Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-09-12
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence OF the Alexandra Gazette
WASHINGTON. September u.

Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington. September -.
Dignity and impressive ceremony
marked the opening session of the
Scblsy Court of Inquiry this after
noon. Official etiquette IVES observed
to the minutest detail, full dress
uniforms lent brilliapcy to the scene.
and the great question involved clothed
every phase OF the proceedings with To-
terest. While on the face OF the re-
cord it is simply court of inquiry 10
consider the conduct of Rear Admiral
Schley In the Santiago campaign, the
general sentiment OF both officers and
iaymen seems TO be that 10 reality
Scbley, Sampson and the Navy depart
ment are all on trial. In order to
properly present the facts and review
them, there has been called together
the most notable assemblage of naval
officers ever seen in the country. A
number of them, by order Of the de-
partment, journeyed half way around
the world to give their testimony.
While the court is given Unlimited au-
thoriIy It's attention Is especially d.
rected to 10 specifications.
The first specification calls 10 gen.
eral way for an examination OF Schley's
conduct 10 the Santiago campaign. The
misconduct and errors OF judgment i'm
piled 10 the other specifications are as
! fnllnws:
Second. That he held the flying
squadron OF CieDinegos from the morn
inq of May 90 to the evening OF May "a,
1898, without lesrniog that Cervera's
feet was not 10 the harbor.
Third. That the voyage from Glen
fuegos to Santiago May "a to 26 was
made at an average speed of only Z
knobs an hour in order to permit the
converted yacht Eagle TO hold her place
in the line. The court is expected TO
decide whether the Eagle should have
been abandoned in the interest OF
greater speed.
Fourth. That while the Spanish feet
was 10 Santiago Schley ordered his yes
sells to sail on May 26 to Key West for
coal. His ships steamed westward, but
returned to Santiago May 81.
Fifth. That he disobeyed an order OF
the department, dated May %, stating
that all It's 10 formation was to the effect
that the Spanish feet was in Santiago
aud saying the department depended
upon Schley to ascertain the fact.
Sixth. That the coal supply OF
Schley's vessels was not such as justified |
him 10 ordering them from Santiago to |
Key West for recoaling.
Seventh. That Schley was delinquent |
in not attempting to capture or de-
stroy the cruiser Colon, as she lay at
anchor in the entrance to Santiago May
q TO 81.
Eighth. That at night he withdrew
his ships such a distance from the en-
trance TO Santiago harbor that the
blockade was rendered Ineffective.
Ninth. That the loop made by the
when the Spanish ships
emerged from the harbor was an i'm
proper msnoeuvre and endangered the
Texas.
Tenth. That he engaged in a con-
with Lieut.. Hodgson, nsvigs.
tag officer, to whom Schley is alleged
10 have said, when Hodgson told him
The Texas would be endangered: damn
he Texas. let her lookout for herself"
Upon the conclusion of the investi.
gatioo, the court will report it's proceed
ngs and the testimony taken, with a
detailed statement with all the peril
rent facts which it may deem to be es.
abolished, together with its opinion
md recommendations in premises.
schley's friends aud counsel profess en-
ire confidence 10 bis complete vindica-
ion, while the partisans OF Sampson
ire no less positive that the charges
implied in the precept will be satisfsc- '
orally sustained. The inquiry, it Is I
xpected. will last probably two months |
nd the cost Of it will doubtless exceed {
i 900 day. The salaries of The naval
Ulcers and government employees 10
tendance at the proceedings will be
nore than 5000 day. TDen there are
arge bills for a report of the proceed /
ngs by steDogrsphers, the cost of print
Dg the testimony and the travelling
expenses Of officers.
The remainder Of the day was con. {
umed in the preliminaries incident to {
be investigation. Schley, Dewey.
<OmA11 hOWtoVh OlucI6 dITlN6U 4
within short time OF each other. At
be proper time when the court was 9
allied to order Schley promptly chal- 1
snged Howison's right to sic az a {
nember OF the court of inquiry because (
e bad formed and expressed an
pinion on the merits OF the case adj
erse to Rear Admiral Schley which
Iould prevent an unbiased decision. {
:. A. Frost, Boston newspaper man, 4
'as called to the witness stand. Frost I
aid that Howison had told him that
smpson had arranged the campaign ]
I'd the order of battle. 1t had worked l
ut according to bis plans and ne was T
therefore, entitled to the credit OF the
ictory; that Schley was not as compe- '
snt as Sampson; be was not as highly {
mn daA h.. III =