The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-12-19
The Majority Report of the Nav.
al Board Of Inquiry Con.
demns Adm. Schley.
THERE ARE | | POINTS AGAINST HIM
1t is Signed by George Dewey. Presi'
dent of the Court. ana Judge
Advocate s. Il. Lemly.
Adm. Dewey, In Minority Report
Says Adm. SchIey Is Entitled to
Credit Due For the Glori.
Gus Victory.

Washington, Dec. 14.-The mos
prolonged, interesting and importan
naval tribunal ever held in this coun
try came to a close after having II
open and secret session lasted thre,
months, short of one week, when Sec
retary Long was handed the findings
of the court of inquiry which inquired
into the conduct of RI. Adm. Schle,
during the Santiago campaign. Fol
seven weeks the court heard testi
mony, and for fully a month 1t delib
finally reaching the conclusions an
nounced The result was a complete
surprise, and 1t is probable that nc
prophesy has approached the truth
Instead of one report there are two
Both are signed by George Dewey. the
president of the court. and by Sam G
Lemly. the judge advocate This is o
form said to be recognized in all courts
OF inquiry, the signatures of the other
members not being necessary. But II
is explained that Adm. Dewey signed
the second report, minority report
to express his qualification of or dis
sent from the views expressed by the
court comprising himself, Adms. Ben
ham and Ramsey. in the first report
1t is said at the navy department
that there will be no further proceed
ings in this celebrated case on the
departments initiative. Secretary
Long and Judge Advocate Lemly DOS
itively declined to discuss the findings
in any phase. The secretary received
the reports at 5 o'clock Friday evening
and he has not yet acted upon them
1t is probable that he will simply an
pend his signature with the word "Ap
proved to the whole record. The
court itself recommends no further
proceedings owing to the lapse of
time.
The majority report condemns Adm
Schley on II points, while Adm. Dewey
sustains him in most places. The ma.
jority opinion finds in brief that Adm.
Schley should have proceeded with the
utmost dispatch to Cienfuegos and
close blockade: that he
should have endeavored to have oh.
tained information of the Spanish
squadron there; that he should have
proceeded to Santiago with dispatch:
hat he should not have made the ret.
'ograde movement; that he should
nave obeyed the departments orders.
nat he should have endeavored to cap.
ure the Spanish vessels in Santiago:
hat he did not do his utmost to de.
'troy the Colon; that he caused the
squadron to lose distance in the loon
IT the Brooklyn; that he thereby caus.
I'd the Texas to back; that he did in.
ustice to Hodgson; that his conduct
n the campaign was characterized by
'accillation dilatoriness and lack of
Enterprise; that his official reports on
he coal supply were misleading and
Inaccurate; that his conduct during |
he battle was self-possessed and that
le encouraged in his own person his |
ubordinate officers and men. /
Adm. Dewey in his report says that
he passage to Cienfuegos was made
With all dispatch; that in view of his
oal supply the blockade of Cienfue.
os was effective; that he allowed the
Idula to enter Cienfuegos to get in.
ormation; that his passage to San.
lago was with as much dispatch as
ossible, keeping the squadron to.
ether; that the blockade of Santiago
'as effective, and. finally, that he was
ne senior officer of Santiago, in abso.
Ute command, and entitled to the
redit due for the glorious victory
'hich resulted in the total destruction
the Spanish ships.