The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-07-24
WANTS AN
INQUIRY.

Washington, D. c., July o. The
Washington Post last night tele-
graphed Admiral Schley that 10 an
editorial it insisted that he owed it
to himself. as we'll as to his friends
to begin proceedings against Mr..
Maclay. the author Of the History
of the United Navy" to disprove
the latter's charges. adding: "Wlll
you do this? Please wire state
meut.'
To-day it received the following
telegram:
Great Neck, L. l.. July q.
Editor Washington Post:-l be.
lieve the first step should be an in
vestigation Of all matter by a court,
then a civil action afterwards. l
am preparing to take this course.
w. S. Schley.
The Post in the morning, as a
result of extensive inquiries based
upon the Adn,ral's dispatch. will
say, in part:
Admiral Schley proposes to ask
an investig alton at the hands Of
Naval Court of Inquiry and then to
sue Historian Maclay for libel.
His action Is the sequel to the
developments during the past week
when the entire country has been
stirred by the publication Of the
unexampled abuse poured out upon
him in the third volume of Z. S.
Mac'ay's History OF the United
States Navy. in which publication
Schley is said to have run away
sin caitiff flight and is 10 addition
denounced as coward, a cur and
a traitor,
The Schley Court of Inquiry will
undoubtedly be one OF the most cele.
brated cases in the naval or mill
tary history Of the country. The
high rank Of the officers involvedi in
the controversy and the intense
publicfceling which has been arous.
ed will combine togive to the inves-
tigation dramatic interest.
Nothing has occuredin Washington
for many years that will compare
with it.
The appointment of the Court OF
Inquiry is expected to be made by
Secretary Long, though it would
be in the power OF the President to
maze the selections if he chose.
This is hardly likely to occur,
however.
Admiral schley's letter asking
for the appointment of the Court
will be addressed to Secretary Long
who is his immediate chief. To
address the communication to the
President, ignoring Secretary Long
would not only be breach Of naval
etiquette, but would be totally at
variance with Schley's careful OBJ
servauce OF punctilious procedure.
The Court, therefore, will be named
by Secretary Long, unless he shall
prefer to refer the matter to the
President.
MIR. Long has already stated that
if Admiral Schley requested
Court Of Inquiry he would grant
the request, and he has also ex-
pressed willingness topersoually
select the Court.
While he has not ade any state
ment as to its personnel, there is
every reason to believe that he
favors Admiral Dewey ard Rear
Admirals Ramsey and Benham. the
two latter being now upon the retir-
ed list.
The name Of Admiral Walker has
been suggested, but 1t is known
that he has expressed views upon
the Sampson.Schlev controversy in
antagonism TO Schley, and his APP
pointment would, therefore, be
seriously questioned.
is said that Dewey, Ramsey or
Benham have always carefully
avoided giving an opinion as to the
merits @. the controversy. All these
officers are residents Of Washington
although temporarily out Of the city
to escape the summer heat, and
could be quickly summoned 70 take
their places around the table OF the
Court.