The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-08-08
THE SCkL.EY CASE.
War Department Refuses to Modify
the Original Charges.
The CORRESPONDENCE PASSED.
The Navy Department Holds That Ac-
cording to His Own Official State|
ment He Disobeyed Orders.

Washington, D. c., spec.al.-The
Navy Department has refused to ac-
cede to Admiral Schley's suggestion
that the language in the fifth spacifl-
cation of the precept to the court OF in
quiry be modified. The admiral. in the
letter, challenges that specification OF
the precept which states as fact that
he had disobeyed orders and sugges-
ted that it be modified. The Depart
ment, in its reply, declines to make
the suggested modification on the
ground that according to the Official
records Admiral Schley himself ac-
knowledged that he had disobayed or
ders. The diso5ejience Of orders was
an established fact whether unwilling
ly or willingly.
The following are the letters that
have passed between Admiral Schley
and the Navy Department. Respecting
the rrecept:
Great Neck. n Y, July 21,l301.
Sir: have The honor 10 ackn2wl-
edge receipt OF the Department; conf
municaticr CT July 26, instant, enclos-
| ing copy of an order aonvening. pursu-
ent to the request contained in (my)
communication Of the 22nd a court OF
inquiry.
"Inasmuch as the court is directed
to investigate and after such inves-
tigation, report a full and detailed
statement of ell the pertinent facts
which 1t may deem to be established,
together with It's opinion and recou-
mendation in the premises would re-
spectfully suggest to the Department
that paragraph ) CT the Departments
precept, which is AS follows, viz: .
The circumstances attending and the
reasons for the disobedlence Of Con-
modore Schley of the orders of the De-
partment contained in dispatch dated
May %, 1898, and the propriety of his
conduct in the premises be modified
so as to emit the Departments express
sion of opinion and thus leave the
court free to express its Own opinion
in that matter.
Very respectfully,
Nv. S. SCHLEY,
Rear Admiral.
Hon. John D. Long, Secretary Of
the Navy"
Washington. D. c., Aug. l, 1901.
"Sir: The Department has received
your letter of the 27th ultimo, in which
you acknowledge the receipt Of
copy of the order converting, at your
request, a court Of inquiry to inyesti-
gate your conduct during the war
with Spain, and suggest that para.
graph Of said order, directing the
court to inquire into the circumstances
attending and the reasons for the dis
/ obedience by Commodore Schley Of
the orders of the Department ETC.,
be so modified as to omit the Depart
ment's expression of opinion. and thus
leave the court free to express its own
opinion in that matter
IN reply you are advised that the
! precept calls for an inquiry by the
court and the ascertainment of perti-
nent facts. For the purpose OF set.
ting on foot this inquiry, the precept
treats certain matters as established,
such, for instance, as the arrival OF
the flying squadron off Cienfuegos,
and off Santiago; the retrograde move.
ment westward; the turn of the
Brooklyn on July 3, 1898, and the fact
that you disobeyed orders as reported
by you in your telegram dated Kings
ton, May %, 1898. in which you say:
Much to be regretted. cannot obey or.
ders Of the Department
"Inasmuch. however, as it is the
DEPARTMENTS purpose that the court
shall be absolutely free to report, If
such shall be found to be the case,
that you did not wilfully disobey the
orders. or that you were justified in
disobeying them, and that this may
be clearly understood, your letter OF
the 9th ultfmo, with copy Of this re-
ply will be duly forwarded to the
court.
Very respectfully.
IF. w. HACKETT,
| n A.i.u Snnrntnru of the NAVY