The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-31

the ulSpatcneS IFOtu bostOu anu cLhtcc in the newsps pers to have been men, tioned by Admiral Scnley in recent letter to the Department.
 "Second-If. however, the Department feels that the cause of the navy and of Justice will be better served by reliev- ing me from duty on the court, am entirely ready to withdraw voluntari- ly. or to have the department relieve me upon its own initiative.
 "Third--On the other hand, if the De- partment, knowing all the circum- stances. desires that I should perform the duty. am entirely ready to per form it. and can. upon my conscience and oath. do my duty as member of the court without partiaiity. as the law requires.
 Yours sincerely and respectfully.
 HI. l.. Howison. Rear Admiral. United States Navy.
 Hon. Frank W. Hackett. Washing ton. D. c"
 The following is Mir. Hackett's reply:
 Washington. Aug. 26. 1901.
 Dear Adnliral-Your personal letter of the 24th deserves an immediate re- ply.
 You say substantially that there Is no foundation for the statements at- tributed to you as having been set forth in an interview. afterward pub iished in The Boston Record, and lately made the subject of communication from Rear Admiral Schley to the De- partment.
 "You evidently have read the corre- spondence between the Admiral and the Department published last week in the newspapers.
 "The Department, let me assure you, has no purpose of relieving you of this duty. It has implicit confidence in your sense of justice and fair minded ness. Should the counsel for Rear Ad- miral Schley proceed to offer to the court objection to you, 1t will be for the court itself to decide the question of your competency to sit as a mem- Der.
 Were your letter official instead of being merely personal. should prefer 1t to be laid before the court. would like to know If you have any objection to my giving to the public your frank and manly letter in the event that I shall deem 1t desirable to do SO.
 What you have said only confirms me in the belief that the depar.m sat has been fortunate in selecting you as the third member of the court.
 Kindly accept the assurance of my personal esteem, and believe me.
 Yours truly.
 Frank w. Hacke.t"
 Rear Admiral H. l.. Howison. United States Navy. Yonkers. ". r."
 The correspondence was sent to Ad- miral SchIey, who discussed 1t with his counsel. Later in the day the follow ing announcement was made: ''Ad- miral Schley's counse, is entirely dis satisfied with the position of Admiral Howison as disclosed in his letter tc Acting Secretary Hackett, made public today"
 The lawyers hold that it is not g comprehensive denial of the statements attributed to Admiral Howison, nor they say. does it disclose sufficiently the Admirars freedom from bias. Il 1t probable they will set forth those objections in d letter to the Acting Sec retary of the Navy.
 Watson Defends schley. New York. Aug. 30.-Admirsl John c l Watson is qaeted in The World a, | having said in the course of private conversation in Washington; eff any naval officer asserts that Ad miral Schley Is coward and the iact comes to my knowledge I will see .hl the delinquent is given chance tt vindicate his opinion before court | martial I will prefer charges against l such an offender myself" The remarks, according to The Worlds correspondent. were bro3gnt out as result of the retailing of some of the charges brought against Rear Admiral Schey.
 The naval orders of today contain the names of three persons designated as witnesses in the coming inquiry They are Lieutenant John Hood of the Indiana, Lieutenant mes G. Doyle who, according to a cablegram receiv- ed today from Admiral Remey at Ca vite, has been detached from the New York and ordered home. and Chaplain w. T. Helms. now on the Buffalo, who has been ordered home immediately. 
 Claeson Wants to Talk.
 New York. Aug. 3O.-Gustav F. Clae- son, who was at the helm of the battle ship Texas on the day of the battle of Santiago, and for whom the Judge Ad- vocate of the Navy has been searching lives in Brooklyn. Claeson is 8 Swede, 35 years old. In an interview tonight, he said te expected to be call ed as a witness before the court of in quiry.
 Referring to the movements of tho vessels in the Santiago fight, he said: Commodore Schley posted the signal The enemy is escaping All the ships directed their course toward the enc my. The Texas, Iowa and Gloucester were the first to get down to business.
 He also said that he had been anx' ious for three years to tell all he knew about the battle and the work of the Brooklyn, and that he would be glad tc have that opportunity.