New-York tribune., 1901-07-24
SCHLEY READY TO FIGHT.
WILL DEMAND COURT oF INQUIRY FOR
ALL CHARGES.
ATERwARD TO SUE Mr.. MACLAY. AUTHOR
OF HISTORY OF THE UNITED
STATES NAVY"

OF HISTORY OF THE UNITED
STATES NAVY"
Washington July 23-"The Washington
Post" last night telegraphed Admiral Schiey
that in an editorial it insisted that he owed 1t
to himself well as to his friends to begin
proceedings against Mr.. Maclay, the author OF
the History Of the United States Navy 10
dfsprove the latter's charges, adding: VIII you
do this? Please wire statement
To-day it received the following telegram;
Great Neck. Long Island July %, 1901
Editor WASHINGTON Post:
I believe the first step should be an investiga-
ton OF all matter by court, then civil actioh
afterward. am preparing to take this course,
"The Post in the morning, result OF ex-
tensive inquiries based upon the Admrals dls-
patch, will say in part:
Admiral Schley proposes to ask an investl-
and then to sue historian Maclay for libel
His action is the sequel to the developments
during the last week, when the entire county
has been stirred by the publication OF the uh-
exampled abuse poured out upon him III tn .te
third volume Of E. S. Maclay's History OF sne
United States Navy" in which puolcatiloctn! lct!
flight and is in addition denounced as
coward. and traitor ,.z,
The Schley court of inquiry will unoouoIeuy
be one of the most celebrated cases IN Gte
naval or military history of the country ine
high rank of the officers involved IN tHe Coii.Ao
versy and the intense public feeling when mas
been aroused will combine to give 10 the IN
vestigation a dramatic interest Notnihs .hs as
occurred in Washington Tor many Yeas N
will compare with IT.
The appointment OF the court Of inquiry Is eN
pected to be made by Secretary Long, anUus 80
II would be in the power of the PresloeHl ,t 70
make the selections If he chose. This Is haruS
likely to occur. however
Admiral Schley's letter asking for the app@oir JIM
naent of the court will be addressed to Secrs
tary Long. who is his immediate chief. 10 al
dress the communication to the PRESIDENT Is.tt So,
ing Secretary Long, would not only De ~ 80, 81
of naval etiquette but would be totally at VaIi ar
ance with Schleys careful observance OF pune'Mta pun M
ious procedure. The court, therelore, WI NJ, ,re-
named by Secretary Long, unless ne snali pie
fer to refer the matter to the Presloeh.' 1.-two,
Mr. Long has already stated that II AdmrAi AdSi
Schey requested a court OF inquiry ne WIZ ~.
grant the request and has also expressed ms
willingness personally TO select the GU =. -
While he has not made any statement IIovo
its personnel, there is every reason TO 90
that he favors Admiral Dewey and Rear & Au-
mirals Ramsey and Benham, the TWO IA "a =,
being now upon the retired list The name OF
Admiral Walker has been suggested out IL Is
known that he has expressed views upon the
Sampson Schley controversy In antagohlslni 10
Schley, and his appointment would thereLore
be seriously questioned. 1t is said that Dewey,
Ramsay or Benham have always caretuIly
avoided giving an opinion as 10 the rheIlss oI
the controversy All these officers are resoehts
Of Washington. although temporarily out OF
the city to escape the summer heat and could
be quickly summoned TO take their places
around the table OF the court
Three names mentioned. because tnat num-
Der is specified in the naval regulations Tor
courts of inquiry There is possibility that
Admiral Dewey might ask TO be excused. as ne
would have right to do. but II is also morally
certain that in this event he would be specinc-
ally detailed by the Secretary for service on the
board. This would make his attendance impera-
tive. Secretary Long has from the moment
that court Of inquiry was suggested favored
the appointment OF Admiral Dewey believing
that his appointment would give the highest
character TO the court, and that any decision
I'D 4yVafer erht h..
American people.
Admiral Ramsay for eight years at the
head of the Bureau Of Navigation.
Admiral Benham came into prominence in
1894. during the brief revolution against Presi
dent Fonseca, Of Brazil. The Brazilian navy.
under Admirals Melio and Da Cana, had re-
volted, and Da Cana, IN command OF the
Brazilian ships in the harbor Of Rio de Janeiro.
had declared q blockade. Admiral Beuham
In the harbor with an American fleet consist
ing OF the New-York the Charleston. the De-
troit, the Newark and the San Francisco. All
the European naval commanders had quietly
submitted 10 Da Gama'T offensive orders. the
German commander even failing 10 resent the
deliberate firing upon the German flag. But
Admiral BenEam sent word to Da Cana that
the American flag must be respected. and that
any merchantmen flying the Stars and stripes
would land when and where her captain pleased.
The Brazilian admiral defed the American.
Thereupon Benham informed him that Ameri-
can ships would be conveyed into the harbor
and then he ordered his fleet cleared for ac-
tion, while the Detroit, with shotted guns.
voyed the bark Amy 10 her wharf Da Cana
u
solid shot was put into the Tratanao Da
Gama's flagship. That ended the controversy.
and thereafter every American ship entered the
harhor at Will.
With respect 10 the matters to be inquired
into by the court Of inquiry the Post" will say
that II might be difficult to state briefly the ex-
act questions which will come before the court,
but that Admiral Schley condensed them IN a
letter written to Senator Hale chairman OF the
Senate Committee on Naval Affairs on Febru-
ary 10. 1888. This letter divides the criticisms
Of himself into four heads, as follows:
First-The alleged delay off Cierfuegos Cuba
Second-The alleged slow progress toward
Santiago De Cuba from Cienfuegos.
1hird-The retrograde movements on May 26
and u. (This refers to the turning Of the feet
from Santiago toward Key West)
Fourth-The battle of Santiago and the de-
struction oe Cervera's fleet
It is to be expected says the Post" that Ad-
miral Schley IN his letter to the Secretary re-
questing a court Of inquiry will specify these
GROUNDS or criticism, and that Secretary Long
Will IN turn. repeat them in his orders assem-
bling the court.