The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-31
He DID NOT GIVE 1T OUT
He Can Serve on the Court Without
Partially.
BUT he is NOT ANXIOUS FOR THE SERVICE
His Letter to Hackett is Given to The Public
With His Permission and Copy is
Sent to Admiral
SchIey.
(By the Associated Press.)


retary of the Navy Hackett today made
public personal correspondence between
: Rear Admiral Howison and himself in
relation to the fitness of the Admiral
Admiral Howison having consented that
his personal letter shall be given to
the public.
A copy of Rear Admiral Howison's
letter has been sent to Rear Admiral
Schley. The correspondence is as fol-
lows:
"72 Ashburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.
Y, August 24th, 1901.
Dear Sir: / have just returned to
my home after a short visit to Sara.
toga and Lake George.
Owing to my detail as member
of the court of inquiry, ordered to Net
on September 18th next, / find that
many newspapers are giving me credit
for having served my country, in the
United States navy, for nearly half a
century, with honor.
II see also that / am thought to be
Objectionable as a member of this scour,
of inquiry, it being stated that l pub
licly expressed opinions on the conduct
of the battle of Santiago, while serv-
ing as Commandant at the Boston
Navy Yard, shortly after the result of
that engagement was known.
II believe the service knows, as
do, that / do not attempt to make pub
lie speeches, write for magazines or
papers or make public utterances on
naval Or other subjects.
1T has been impossible for me to
avoid the visits and questions of rep
resentatiyes of newspapers while serv-
ing at important stations and at times
when the navy has been so busily en-
ployed.
"At Mare Island, during my long
service there particularly during the
great railroad strike, the papers con-
tanned many statements, said to have
been obtained in my office; most, if not
all of these reports were harmless,
readable articles on the operations Oh
the several naval. detachments serving
for the preservation Of law and or
der.
During my two years service at
the Boston station, there was seldom
day passed without receiving visits
from the representatives of the sever.
nj Boston papers and during the Span
iSh-American War, the navy yard there
was seldom without newspaper repor.
ters.
Il found them to be polite and gen.
tlemanly, at all times, and whatever in.
formation or news l could reasonably
impart / gave them.
II have often interpreted to a mum.
ber of them the laws and regulations
for the navy, by attempting to an
swer their numerous questions relating
to the duties and responsibilities of the
several grades of officers throughout a
fleet of vessels, from the commander
in-chief to the lowest rate among the
crew.
when the news of our navy's suc-
cess at Manila and again at Santiago
reached Boston, the people there were
not behind the rest of the United
States in giving honor and praise to
the navy and to the commanders-in-
chief of the fleets.
'The enthusiasm of the population
in praise and honor for the officers and
men engaged at Santiago lasted for
some time, until later, when the trou-
bles commenced as to where the credit
and honors should go for the success
of this engagement.
1T is no news to the navy to say
that where all do their duties, the first
honors for success go to the officer il,
chief command Censure for failure
also belongs to him.
This newspaper cutting in question,
contains a statement in which it is
said that l made a comparison between
Schley and Sampson, unfavorable to
Schley.
THE word respected as used by the
reporter is seldom or never employed
by navy men in comparing the qualities
possessed by officers, and 1 am sure
/ could never have said this as he
reports, nor said that Schley had the
reputation of being nervous and hot
headed in the Naval Academy
"One may say an officer stands high
er in his class, if true; another may
stand higher in scientific attainments,
while another be distinguished for emf
ncnt diplomatic and social qualities,
while all under discussion are of good
standing and proficient in their neces-
sary professional calling.
II have no recollection of the gen.
tleman representing the Boston Record
and / do not approve of his public
statement as mine.
Il cannot say that I have not dis.