The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-27
SEPT. I2 DATE
ON WHICH sCHLEY COURT OF IN
CURRY is TO CONVENE AT
WASHINGTON
TEXT OF FORMAL ORDER
Calls for a Thorough Investigation
of the Conduct of SchIey in
the Cuban Naval
Campaign
CERvERA MAY BE A WITNESS

WASHINGTON, July 25.-The precept
to the Schley court of inquiry which the
navy department has been preparing for
several days, was given to the public this
afternoon 1t is a document addressed to
Admiral Dewey as president of the court,
instructing him concerning the matters
to be investigated While it directs that
the "entiTe matter" of Admiral Schley's
conduct during the operations in West
Indian waters shall be investigated, max
ing use Of the very words employed by
Admiral Schley in his letter to Secretary
Long, it also selects certain distinctive
acts of the rear admiral concerning the
facts and propriety of which it calls for
particular investigation. These points
cover briefly Admiral Schley's alleged de-
lay with the flying squadron at Cienfue-
gos, the slowneSs of his progress toward
Santiago after leaving Cienfuegos, the re-
trograde movement toward Key West, the
effectiveness of the bombardment of the
Spanish fleet at the ranges used in the
reconnaissance of May 81, the state or
the coal supply on various ships when ne
telegraphed the department that he would
return to Key West, the loop Of the
Brooklyn at Santiago, the accuracy OF his
reports and matters relating to the con-
troversy between him and Commander
Hodgson over the alleged colloquy which
is said to have taken place aboard the
Brooklyn when the loop was made our
ing the navel engagement off Santiago.
With the exception of the last two counts,
the others practically sum up the crltl'
cisms Of Admiral Schley's conduct made
by Secretary Long to the senate which
the secretary characterized as Schley
''reprehensible conduct" One of the i'm
portant points in the precept is the dires-
ton to the court to report in its conclu-
anfe n
may deem to be established, together
with opinion and recommendations in the
premises"
STATEMENT BY LONG.
Secretary Long made the following
statement about the precept:
at is simply an enumeration OF the
facts that have been, to use the aDpli-
cant's own words, under discussion they
are referred informally and suggested to
the court as matters which have been
under discussion as such, should be In
ouired into by them. They are enumerat
ed in accordance with the general rule
that when inquiry is made the person in
terested should have notice beforehand.
as far as possible, Of all the specific
things about which inquiry is likely to be
made"
Judge Advocate Lemly, who was desig-
mated as Judge advocate Of the court to-
day, now will proceed at the preparation
of his case He will examine all docu-
rnents and prepare a list Of witnesses.
The court probably will SIT for several
months more than likely until after con-
gress convenes in December.
Judge Lemly has not yet decided who
the witnesses before the court will be.
They may be taken from the navy, from
the army or from civil life-for, undoubt-
spondents will be called in this case. It
is even probable, in view of the recently
published interview Of Capt. Eulate of
the Spanish navy, that he and Admiral
Cervera himself will be called, if Admiral
Schley desires it OF course, the court of
inquiry has no authority to compel their
attendance, and it is more than doubtful
whether they would respond to a sum
mons, but the opportunity will be af-
forded.
No word has been received from Ad-
miral Kimberly, who it was reported had
written to the department saying that his
health made it inadvisable for him to at
tempt to serve on the court. He will not
be officially notified of his selection as u
member Of the court until he receives the
precept which was mailed to him today
A copy of the precept also will be sent to
Admiral Dewey and Rear Admirals Ben
ham and Schley
TEXT OF THE ORDER.
The precept to the court was issued this
afternoon. 1t is as follows:
Admiral George Dewey, U. S. Navy,
washington, D. Con the report of Rear
Admiral Winfield S. Schley u S. N,
made in letter dated July %, 1901, copy
herewith, court of inquiry of which
you are hereby appointed president; Rear
Admirals Lewis A. Kimberley and An
drew K, Benham, U. s. N, members, and
Capt. Samuel c. Lemly, U. S. N, judge
9dvocate general, judge advocate
the navy navy DEPART department IT, SRaxfhe %ashlngton at
-. c., at l o'clock p. m, on Thurs
day, the 18th day of September, 1901, or
as soon thereafter as may be practicable,
for the purpose of inquiring into the con,
duct of the said Schley, commodore in
ths navy during the recent war with
Spain, and in connection with the events
thereof.
The court will thoroughly inquire into
al the circumstances bearing upon the
subject of the investigation hereby or
oered and to this end, besides examining
orally all proper witnesses whose attend
9nee can be secured, will call upon the
department for all documentary eVidt @ee
IN relation therto on its files.
Upon the conclusion of the investiga-
tlon, the court will report its proceedings
ana testimony taken with a full and de-
& &Iane9 statement Of all the pertinent facts
Nhlcn IL may deem to be established,
together with it's opinion and recomnien,
dations in the premises.
While the department relies upon the
discretion of the court to, make its exam
tnatiOn into this matter full and com
ptete, as requested by the officer ar
whose instance It is convened, the 1-VA ort
should show the, Conclusions reached on
certain points, to which attention is
specifically directed:
/ His conduct in connection with the
events Of the Santiago campaign
=. The circumstances attending the
reasons controlling and the propriety of
the movements of the flying squadron
of C1enfugos in May, 1898.
3. The circumstances attending the
reasons controlling and the propriety Of
the movements Of the said squadron in
proceeding from Cienfugos to Santiago
4. The circumstances attending the ar
rival of the flying squadron off San
tiago the reasons for its retrograde turn
westward and departure from off San
tiago. and the propriety thereof.
5. The circumstances attending and the
reasons for the dtSobedience by Commo-
dore Schley of department orders contain
ed in its dispatch of May 25. 1898, and the
ises.
6. The condition of the coal supply
Of the flying squadron on and about
May "a, 1888; its coaling facilities; the
necessity, If any for, or advisability
of, the return of the squadron to Kew
West to coal; and the accuracy and
propriety of the official reports made by
Commodore Schley with respect to this
matter.
/ Whether or not every effort IN
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