of
ises.
8. The position of the Brooklyn on the
the exit of the Spanish vessels from the
harbor at santiago; The circumstances
dents resulting from the turning of the
Brooklyn in the direction in which she
action with SAID Spanish Vessels. and the
possibility of thereby colliding with or
the United states feet. and the y propriety
of Commodore Sckley's conduct in the
10. The circumstances leading to, and the
incidents and results of, a controversy
with Lieut. AIDon e. U. ,. N.
Santiago, was navigator of the BROOKLYN.
II relation to the turning of the Brooklyn
also the colioquy at that time between
Commodore Schley and Lieut.. Hodgson
and the ensuing correspondence between
them on the subject thereof, and the pro-
priesy of the conduct of Admiral Schley
In the premises.
1.-The foregoing specific directions
II given primarily for the informa-
ton and guidance of the court, but
do not limit or restrict the scope of
its inquiry into the entire matter
the investigation of which is asked by
the officer concerned.
"Rear-Admiral Schley has been in
formed of his right to be present,
either in person or by counsel, dur
ing the investigation, to cross-exam-
inc witnesses, n to offer evidence
before the court, should he so desire.
The court may at any time grant to
others interested and entitled there
to like privileges.
"The Investigation win be held In
open court.
This employment on shore duty is
required by the public interests.
"Given under my hand, at the navy
department, Washington, this 26th
day OF July, nineteen hundred and
one. JOHN d. LONG,
Secretary"
Treasury Balances.
Washington, July 27.-Yesterdays