Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-07-26
LONG D lG|| NAMES MI f:S TIE H||: | COURT Q'UR !
Secretary Long Of the Navy Depart
meat Names the Court of Inquiry
s!c:Ss IT, 49,. for, Schley. y.
Dewey will be President and Admirais
Kimberley and Benham the Other. :
G.... S..> s =. Il Members. >.> # .'>@% I. 4
Commander Pillsbury, Now Of Boston
Navy Yard, will BE Judge Advo,- .S..'
49,. cate Of Court.

Washington, July 26:-The board Of
inquiry which is to investigate the
controversial points in connection with
Admiral Schley's conduct during the
Spanish war will be composed Of Ad-
miral Dewey, president of the court;
and Rear Admirals Lewis A. Kim
berly and Andrew r. X. Benham.
The court will meet at the navy de-
partment in Washington, Sept. IL.
Secretary Long announced these facts
during the day. The precept to the
court, which is being prepared by Cap
tain Lemly, judge advocate general, is
not yet CO mpleted. The scope of the in
quiry will not be known until the pre-
cept and order for the convening Of
the court are issued. Secretary Long
says, however, that the proceedings
of the court will be open and that the
widest latitude will be permitted in
the matter Of witnesses and that Rear
Admiral Schley will be allowed to be
represented by counsel. The secre-
tary had nothing to say about the
composition of the court except that
he thought it spoke for itself and to
express the hope that the members
chosen would be satisfactory to all
concerned. He pointed out that none
Of the officers chosen had, SO far as he
knew, expressed an opinion concern
ing what is known as the Sampson
Schley controversy and it was there
fore to be presumed that they would
enter upon their work in an impartial
and unprejudiced spirit.
Personnel of the Court.
The members of the court are dis
tinctively fighting men. Each has
been connected with a. celebrated
event in naval annals. OF Admiral
Dewey. the hero of the battle of Ma
nila bay, it is unnecessary to speak.
His record is familiar to all. His as
soeiates, Rear Admiral Kimberly and
Rear Admiral Benham, are both re-
tired officers. The former was retired
in 1892 and the latter in 1894. Ad-
miral Kimberly is II years of age and
Admiral Benham 50 years. Each saw
over As years Of active service. Both
had fine records during the Civil war.
The great event with which Admiral
Kimberly's name is associated is the
destruction of the American feet in
the harbor Of Apia, Samoa, during the
terrific hurricane which occurred there
in 1885, Admiral Kimberly had been
sent to Samoa at the head Of an Amer
ican squadron during the trying period
of our negotiations. with Germany
there and had conducted himself be-
fore the storm with marked dignity
and ability. When the hurricane oc-
CURED his entire squadron was
wrecked. The Vandalia and Trenton
were completely destroyed and the
Lipsic was cast ashore. The story Of
that great disaster and the heroism
displayed by the American officers and
men under the direction of Admiral
Kimberly thrilled the. whole world
and made an impression. never to be
forgotten. n..,.-,z...-,.... +
Admiral Benham played a dramatic
part at Rio de Janeiro during the
great naval revolution in 1894. w.. ..q.:s,
PfiIshury Is Judge Advocate.
III 4 The court was completed by the se-
lection Of Commander John E. Pills
bury AS Judge advocate. Commander
sPillsbury is now equipment officer of
the Boston navyyard, which is under
command of Rear Admiral Sampson.
He is considered an exceptionally ca
pable officer. During the Spanish
erican war he was II command OF
the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius, which
was attached to the North Atlantic
squadron under command Of Admiral
Samps He will, therefore, be the
only officer Of the court who was a.
participant II, the maneuvers Of the
fleet in West Indian waters. -
sS5 Comm ander Pillsbury had been Sc
lected for the command Of the training
ship Prairie, which lis about to be put
into commission on, and probably this ap-
pointment viii make him lose his very
desirable detail. st,4s
While the sessions OF the court will
be open the court will exercise the
right which it has Of closing the doors
for consultation and for the discus
zion of disputed evidence.
Later 1t was announced that Secre-
tary Long reconside Tered his decision to
appoint Command Ter Pillsbury as Judge
advocate Of the Schley court pf In
auiry. A final decision in the matter
has not vet been reached.
scEley Has Nothing TO say. 81
New York, July Il. tear Admiral
Echley - spending the day with his