Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-27
OFFICIAL ORDERS
Continued from page ~

of. the return Of the squadron to Key
west to coal; and the accuracy and
propriety of the official reports made
ny Commodore Schley with respect To
this matter.
- NE neither or not every effort in
curnbent upon the commanding officer
OF fleet under such circumstances
| was made to capture or destroy the
Spanish cruiser Colon as she lay at
, ahchor In the entrance TO Santiago
harbor, May 81 to II, Inclusive and the
necessity for. or advisability of. en-
gaging the batteries at the entrance to
Santiago harbor and the Spanish yes
| sells at anchor within the entrance to
said harbor at the ranges used and
propricty of Commodore Schley's con-
duct in the premises.
| S-Thc necessity. II any. for. and advisa-
bhity of. Withdrawing at night the flying
| squadron from the entrance Ia Slntia
| 80 harbor to Il distance at sea. If such
| shall he found Ia nave been the ease: the
extent ana character Of such withdrawal. :
and whether or not "A close or adequate
blockade of said harbor to prevent the es
| cape of The enemy g vessels thcrcfrom
was established. and the proprcty of
Commodore Schicy's conduct in the prem
| iscs
9-Thc position Of the Brooklyn on the
! morning of July ;, 1896 at the time OF the
exit OF the Spanish vessels from the har-
| Dor of Santiago. The circumstances at
tending, the reasons for and the incidents
| resulting from the turning of the Brook
| lyn in the direction which she turned AT
or about the beginning of the action ri
the said Spanish vessels, and the posi-
bility Of thereby coildins with or endan-
gcrinS any other Of the vessels of the
United States fleet and the propricty pi
Commodore Schlcy's condIct in the prem
ises.
lc-The circumstances leading 10 ANA
the incidents and results of "A controversy
with Lieut.. .Albcn G. Hodcson. l.. :. y.
who. on July :. 1898. during the battle %
Santiago was navigator of the Brooklyn.
in relation to the turning of the Brooklyn,
also the colloquy At the time between
Commodore Schlcy and Lieut.. lI0dgson
and the ensuing correspondence betweea
them on the subject thereof and the pro
priety of the conduct of Admiral Schley
i'll the premises.
The foregoing specific directions are
given primarily for the information ana
guidance of the court but do not restrict
the scope of its inquiry into the entire
| matter. the investigation of which is
asked by the officer concerned.
Rear Admiral Schley has been inform
ed of his right to be present either i'll per
son or by counsel. during the inVcstiSa
ton. to cross-eXamine witnesses and to
offer evidence before the court shuld he
SO desire. The court may ut any time
grant to Others interested and entitled
thereto like privileges
The investigation will be held in opci:
court.
This employ mcnt on shore duty * re
qurcd by the public interests.
Given under my hand III the navy dc
partmcnt. Washington. this 18th day OF
July, nineteen hundred and one.
John ID. Long, Secretary
Secretary Long made the following
statement about the prcccpt: 1T is sim
| ply an enumeration Of III" facts that hay,
been. to use tho applican. own words
| under discussion. They are retcrr"d to
| informally and suggested to the court ~
matters which have pccn under discussion
| and, such. should be inquired into 10y
| them They are enumerated in accord
i 3tltt Win inc TuIt ihtt Nii't IL
| uuiry is made the person interested
| should have notice beforehand as FAR aS
| possible Of all the specific things aboIt
] which inquiry is likely to bc made.
! Judge Ndvocat" General irmlcy. VIII"
! WIS IT.. ,giIatcd rs judI" advocate of thu
court. today. now will proceed with IL,
| prcparatinn nf his case. He Will exam
| Inc all documents and prepare Il list of
witnesses. Tho cnIrt probably will st
| for several months more than likely un-
| til after Congress- convcncs in December
| Judge I.emlcy has not yet decided who
tn. witnesses before the court snail b..
They may lie taken from the navy. from
| the army or from civil il.-for uudoubt-
cdly some of the newspaper corrrspoI,-
dents will be called i'll this case 1t Is
even probable. in view Of the recently pub
iishrd interview Of Captain f.uidtc Of the
Spanish navy. that he and Admra Ger
vera himself will be called if Admiri.
Schlcy desires it,
No word has been received from Admin
al Kimberley. who, it is reported, had
written to the de'artmcnt saying thai his
health made it inadvisabe for him I" at
tcmut to serve on the court. lie VIII not
be officially notified Of his selection as Il
mcmpcr of the court until he receives thr
prcccpt which was mailed to him. today.
A copy OF the prcccpt also will be sent
, to Admiral Dewey. and Rear Ndmrals
Bcnham and Schicy.