The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-25
Dewey, and Rear AdmiraIs kim
berIy and Benham
Will Form the SchIey Court Of
Inquiry.
ALL WILL BE OPEN
There VIII Be No Secrecy
About the Proceedings.
The Court Is Expected to Con-
Vene in September.

Washington, July 25.-The board Of
inquiry which is to investigate the can
troversal points in connection with Ao-
1niral schIey's conduct during the
Spanish war will be composed OF Ad-
rniral Dewey, president of the court anu
Rear Admfrals Lewis A. Kimberly ana
Andrew z. K. Benham. The court VIII
meet at the navy department In WASH
fnEton September u. Secretary Long
announced these facts today The judge
advocate of the court has not yet been
selected and the precept to the court
which is being prepared by captain
Lemley Judge advocate general mas
not vet been completed The scope OF
the INQUIRY win not be known until the
precept and order for the convenlng OF
the court are issued 1t is said tnat
they win be promulgated by the de-
partment tomorrow. Secretary Long
saws however, that the proceedings OF
the court viii be open and that the
widest latitude viii be permitted IA
the matter of witnesses, and that Rear
Admiral Schley will be allowed to be
represented by counsel
The secretary said he had nothing to
say about the composition of the court
sexcept that he thought it spoke for It
self and to express the hope that the
selection would be satisfactory to all
concerned. He pointed out that none
OF the officers chosen. had so far as ne
knew. expressed an opinion concerning
what is known about the Sampson
schley controversy and it was therefore
to be presumed that they would enter
,,pon thei1. work in an impartial and
unprejudiced spirit. The members OF
the court are distinctively fighting men
Each has been connected with a cele-
brated event In naval annals. OF Ad-
1niral Dewey, the hero Of the Battle OF
Manila bay it is unnecessary to speak
His record is familiar TO all. Rear Ad-
miral Kimberly and Rear Admiral Ben
ham are both retired officers
The former was retired in 1892 and
the latter ia 1894. Admiral Kimberly
is II years OF age and Admiral Benham
SO years. Each saw over As years of
active service Both had records
during the civil war. The great event
with which Admiral Kimberly's name
IS associated is the destruction of the
American feet in the harbor of Apia,
Samoa during the terrific hurricane
which occurred there in 1889. Admiral
Kimberly had been sent to Samoa at
the head of an American squadron dur
ing the trying period OF war negOtia-
tions with Germany there, and had
conducted himself before the storm
with marked dignity and ability. When
the hurricane occurred his entire
squadron was wrecked The Vandalia
and the Fenton were completely de-
stroyed and the Nipsic was cast ashore
The story of that great disaster and
the herOism displayed by the American
officers and men under the direction of
Admiral Kimberly thrilled the whole
world and made an impression never to
be forgotten
Admiral Benham played a distinguish
ed part at the Rio de Janeiro naval rev.
oiution in 1894, the particulars Of which
We're recOunted in these dispatches a
Few days ago.
The court was completed by the Sc
lection of Commander John f. Pills
bury as judge advocate. Commander
Rillsbury is now equipment officer of
Ane boston navy yard. which is under
command of Rear Admiral Sampson.
He 1s considered an exceptionally can
able Office During the Spanish war
he was commander of the dynamite
cruiser Nesuvius which was attached to
the North Atlantic squadron under
command OF Admiral Sampson. He
will, therefore, be the only officer con-
nected with the court who was a par
tcipant in the maneuvers of the feet
in West Indian waters.
Commander Pillsbury had been Sc
lected for the command of the train
Ing ship Prairie which is about to be
put in commission and probably this
appointment Will make him lose this
desirable detail
While the sessions of the court viii
be open the court will exercise the right
which he has of closing the doors Tor
consultation and for the discussion Of
disputed evidence
Washington, July 25.-Late this after
noon Secretary Long reconsidered his de-
cision to appoint Commander PillsbuTy a.
Judge advocate of the Schley court Of in
Cuiry. A final decision ii the rnatrar has
not yet been reached ~
SCHLEY IS RESTING
New York, July 25.=Rear Admiral
schley is spending today with his fam
fly at Great Neck. L. l. Fl am resting -
he said to an Associated Press renTe-
sentative. and have nothing to sav ss
70 the proposed inquiry in the Santiago
controversy"