Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1901-08-02
SECRETARY LONG
ISSUES PRECEPT.
Schley Court 10 Make Exhaustive In.
yestigation of Campaign.
SUBSTITUTES LEMLY FOR PILLSBURY
It Directs Admiral Dewey and His Asso.
eiates to Go Fully Into the Rear Ad.
mlraPs Conduct Throughout the Santiago
CampaIgn.,The Court Also Authorized to
Make Recommendations.

tdHphiku" INC NOuft hioV h"'""'@~N ="
Make Recommendation
Washington Especially The official
order for the court Of inquiry asked by
Admiral Schley was made public by
Secretary Long and calls Tor an ex-
tended investigation Of accusations and
charges made by the Admiral growing
out OF the Spanish War. The precept
OF the cor/t in full is as follows:
"To Admiral George Dewey. U nited
States Navy. Washington, D. I.
Upon the request OF Rear Admiral
Winfield S. Schley, United States Navy,
made in a letter dated July IL. 1901:
copy herewith, court Of inquiry. OF
which you are hereby appointed presl-
dent. Rear Admirals Lewis A. Kimber-
ly and Andrew E.. K. Benham, United
States Navy members, and Capt. Sam
uel c. Lemly, United States Navy.
Judge Advocate General, Judge-advo-
cate, is hereby ordered to convene at
the Navy Department, Washington, D.
C., at o'clock P. NJ. on Thursday, the
18th day of September, 1901, or as soon
thereafter as may be practicable, tor
the purpose of inquiring into the con
duct OF the said Schley, commodore in
the navy, during the recent war with
Spain. and in connection with the
events thereof.
The court will thoroughly inquire in
to all the circumstances bearing upon
the subject Of the investigation, hereby
ordered, and to this end, besides exam
lining orally all proper witnesses whose
attendance can be secured, will cali upon
the department for all documentary evil
dence in relation thereto on its files.
Upon the conclusion Of the investiga-
ton the court will report its proceed
ingS and the testimony taken, with a
full and detailed statement Of all the
pertinent facts which it may deem to be
established, together with its opinion
and recommendation in the premises.
while the department relies upon
the discretion OF the court to make its
examination into this matter full and
complete, as requested by the officer at
whose instance it Is convened, the. re-
port. should show the conclusions
reached upon certain important points,
to which attention is specifically direct
ed. as follows:
81. His conduct in connection with
the events of the Santiago campaign.
~ The circumstances attending the
reasons controlling. and the propriety
of the movements OF the Flying Sqlad-
ron off Cienfuegos in May, 1893.
g. The circumstances attending, the
reasons controlling, and the proprieiy
of the movements OF the said squadron
in proceeding from Cienfuegos to San
tiago.
q. The circumstances attending the
arrival Of the Flying Squadron off San
tiago, the reasons for its retrograde
turn westward and departure from off
Santiago, and the propriety thereof.
IS. The circumstances attending and
the reasons for the disobedience by
Commodore Schley of the orders Of the
department contained in its dispatch
dated May IS, 1893, and the propriety
of his conduct in the premises.
Is. The condition Of the coal supply
OF the Flying Squadron on and about
May ~, 1893; its coaling facilities: the
necessity, if any, for, or advisabil;ty Of,
the return OF the squadron to Key West
to coal; and the accuracy and propriety
Of the official reports made by Commo-
dore Schley with respect to this matter.
-. Whether or not every effort in
cumbent upon the commanding officer
OF a feet under such circumstances was
made to capture or destroy the Spanish
cruiser Colon as she lay at anchor in
the entrance to Santiago harbor May
II to Al. inclusive, and the necessity for,
or ACCESSIBILITY of, engaging the batteries
at the entrance to Santiago harbor, and
the Spanish vessels at anchor within
the entrance to said harbor at the
ranges used. and the propriety Of Com
modore Schley's conduct in the preml-
ses.
IS. The necessity, if any, for, and ad-
visibility of. Withdrawing at night the
Flying Squadron from the entrance to
Santiago harbor to a distance at sea. il
such shall be found to have been the
case; the extent and character Of such
Withdrawals; and whether or not close
or adequate blockade OF said harbor. to
prevent the escape Of the enemy's YES
sells therefrom, was established. and the
propriety OF Commodore Schleys con-
duct in the premises.
o. The position OF the Brooklyn on
the morning of July 3, 1893, at the time
OF the exit OF the Spanish vessels from
the harbor of Santiago. The circum-
stances attending, the reasons for, and
the incidents resulting from the turn
ing OF the Brooklyn in the direction in
which she turned at or about the begin
ming of the action with said Spanish
vessels, and the possibility of thereby
colliding with or endangering any other
of the vessels OF the United States feet,
and the propriety of Commodore
Schley's conduct in the premises.
10 The circumstances leading to, and
the incidents and results of, contro-
versy with Lieut. Albon c. Hodgson,
United States Navy, who, on July 3,
1903, during the battle of Santiago. was
navigator of the Brooklyn. in relation
to the turning of the Brooklyn; also the
colloouy at that time between Commo-
dore Schley and Lieut.. Hodgson and the
ensuing correspondence between them on
the subject thereof, and the propriety Of
the conduct of Admiral Schley in the
premises. =,
Given under my hand at the Navy
Department, Washington, this twenty
sixth day of July, nineteen hundred and
one.
JOHN D. LONG, Secretary
Giant Rank Planned,