Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-12-14
REPORT OF THE
SCHLEY INQUIRY
Admiral Dewey Has Affixed His Sig
nature to the Majority as Well
as the Minority Report.
SCHL,EY NOT VINDICATEP.
The Majority Of the Court of Inquiry Con
demh Admiral Schley on Eleven Points,
Admiral Dewey However Is More
Favorable to Admiral schley.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE secretary
of the navy has before him for review
the report of the court of inquiry In
the Schley case He is naturally TAX
ing time to 10 this, carefully, so inn
mediate action Is not expected. Mean
while, the court is in session, and will
remain so until dissolved by order of
Secretary Long, who convened it. The
practice in such cases is laid down
specifically in Naval Regulation No.
1893, respecting courts of inquiry. The
question has been raised since the ap-
pearance of the two reports in print,
how far Admiral Dewey, president Of
the court subscribed to the opinion eX-
pressed in the first report and in the
findings by appending his signature,
that signature being required of him
apparently by the regulation above all,
regardless of his individual opinioa.
Tn response to inquiry on this point,
the judge advocate general of the ma
w says: According to naval practice,
Admiral Dewey, by affixing his sigma
quiry i'll the case of Rear Admiral
Schley, expresses full concurrence in
all findings of fact and in all opinions
reached by the court, except those with
respect to which he has In terms s'gni-
fed to dissent his minority opinion
The majority report condemns Ad-
miral Schley on eleven points, while
Admiral Dewey sustains him in most
particulars.
The majority opinion finds, in brief,
that Admiral Schley should have pro-
ceeded with the utmost dispatch to
Cienfuegos and there maintained a
close blockade; that he should have
endeavored to have obtained informa-
ton of the Spaniards there: that he
should have proceeded to Santiago with
all possible dispatch; that he should
not have made the retrograde move
ment that he should have obeyed the
departments orders that he should
have endeavored to capture the Span
ish vessels in Santiago harbor; that he
did not do his utmost to destroy the
Cristobal Colon while she lay at the
mouth of Santiago harbor: that he
caused the squadron to lose distance in
the loop of the Brooklyn; that he
thereby caused the Texas to back; that
he did injustice to Hobson; that his |
conduct of the campaign was charac-
terized by dilatoriness and lack of en- |
terprise; that his official reports on his |
coal supply were inaccurate and mis-
leading; that his conduct in battle was
self possessed, and that he encouraged |
in his own person his subordinate off, |
GERS and men.
The report Of Admiral Dewey says
that the passage to Cienfuegos was
made with all possible dispatch; that,
In view of the coal supply of the squa
dron the blockade off Cienfuegos was
as effective as possible to make 1t;
that the Adula was allowed to enter
Cienfuegos harbor to get information;
that the passage to Santiago was made
with as much dispatch as possible,
keeping the squadron together; that
the blockade Of Santiago was effective;
and finally, that Admiral Schley was
senior officer off Santiago in absolute
command and entitled to the credit
due for the glorious victory, which re-
suited in the total destruction of the
Spanish ships.
The opinion of the senate is divided
as to the probability of congressional
of the Schley controver-
sy, but it is, on the whole, against the
of such a course. The ma
jority of Republican senators appear
to be adverse to reopening the ques-
ton. Those holding this view include
the friends Of Schley. The Democrat
ic senators generally seemed to wait
upon an expression Of opinion by the
friends Of Schley. Senator Rawlins
thought resolution Of confidence
would be in order. Jones, Arkansas,
thought a resolution bearing upon the
question was among the probabilities.
Representative Pearre, Maryland, who
the Maryland district from
which Schley came, stated today he
would jntrodue a resolution for con-
gressional investigation of the entire
Sampson -Schley affair, unless his coli
league from Maryland, Schirnl, who
contemplated introducing such reso-
luton, carried out this action.