The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-01
THE sCHLEY rMPRoGLIo.

have rested silently under the singing
charges that have been made against him.
His friends have said that it would be
playing into the hands of his enemies to
do so. since the Navy Department ring
would certainly organize a court to con-
Wet him. If this were only measurahly
true, then all our institutions are fail
ure. If there is any portion Of oar Gov
eminent in which any man can be denied
Il fair trial and justice. then the time has
come for an upheaval and a radical reor-
ganzation. We are not ready for an in
slant to admit that. There is Il far
greater and more powerful court than any
that can be fixed up by Washington Off
Gals. 1t is the great American people,
and no one should hesitate to submit his
case to it. No matter who composed the
Court of Inquiry, if its sessions were held
in public, and the evidence before it given
the people, the verdict would not dare be
other than righteous one.
Secretary Long has taken the matter
personally in hand, and selected q Court
of three distinguished officers, whose
names are n sufficient guarantee d the
high integrity of the Court and the fear
less justice of it's verdict. They are Ad-
miral George Dewey, and Rear-AdmfralS
Lewis a. Kimberley and Andrew d. X.
Benham. Admiral Dewey is too we'll
known to require further mention.
Rear Admiral Kimberly, who is Al years
old, and has been on the retired list tor
nine years, was born in New York, and
appointed from Illinois. He was EXecu-
! tive Officer on the Hartford, Admiral
! Farragut's famous flagship, during all her
| great performances on the Mississippi and
| in Mobile Bay, which is record enough
for any man. Besides, he was in COM
mand of the American squadron in Apia
! Bay at the time of the great hurricane,
when the Trenton and NanGalia We're
sunk and the Nipsic driven ashore. He
showed the greatest coolneSs and judg-
mcnt during that trying time.
Rear-Admiral Benham is a New York
or. 90 years old, and has been on the re-
tired list seven years. He served with
conspicuous gallantry during the rebellion.
but is best known by his decisive action
in the harbor of Rio Janeiro, where he
fired Il shot into a Brazilian man-Of-war,
| which was attempting to interfere with
an American ship, and informed the Bra
lillian that he had great many more
where that came from. lie also told the
American Captain to go on with his load
ing, and go out when he pleased.
The ''precept'' given for the Court is
sufficiently comprehensive to satisfy the
most cxacting on either side. While not
limiting the Court in its Investigations at
discretion, it directs particular inquiry as
to Admiral Schlcy's conduct as follows:
/. His conduct in connection with the
events IF the Santiago campaign.
> The circumstances attending, the
reasons controlling, and the propriety Of
the movements of the flying squadron
off Cicnfuegos in May, 1893.
=. The circumstances attending, the
reasons controlling, and the propriety of
the movements of the said squadron in
proceeding from Cienfuesoes to Santiago.
/. The circumstances attending tile
arrival Of the flying squadron" off San
tiaGo, the reasons for its retrOgrade turn
westward and departure from off San
tiago, and the prOpriety thereof.
>. The circumstances attending and the
reasons for the disobedicncc by COmmO-
dorc Schley of the orders of the Depart
ment contained in its dispatch dated May
-, 1898, and the propriety of his con-
duet in the premises.
q. The condition of the coal supply of
-, 1898; its cOaling facilities; the neces-
sity, if any, for, or ACCESSIBILITY of, the re-
turn Of the squadron to Key West to coal,
and the accuracy and proPriety Of the Of
fetal reports made by Commodore Schley
with respect to this matter.
I. Whether or not every effort incum-
bent upon the commanding officer Of a
fleet under such circumstances was made
to capture or destroy the Spanish cruiser
Colon as she lay at anchor in the en-
trance TO Santiago HarbOr May u to 81.
inclusive, and the necessity for, or adviSa-
bility Of, engaging the batteries at the
entrance to Santiago IIarbor. and the
Spanish vessels at anchor within the en-
trance to said harbOr, at the ranges used,
and the prOpriety Of Commodore ScheyS
conduct in the premises.
\. The necessity, if any, for. or adyis-
ability Of, Withdrawing at night the fly
ing squadron" from the entrance to San
tiago Harbor to a distance at sea, if such
shall be found TO have been the case;
the extent and character of such with
drawal, and whether or not close or ade-
qG:rte blockade of said harbOr to prevent
the escape of the cnemy'S vessels there
from, was established, and the propricty
Of Commodore Schley's conduct in the
premises.
g. The position Of the Brooklyn on the
morning of July 3, 1898 ut the time of the
exit of the Spanish vessels from the Har-
Dor Of Santiago. The circumstances at
tending. the reasons for, and the incl
dents resulting from the turning of the
Brooklyn in the direction in which she
turned at or about the beginning of the
action with said Spanish vessels, and the
possibility Of thereby cOliding with or
cndangering any other of the vessels of
the United States fleet, and the propriety
Of Commodore Schley's conduct in the
premises.
10. The circumstances leading to and
the incidents and results Of a controversy
with Lieut.. ALBION G.. Hodgson. L. 5. n.
who. on July 3, 1898 during the battle
of Santiago, was navigator Of the Brook
lyn, in relation to the turning of the
Brooklyn; also the collOquy at that time
between Commodore Schcy and Lieut..
HodSsOn and the ensuing correspondence
between them on the subject thereof,
and the propriety of the conduct of Adj
miral Schley in the premises
The Court is directed to hold public
sessions, so that the real jury will be the
American people.
DEAD VEL EEANS ARE GOOD ONES.
Reading the long and culogistic obit |
uarieS OF COmradc Il. w. Hawlcy. of
Brooklyn, n. Y. one of the very foremost
of Sunday school workers in the United
States for 40 years, one is struck anew /
by the great difference between the char /
actcr oil the veterans as furnished to the /