Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-08-24
Schley's Counsel Want Official In
quiry Made.
MAY OBJECT TO HIM ON COURT
Admiral win Be Asked If He Was Correctly
Quoted in Interview in a Boston
Paper.


board of inquiry Inquiries will be
made of him rs TO the accuracy of a
recent statement that he had given
utterance to sentiments hostile to Adj
miral w. S. Schley. 1t il is to be
found true that he has uttered such
sentiments Admiral Schley's counsel
will object to him as member of the
court and the department will have TO
look further for an officer to complete
the membership of that tribunal.
Attorney General Isidor Rayner
and Judge J. NJ. Wilson, counsel for
Admiral Schley, held protracted
conference at the Shoreham making
a study of the inquiry. Early yester-
day they called on the Acting Secre-
tary of the Navy and informed him
that communication would be sen t
to the navy Department relative TO
statements reported to have been
made by Admiral Howison in connec-
tion with the Simpsons chley contro-
versy. This communication asks that
the Navy Department submit the
same to Admiral Howison for his
consideration and that copy of the
Admiral's reply be forwarded to Adj
miral Schley's counsel.
The article IN question appeared in
the Boston Record, in which Admiral
Howison is reported to have said that
the battle of Santiago was won by
Sampson; that SIMPSONS presence
was unnecessary at Santiago; that
Admiral Sehley deserved no credit for
the victory, and that, between the
two, SAMPSON was the better officer
Mr.. Rayner was asked what steps
would be taken in event Admiral
Howison remained on the board, and
replied
81 cannot have any communicate
about the matter.
When asked whether the Govern
ment would furish list of Witness
es, Mr.. Ravner said:
We are bound to have the names
@tti1ese witnesses and we do not
think we will have any trouble in
securing them from the Navy De-
uartment.
1t would probably be impossible
for the Navy Department to furnish
Admiral Schley's counsel with a
complete list of witnesses if it were
the earnest desire of the department.
to do so. the court of inquiry has
jurisdiction over the witnesses, and
a complete list could come only from
that body. The most that the depart
a list of witnesses whose testimony
the Government desires. just as Ad-
miral Schley submits his list of wit
nesses. Neither set is properly to be
designated as witnesses for the prose-
eution, but merely as person supposed
to know something about the case
which might be enlightening TO the
court The court may. and probably
VIII, call witnesses other than those
suggested by either the department or
Admiral Schley.
1t will necessitate a great deal OF
hard work on the part of Admiral
Schley's counsel to perfect their ex-
animation into all the details of the
naval operations which must be re-
viewed between now and the time of
the meeting of the court. After the
conference it was arranged that the
counsel should meet here again Oh
Thursday morning.
1t is understood that the examina-
tion of the logs of the several vessels
participating III the Cuban blockade
and the Santiago sea fights leads
to disclosures in conflict with
the impressions likely to be drawn
from the report of the Bureau of Navi-
cation and appendices. upon which
public information is based.
Among other things, it is said that
the criticism of Admiral Schley's
method of blockade, as being ineffect-
ual' is completely answered by an
analysis and comparison of the logs of
the vessels engaged in that duty, and
that it will appear that if Adj
miral Schiey was blamable for
not destroying the Colon when
she stuck her nose out of Santiago
harbor Admiral Sampson is equally so
having failed under similar cir
cumstances on another occasion to ac-
complish the destruction of that vessel
1t will probably be shown TO the salts
faction of the court. however, that in
stead of any blame attaching to the
course pursued in this matter differ
course which would have subjected
Admiral Schley's vessels to the fire of
the forts without airy possibility of
reaching the Colon, which would
return TO the harbor before there
was any chance 10 give her battle,