The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-24
FRIENDS MAY
TAKE UP FIGHT.
--latest Developments in the
SChleey Controversy.
GENERAL NILES RETURNS TODAY.
His Possible Retirement Again Be-
ing Discussed-Likelihood of a
Request for a Co5rt Of En-
quiry and It's Outcome.

Friends CT General Niles. Admiral
Newey. and Rear Admiral schIey are to
day discussing the feasibility Of a move
ment in the interest Of a vindication Of
these three ofncials-Miles. who has been
censured for discussing the schIey case;
Dewey. whose separate verdict in the
schIey case vas disapproved by the Sec
retary of the Navy, and sehley. the ap-
plieant Tor an enquiry n connection with
the Santiago campaign Concerted action
On the part OF che admirers of these Of
acers is the talk
Little Can Re Done Now
But little. if anything. can be done dur
ing the recess 2f Congress and at this
season of the year. but there is already
movement on foot CT will be started
soon among the friends of these officers
The matter is not now in such shape as to
enable anyone to talk about it with any
degree OF authority, but, despite the in
fuence of the Administrator to have the
schley matter ard all questions bearing
upon it dropped. it is still the main topic
| of conversation in official and private
| circles at the Capital.
The intimation is that the friends OF
Dewey. Miles. and schley viii decide upon
some plan which Will secure vindieation-
There have been SC many frowns upon
the suggestion Of a Congressional investi-
CATION of the schley case that that seems
| impossible, but Congress is the only
| branch of The Government to which these
officers can. it is said. now look with any
hope Of obtaining what they desire.
General Miles Returns Today.
General Miles is expected home this
afternoon, but no one is authorized to say
what he will do in regard to the censure
| which he received.
| There is nothing in the Army Regula-
tioas making it mandatory upon the Pres
| ident to grant General Miles q court of
| enquiry in case he should request it
/ Such matters are left to the discretion Of
| the President Judging from the action
| already taken by the President in repri-
| manding General Miles, both officially and
! personally. there is no reason to believe
| that he would grant any request of the
General for a court of enquiry. The
President is extremely anxious that the
/ whole matter be dropped, but if General
| Miles persists in keeping the subject
alive il is asserted that he will be sum
marily dealt with and placed upon the
retired list It is within the Presidents
power to take such action without refer
| ence to court of any kind
Old Enough to BE Retired.
On August S last General Miles reached
| the age of sixty-two years, after which
the President may place him on the re-
tired list. It is an open secret in the
| War Department that the late President
| Mckinley woald have retired General
Miles had it not been for certain political
influences which were friendly to the Gen
| erals interests At that time the matter
went so far that General Miles was giyer
an opportunity &c ask for retirement
which he refused to do.
It is said at the War Department that
/ q request for court of enquiry by Gen
| eraI Miles would afford to the department
mcst favorable opportunity 70 retire
him without further remark.
Both Major General Brooke and Major
! General Otis viii retire within the mex