Evening star., 1901-09-11
| the dress suit and even permitting the
wearing of a comfortable blouse.

the dress suit and even permitting the
wearing of a comfortable blouse.
Tomorrovv's Program.
Precisely at 1 o'clock the members Of
the court viii be seated Admiral Dewey
at the center of q table placed crosswise
Of the court room. with Rear Admiral
Benham on his right and Rear Admiral
Howison on his left The witnesses VIII
stand at the left end of the table next the
official stenOgraphers, and the judge aoVo-
cate, Captain Lemly. with Solicitor T. +.
Hanna, his associate In the case, VIII oc-
cupy the other end Of the table. A place
has been reserved for Mr.. Stayton Oh New
York, who Is to represent certain naVa!
officers not officially named as yet he VIII
not be recognized as counsel by the court,
however, until some OF his clients are IN
volved in the case by the testimony. Mr.
Hanna's connection with the case Is to be
a very active one. and he Is relied upon TO
meet the forensic efforts OF Admiral
Schley's counsel with the necessary legal
tact.
At o'clock. order having been called,
the Judge advocate, Captain Lemly, Will,
addressing himself to the court, read the
precept under which 1t Is convened. The
next step In order will be the recognition
OF counsel by the court, and after having
been presented as such and Admiral
Schley's counsel having been duly admitted.
Captain Lemly will introduce Mr.. Hulse as
the official stenographer.
Challenging HOwison's Competency.
Then will come the most interesting
event IN the days proceedings. when Ad-
miral Schley will challenge the competency
of Rear Admiral Howison as member OF
the court. His counsel will retterate the
charge as to the question Of opinion ad-
verse to Admiral Schley by Admiral How
k1n lokt t0N ony1t frH
Acting Secretary Hackett, and in this case
1t will be the object OF counsel to support
this statement by affidavit and perhaps by
oral testimony. 1t Is for the court TO say
whether such testimony will be admitted,
and the expectation Is that altogether an
hour or two will be consumed In argument
by counsel directed to the two members or
the court whose competency Is not ques-
toned. Then these two members Will re-
tire for consultation and determine whether
or not the statements presented are sufh-
cient to make manifest the incompetency
of Rear Admiral Howison by reason OF
previous expression of opinion. 1t Is not
expected that the court Will consume much
time In reaching a decision on this point,
and whatever it may be there will be no
appeal from that decision; even the Secre-
tary of the Navy could not undo its work.
However, as already stated, It Is probable
that all Of this talk will fill out the day.
and 1t Is likely that the beginning OF testi-
mony will follow Friday morning.
freCept 1OF the Court.
The exact character and scope OF the
investigation are shown in the following
precept of the court addressed to Admiral
George Dewey by Secretary John D. Long,
July 26:
To Admiral George Dewey. U. 8. Navy.
Washington, D. c.:
Upon the request of Rear Admiral Win
field 8. Schley, U. 8. navy. made in q let
ter dated July %. 1901, copy herewith. a
court Of inquiry. OF which you are hereby
appointed president. Rear Admirals Lewis
A. Kimberly and Andrew e. X. Renham.
U. 8. navy, members and Captain Samuel
G. Lemly, U. 8. navy. judge advocate gem
eral, Judge advocate, Is hereby ordered to
convene at the Navy Department, Wash
ington, D. c., at 1 o'clock pm. on Thurs
day. the 18th day of September. 1901. or
as soon thereafter as may be practicable.
for the purpose Of inquiring into the con-
duct OF the said Schley, commodore in the
navy. during the recent war with Spain
and in connection with the events thereof.
The court will thoroughly inquire into all
the circumstances bearing upon the subject
Of the investigation hereby ordered, and to
this end, besides examining orally all proper
witnesses whose attendance can be secured,
will call upon the department for all docu-
mentary evidence in relation thereto on its
files.
Upon the conclusion Of the investigation
the court will report it's proceedings and
the testimony taken. with a full and de-
tailed statement of all the pertinent facts
which 1t may deem to be established, to-
gether with its opinion and recommends,
ttons In the premises.
While the department relies upon the dis
cretion OF the court to make Its examdna-
ton into this matter full and complete as
requested by the officer at whose instance
1t Is convened, the report should show the
conclusions reached upon certain important
points. to which attention is specifically
directed. as follows:
I. His conduct In connection with the
events OF the Santiago campaign.
2. The circumstances attending, the rea-
sons controlling and the propriety Of the
movements OF the flying squadron" on
Ctenfuegos in May. 1888.
3. The circumstances attending. the rea-
sons controlling and the propriety OF the
movements OF the said squadron In proceed
ing from Cienfuegos to Santiago.
f. The circumstances attending tho ar
rival Of the flying squadron of Santiago.
the reasons for its retrograde turn west
ward and departure from OF Santiago and
the propr1ety thereof.
D. The circumstances attending and the
reasons for the disobedience by Commodore
Schley OF the orders Of the department con-
and the propriety OF his conduct in tho
premises.
9. The condition Of the coal supply OF the
Tying squadron" on and about May 27,
1888; Its coahng facilities: the necessity, IL
any, TOR. or advisability Of, the return of
the squadron to Key West to coal: and the
accuracy and propriety Of the official re-
ports made by Commodore Schley with re-
spect to this matter
l. whether or not every effort incumbent
upon the commanding officer Of a feet under
Sucn circumstances was made to capture or
destroy the Spanish cruiser Colon as she
lay at anchor In the entrance to Santiago
harbor May q to 81. inclusive, and the ne
cessity for. or advisability Of engaging the
batteries at the entrance Of Santiago har-
Dor, and the Spanish vessels at anchor with
In the entrance of said harbor at the ranges
used, and the propriety Of Commodore
Schley's conduct In the premises.
3. The necessity, II any, for, and adyisa-
bility Of. withdrawing at night the Flying
Squadron from the entrance to Santiago
harbor to a distance at sea, II such shall
be found to have been the case; the extent
and character of such withdrawal; and
whether or not close or adequate blockade
OF said harbor. to prevent the escape Of the
enemy's vessels therefrom, was established.
and the propristy of Commodore SchIey's
conduct in the premises.
o. The position Of the Brooklyn on the
morning Of July g. 1S9S at the time of the
exit Of the Spanish vessels from the harbor
of Santiago. The circumstances attending
the reasons for. and the incidents resulting
from the turning OF the Brooklyn in the
direction In which she turned at or about
the beginning Of the action with said Span