The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-24
Admiral Dewey and Rear AdmiraIs
Ramsey and Benham Likely to
Compose the Naval Board.
SECRETARY LONG WILLING
NO DOUBT THAT HE WILL GRANT
sCHLEY'S REQUEST.
Case Promises to BE One of the Most
Celebrated Ever Tried-Schley In
terviewed mt Great Neck, l.. 1.

WASHINGTON, July 23.-The Washing
ton Post last night telegraphed Admiral
Schley that in an editorial 1t insisted that
he owed it to himself as well as TO his
friends to begin proceedings against Mr..
Maclay, the author of the History of the
United States Navy to disprove the lat
ter's charge, adding: "Will you do this?
Please wire statement"
To-day 1t received the following telegram
from Great Neck, l. l., signed by w. s.
Schey:
Editor Washington Post-I believe the
first step should be investigation OF all mat
ter by court; then civil action after.
wards. i am preparing 70 take TINS course
| The Post, in the morning, a result Of
| extensive inquiries based upon the ad-
| mirals dispatch, will say in part: Admiral
Schley proposes TO ask an investigation at
| the hands of a naval court or inquiry and
| then TO sue Historian Maclay for libel. His
action is the sequel TO the developments dur
ing the present week, when the entire coun-
try has been stirred by the publication OF
| the unexampled abuse poured out upon him
In the third volume of f. S. Maclay's His
tory of the United States Navy in which
| Schley is said to have run away in 'caitif
| fight and is. in addition, denounced as
| coward. a cur and traitor.
THE Schley court of inquiry will un-
| doubtedy be one of the most celebrated In
| the naval or military history of the coun-
| try. The high rank of the officers involved
| and the intense public feeling which has
| been aroused will combine to give the in
| vestigation a dramatic interest. Nothing
| has occurred in Washington for many years
| that will compare with it. The appoint
ment of the court is expected 10 be made
| by Secretary Long, though ii would be in
| the power of the President to make the
selections If he chose. This is hardly likely
20 occur, however Schley's letter asking
| for the appointment of the court will be
addressed TO Secretary Long, who is his
| immediate chief. To address the communi-
cation To the President, ignoring Secretary
Long, would not only be breach of naval
etiquette, but would be totally at variance
| with Schley's careful observance OF pune
| tilious procedure. The court, therefore,
will be named by Secretary Long, unless
| he shall prefer TO refer the matter to the
| President.
LONG WILL GRANT INQUIRY.
"Mr. Long has already stated that If Ad-
miral Schey requested a court of inquiry
| he would grant the request, and has al
ready expressed his willingness TO select
\
statement as to its personnel, it is bel eyed
| he favors Admiral Dewey and Rear Ad-
mirals Ramsey and Benham the two latter
| being now upon the retired list. The name
of Admiral Walker has been suggested.
but he has expressed views upon the Samp-
SON -Schley controversy in antagonism to
schley. and his appointment would, there
fore. be seriously questioned. II is said that
/ d. ,hAx h0x- Nt
carefully avoided giving an opinion as TO
| the merits of the controversy. All these
officers are residents OF Washington. al
| though temporarily out Of the city, and
! could be quickly summoned to take their
places around the table Of the court
Three names are mentioned because that
number is specified in the naval regulations
for courts of inquiry. There is a. possbili-
ty that Admiral Dewey might ask to be
excused, as he would have a right TO do,
! but IT is morally certain that in this event
he would be specifically detailed by the
secretary for service the board. This
would make his attendance imperative.
Secretary Long has. from the moment that
a court OF inquiry suggested, favored
| the appointment OF Admiral Dewey, believ-
/ ing that this would give character to the
! court and that any decision which il might
reach would be accepted by the American
/ people.
the head OF the bureau OF navigation.
| Admiral Benham came into prominence
in 1854 during the brief revolution AGAINST
! navy under Admirals Mello and De Cana,
! had revolted. and De CANA, In command of
1 The Brazilian ships In the harbor OF Rio
/ dc Jaueiro had declared a blockade Ad-
! rairal Benham was in the harOor with
American feet, consisting OF the New York.
nat orb. Co..
/ cisco. All the European naval commanders
/ had quietly submitted TO De Gana's offen-
! sivs orders the German commander even
failing to resent the deliberate nring upon
| the German flag. But Admiral Benham
sent word 10 De Cana that the American
| chantman fiying the stars and stripes
would land when and where her captain
pleased. The Brazilian admiral dehed the
that American ships would be conveyed into
the harbor and then he ordered his feet
vowed the bark Amy 10 her wharf De
| CANA fred upon the bark, and the next
moment solid shell was put into the
TraJanao, De Gama's flagship. That ended
the controversy. and thereafter every
/ American ship entered the harbor at will. .
With respect TO the matters TO be inquired
| into BY the couyt OF inquiry, the Post will
say that II might be difficult 10 state briefly
the exact questions which will come before
densed them in a letter written 10 Senator
/ Hale, chairman Of the Senate committee
| on naval affairs. Feb. IS. 1880. This letter
| divided the criticism OF himself into four
heads, as follows:
First-The alleged delay off Cienfuegos,
| Cuba.
| Second-The alleged slow progress toward
] Santiago de Cuba from Cienfuegos.
Third-The retrograde movements on the
| 18th and 27th of May. (This refers 10 the
turning OF the fleet from Santiago toward
| Key West)
| Fourth--The battle OF Santiago and the
| destruction Of Csrvera's fleet.
! II Is TO be expected, says the Post. that
Admiral Schley. IN his letter TO the secre-