The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-24
A COURT OF INQUIRY
u,u4L sCHLEY WILL DEMAND
INVESTIGATION.
uIs PATIENCE IS EXHAUSTED.
Ucs OF NAVAL CLIQUE WILL
NOW BE EXPOSED.

.iuotion TO BE FOIlOWeu oE CiNh
.,or-AdmirnI Dewey Will Prob
NJ, uead the Court, With Adj
,-aIs ramsey and Benham.
1-osbington, July 23.-The Washing
post last night telegraphed Ad-
.,no1 schley that in an editorial it in
Dl.tod that he owed it to himself as well
=. ~ his friends to begin proceedings
uotret Mr.. Maclay. the author of the
History of the United States navy to
,isrrovc the latter's charges, adding;
nuyiu Won do this? Please wire state
ment.'
To-day it received the following tele-
gram
GREAT Neck, L. l., July 2S.-Editor
1rosbington Post: l believe the first
sten should be an investigation of all
matters by court, then civil action
nftsrwaris. am preparing to take
tnlS 'o"'' "W. S. Schley."
The Post, in the morning. as result
of extensive inquiries based upon the
admirars dispatch, will say, in part;
admiral Schley proposes to ask an
;nvesttgation at the hands of naval
court of inquiry, and then to sue HIS
torian Maclay for libel.
"uis action is the sequel to develop
ments during the past week, when the
entire country has been stirred by the
rnblication of the unexampled abuse
noured out upon him in the thlrd Vol
rme of E. 5. Maclay's history of the
T'nitad States navy, in which publica-
lion he is said to have run away in
cattitf flight and is, in addition, de-
nounced as a coward, a cur, and
traitor
VIII BE Celebrated Case.
The Schley court of inquiry Will un-
doubtedly be one of the most celebra-
ted cases in the naval or military his
torv of the country. The high rank of
tbe officers involved in the controversy
and the intense public feeling which
has been aroused will combine to give
TO the Investigation a dramatic inter
est. Nothing has occurred in Wash
ngton for many years that will COM
pare with it.
The appointment of the court of in
ouiry is expected to be made by Seere-
tary Long though it would be in the
power Of the President to make the Sc
lections If he chose. This is hardly
likely to occur, however. Admiral
schleys letter asking for the appoint
ment of the court will be addressed to
Secretary Long, who is his immediate
chief To address the communication
to the President, ignoring Secretary
Long, would not only be a breach of
naval etiquette, but would be totally
at variance with Schleys careful OBJ
servance of punctiliouS procedure. The
court, therefore, will be named by
Secretary Long unless he shall prefer
to refer the matter to the President.
Dewey. Ramsey and Benham.
Mr.. Long has already stated that II
Admiral Schley requested a court of in
Quiry he would grant the request, and
has also expressed his willingness to
personally select the court. While he
has not made any statement as to its
personnel, there is every reason to be-
leye that he favors Admiral Dewey
and Rear Admirals Ramsey and Ben
ham, the two latter being now upon
the retired list. The name of Admiral
Walker has been suggested, but it is
known that he has expressed views
upon the Sampson-S -Schley controversy
in antagOnism to Schley and his ap-
pointment would, therefore. be serious
ly questioned. 1t is said that Ramsey,
Dewey and Benham have always care
fully avoided giving an opinion as to
the merits of the controversy. All these
officers are residents of Washington,
although temporarily out of the city to
escape the summer heat, and could be
quickly summoned to take their places
around the table of the court.
Long FavOrs Dewey.
Three names are mentioned because
mat number is specified in the naval
regulations for courts of inquiry. There
Is a possibility that Admiral Dewey
might ask to be excused, as he would
nave right to do, but it is also moral
~ certain that in this event he would
o. specifically detailed by the secre-
~ry Tor service on the board. This
would make his attendance imperative.
secretary Long has from the moment
Hl't court of inquiry was suggested
favored the appointment of Admiral
DeWey belieping that his appointment
"ouu give the highest character to the
1ouII and that any decision which it
snl reach would be accepted by the
mlleIican people. Admiral Ramsay
ppaS Tor eight years at the head of the
bureau u.1u Of Navigation.
"'lh respect to the matter to be in
pomea INTO by the court Of inquiry. the
toSl VIII say that it might be difficult
~ i'lN l1e eAdCI queSllOii0
,sCH VIII come before the court, but
Gl't Admiral Schley condensed them
cb letter written to Senator Hale.
N,,,INan Of the Senate Committee on
S,,.5a Affairs, Feb. IS. 1899. This letter
fo,.'lgl the criticism of himself into
u' heads, as follows:
The Grounds of Criticism.
-. sFsi the alleged delay off Cienfue-
sos Cuba.
vsoeSSond. the alleged slow progress to-
n. santiago de Cuba from Cienfue-
,anfd. the retrograde movements on
n "lh and 27th of May. (This refers
40, Irning of the fleet from Santi-
"Ndrd Key West)
IN. g'l', the battle off Santiago and
T. 1.sDuction OF Cerveras fleet
th., !. he expected, says the Post.
tSs admiral Schley in his letter TO
QBl-, iary requesting n court Of in
cr,I "Ill specify these grounds OF
IN ana that Secretary Long Will.
ss,t 'epeat them In his orders as
i,DIHF the court.
a., 'hpected that as soon as Secre-
or,., '"ns receives the request for a
h,1" inquiry from Admiral Schley
o,s, ''me It's personnel and issue an
fo-. Iis assembling II may be
r.r ..i.' however. before the court
is., .1uarely down 10 work. A
r, naval 0flcers will have 10 be
f.. ia witnesses. and these Of
area now scattered over wide