BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-12-31
SAN JUAN, DECEMBER 81
The Case OF Admiral
Schley.

It was an English Admiral, John Byng,
whose execution, on the verdict, of naval
court martial, gave point to the famous
irony that he was shot "To encourage
othersp Byrg was found guilty simply Of
ssnegligence'. He was expressly acquitted
Of sscowsrdica or disaffection,n and the
court recommended him to the mercy of the
King. Yet the articles of war ASST 2ned the
penalty Of death for neglect in naval
officer to sdo his utmosp to take or destroy
the enemy's ships, and the sentence was
carried out.
Tue real reason for this may we'll have
lain hidden in Voltaire's sarcasm. To
siencourage the others" is, after all, the
most powerful argument for holding naval
officer to the strictest accountability. The
discipline, the prestige, the high sense of
duty of the whole service are at stake in
every naval courtmartial or inquiry. Per.
sonal considerations cannot live III the
atmosphere which should envclop the officer
sitting in such court--namely, that Of pure
devotion to the highest interests of the
navy. They have nothing to do with the
distribution Of glory or the nice assignment
Of rewards. Their one duty is to determine
and apply the loftiest STANDARD of profes
sional responsibility. For an American
board of inquiry the sole questions should
be, ssDoes the conduct Of the officer before
us conform to the stern laws and the glor
ious tradition of the American navyf Does
1t measure up to the example Of Lawrence,
. Decatur, or q Farragut7 Will it be an
inspiration or . Encouragement to the
youngest midshipman, taught and resolved
that to do his duty at all hazards is the one
ambition and the sufficient laurel Of every
American naval oficer'f
It goes without saying that the verdict
against Admiral ScEley, was rendered only
in the discharge Of painful duty laid upon
the able and high minded officers composing
the Board of Inquiry, which the accused
Admiral 90 tardily demanded. They find
him guilty Of s.vaciIlation, dilatoriness, and
lack Of enterprise" They assert that she
did not do his utmostr to capture or destroy
the Colon on May 81, 1898. This offence
is punishable, in the American Articles OF
War, az in the English, with death. The
veredict also finds that Schlcy did not
s.promptly obey the order of the Navy De.
partment, that bis official reports regarding
the coal supply and the coaling facilities Of
the Flying Squadron we're ssinaccurate and
misleadIDg,n and that he ssdid injustice" to
Lieutenant. Commander Hodgson by pub
fishing garbled version Of the correspond
cnce that passed between them. Schley's
personal cuolness and courage in battle are,
on the other hand, certified to as uEques
toned. This last is reason for general con
graduation. The American navy is at least
relieved from the charge-alwsys unthink.
able-that it had an officer in high com
mand capable Of cowardice in the face Of the
enemy.
Tue verdict of the Board OF inquiry, by
further example Of the unhappy late nhich
has attended the Schley controversy from
the beginning, is exposed to misuuderstsnd.
Ing BY the public. The Admiral's friends
are already shouting that be 10 condemned
only BY majority Of the court-composed
Of two officers who were never in really
important battle--while glorious Dewey
stands BY his brother hero in every particular.
But what is the cold fact Admiral Dewey
must be held to agree with Admirals Ben
ham and Ramsey except in the points where
be records . specific dissent. These are
entirely minor. They do not touch those
capital features Of the verdict uhicb we have
already quoted, and which constitute the
mat condemnation Of Admiral Schley.
dewey, ~ kotner words, found him guilty
on al the main counts OF the indictment,
but cleared him on subordinate charges.
Ihen, IN burst OF amiabie but mistaken
geHerosity, he gave an opinion on matter
not before the Board, and on which evid-
nnno had hoar ri0idiw nwclnd.d rano.l.,
s..,i t..' ssssy !; s., V. senior , officer i