Morris tribune., 1901-07-27

Hear"A0mIFaIS kimberly ana Benham
Both on The Retired List for Mum
Der OF Years Past Chosen as His
Asaoeiates-commander Pillsbury,
Now Under Sampson at the Boston
Navyyard, Is Judge Advocate.
s : Washington July 26.-The board OF
: inquiry which is to investigate the
controversial points in connection with
Admiral Schley's conduct during the
Spanish war will be composed Of Ad-
Miral Dewey, president Of the court;
and Rear Admirals Lewis A. Kim
berry and Andrew e. K. Benham.
The court will meet at the navy. de-
partment In Washington. Sept. "a.
Secretary Long announced these facts
during the day.; The precept to the
S court, which Is being prepared by Cap
tain Lemly, judge advocate general. is
not yet completed. The scope Of the In
CURRY will not be known until the pre-
eept and order for the converting Of
the court are issued. Secretary Long
says, however, that the proceedings
Of the court will be open and that the
widest latitude will be permitted in
the matter Of witnesses and that Rear
Admiral Schley will be allowed to be
represented by counsel. The secre-
Sary had nothing to say about the
composition of the court except that
he thought it spoke for. itself and to
express the hope that the members
chosen would be satisfactory to all
. concerned. He pointed out that none
of the officers chosen had, SO far as he
knew, expressed an opinion concern
ang what is known as the Sampson
Gehley controversy and 1t was there
lore to be presumed that they would
enter upon their work in an impartial
aRd unprejudiced spirit.
Personnel Of the Court.
The members Of the court are dis
Sinctively fighting men. Each has
been connected with celebrated
event in naval annals. OF Admiral
Dewey, the hero Of the battle Of Ma
Mia bay, it is unnecessary to speak.
His record is familiar to all. His as
sociates, Rear Admiral Kimberly and
Rear Admiral Benham, are both re-
tired officers. The former was retired
IN 1892 and the latter in 1894. Ad-
miraI Kimberly is II years of age and
Admiral Benham 50 years. Each saw
ever As years of active service. Both
had fine records during the Civil war.
The great event with which Admiral
Kimberly's name is associated is the
destruction Of the American fleet in
che harbor Of Apia, Samoa, during the
terrific hurricane which occurred there
in 1889. Admiral Kimberly had been
cent to Samoa at the head of an Amer
lean squadron during the trying period
of our negotiations with Germany
there and had conducted himself be-
fore the storm with marked dignity
and ability. When the hurricane oc-
CURED his entire squadron was
wrecked. The Vandalia and Trenton
were completely destroyed and the
LiDsic was cast ashore. The story of
that great disaster and the heroism
displayed by the American officers and
men under the direction of Admiral
Kimberly thrilled the whole world
and made an impression never to be
forgotten.
Admiral Benham played dramatic
part at Rio de Janeiro during the
great naval revolution in 1894.
PiIIsbury Is Judge Advocate.
The court was completed by the Sc
lection of Commander John E. Pills
bury as judge advocate. Commander
Pillsbury is now equipment officer of |
the Boston hayward, which is under
command of Rear Admiral Sampson. |
He is considered an exceptionally ca
pable officer. During the Spanish |
American war he was in command of
the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius, which |
was attached to the North Atlantic |
squadron under command Of Admiral |
Sampson. He will, therefore, be the |
only officer of the court who was |
participant in the maneuVers Of the |
feet in West Indian waters.
Commander Pillsbury had been Sc
lected for the command of the training
ship Prairie, which is about to be put
into commission, and probably this ap-
pointment will make him lose his very
desirable detail.
While the sessions of the court will
be open the court will exercise the
right which it has Of closing the doors
for consultation and for the discus !
sion Of disputed evidence.
Later it was announced that Secre-
tary Long reeonsidered his decision to
appoint Commander Pillsbury as Judge
advocate of the Schley court of in
curry. A final decision in the matter
has not yet been reached.
schIey Has Nothing to Say.
New York, July 26.--Rear Admiral
Behiey is spending the day with his
family at Great Mex, T.. I. 81 am rest