The Washington times., 1901-07-29
The Charge. Against Admiral schIey.


Press comment on the precept pre-
pared by the Navy Department for the
guidance of the Schley Court OF En-
quiry is critical in regard to the docu-
ment, and particularly as to Article
number five. which directly charges Ad-
miral Schley with disobedience of or
ders. Not few newspapers OF respec-
liability suspect Crowninshield of re-
sponsibility for this gratuitous and un-
manly thrust, the injustice of which Is
painful surprise to the public, which
had really come to believe that Secre-
tary Long intended to give the victor
of Santiago absolutely fair play in the
investigation. The assumption, in ad-
vance of the evidence which VIII be
presented to the court, that he was
guilty of disobedience OF orders is to-
tally inexcusable When the testimony
is in it probably will be seen that he
was not disobedient, and that he exc
cuted his orders as nearly as II was
humanity possible for an officer in his
position to do so: especially in view
of the fact that he was being continual
ly interfered with and steered without
much regard to the exigencies of the
situation, by men far less competent
than himself to judge Of what was
proper to be done-in short, by the in
imical and surly Crowninshield in
Washington, and the feline Sampson
away somewhere on the New York.
AS we observe in the criticisms of Mr..
Longs surprising action in this matter,
which come to our attention, there is
tendency to acquit Captain Lemly.
Judge Advocate General of the Navy,
who drew up the precept. of willingly
offending so grievously against the con-
yentions and even the decencies of the
occasion. 1t is widely thought that an
officer as skilled and experienced in
such affairs as he would not have in
serted a paragraph which in effect is a
prejudgment of the case in respect of
the most serious charge which ever has
been made against Admiral Schley by
any authority worth considering.
Whether rightly or not, Article five Of
the precept appears to be laid at the
door of Crowninshield by many people.
Public sentiment on the point is being
expressed so vigorously that some Of our
contemporaries yesterday seemed con-
fident that Secretary Long would recog-
nize the mistake of allowing an exposi-
tion OF the Navigation Bureau spleen
in the document. and order its amend
Tnent in the interests of justice. proprie-
ty, and national respect for great De-
partment of our Government. Whether
he will do so or not is yet to be seen.
We hope and rather expect that he will.
The persecution of Admiral Schley for
the benefit of Sampson has been pretty
well exposed, and the charges against
the former already have been shown to
be not only baseless. but the direct re-
suit of spite and a conspiracy to ruin
him. 1t would now be natural, one
would think, for the Secretary of the
Navy, as far as he is able, to remove
from his administration the stigma of
complacency toward a conspiracy which
has brought disgrace upon the service
and the nation. He will not be able to
do so without first suppressing every
outward and visible sign that the enc
mics of Admiral Schley. who have fall
sified history. geography. and facts in
their crazy effort to crown Sampson
with the laurels of victory with which
he had as much connection as the Cap
tain Of the Pinafore, still dominate the
policy and prejudices of the Navy De-
partment.
Although he has been the victim of
an attempt to crush him, with the
whole power of the Administration be-
hind it. Admiral Schley has had and has
friends and evidence enough on his side
to render ii doubtful IL he can be de-
stroyed without a great risk to the par
ty in power of reprisals by the Ameri-
can people. The famous loop which
he executed with the Brooklyn during
SIMPSONS fierce engagement with Gen.
eral Shafter behind the horizon" Is not
only now publicly regarded as a credit
to his tactical skill. but the movement
has been praised as extremely clever
and brilliant by Vice Admiral Cervera.
and by Captain Eulate. who command
Cd fha Suanfa cruiser Vizcava In tho