Evening star., 1901-09-05
Capt Forsyth Responds to Depart
ment's Inquiry.
PRIVATE REMARKS WERE DISTORTED
Admiral SchIey Wants Available
Witnesses Summoned.
OFFERS A REMONSTRANCE


ter calling his attention to an alleged in
terview published on the subject of the
Sampson-Schey controversy. An earlier
letter of the department to Capt. Forsyth,
it appears, did not reach him. The follow
ing statement of the character of the reply
is made by Acting Secretary Hackett of the
Navy Department.:
Capt Forsyth, while coming east, was
detained over Sunday at Kansas City, Mo.
He declined to talk with a reporter. 1t
seems. however that he fell into private
conversation with some person in the hotel,
with no idea that what he said would he
repeated In any form His remarks were
distorted, and were used to form the sub
stance of the alleged interview. Capt. For
syth has made such disclaimer and has so
frankly avowed his deep regret at any in
discretion in the premises that the depart
ment is satisfied that there was no inten-
tion on his part of violating the order Of
the department to refrain from public
statement.
mo action will be taken by the depart
ment, further than to inform Capt Forsyth
that his explanation is satisfactory, and
that the incident will not be treated as af-
fecting his excellent record"
The interview quoted Capt. Forsyth as
saying that the trouble in naval circles was
due to the fact that Admiral Sampson was
promoted over the heads of seventeen ca
pable officers who were his seniors In rank.
Summoning Schley's Witnesses.
Admiral Schley has made a request of the
Navy Department that a number of wit
nesses whom he expects to call before the
court Of inquiry be brought to Washington
at this time in order to permit of confer
ences between them and counsel. In re-
sponse to this request Acting Secretary
Hackett has advised the admiral that If he
will furnish a list of those he desires to
come they will be brought here as rapidly
as circumstances will permit. All Of them
will not be summoned at once, as this
might prove disadvantageous to the naval
service, but several will come at time
until all the conferences are held.
The Navy Department has no official in
formation as to the condition Of Admiral
Sampson as there have been no recent re-
ports from the naval surgeon at Boston
and nothing that would call for an official
statement on his health. Some private let
tiers have been received, however, rather
favorable in tone. One of these came about
week ago from Mrs. Sampson to Judge
Advocate General Lemly, the admirars
ence owing to his indisposition. Mrs Samp-
son stated, however, that the admiral was
considerably improved. The official reports
from the Boston navy yard continue to
bear MS signature, except when he is out
of the city.
Conference of Schley's Counsel.
Admiral Schley, Mr.. Jere M. Wilson, Mr.
were engaged in close consultation for sew
eral hours today in Mr.. Wilson's apart
ments at the Shoreham. The gentlemen
were too busy to receive visitors, but it was
rumored that they had been placed in pos
session of important information that
would have considerable effect upon the
proceedings of the court of inquiry and
were engaged in it's consideration. 1t was
believed In some quarters that Admiral
Schley and his counsel had received ad-
hn hot 1,,,f~-
had expressed his sentiments on the San
tiago controversy in even a more emphatic
way than that attributed to him in the al
legged interview published in the Boston
Record, and that persons who had heard
him so express himself had indicated will
ingness to give their statements regarding
Admiral Howison's declarations before the
court of inquiry. 1t was also said that
correspondence had been reopened with the
Navy Department on the subject with
view of having Admiral Howison's atten-
tion called to the new assertions In an
official sense in order that the question of
his eligibility might be definitely settled be-
fore the court of inquiry met.
In any event it is regarded as certain that
the service of Admiral Howison as a mem
ber of the court will be strongly antag-
onized, and that the early proceedings of
the body will be devoted to the settlement
of this question in case it Is not satisfac-
torily arranged before next Thursday when
the court will be convened.
wants All MS Available Witnesses.
The Navy Department today received two
letters from Admiral Schley, relating to
the coming court Of inquiry. One Of these
was in reply to Acting Secretary Hackett's
note of yesterday, which stated that If
Admiral Schley would furnish list of the
important witnesses he desired to have
brought to Washington at once this would
be acceded to as rapidly as the interests of
the service would permit by bringing sew
eral Of the witnesses at a time. Although
the reply of Admiral Schley was not made
public, yet 1t is understood that 1t Is in
the nature of respectful remonstrance
against the course suggested, coupled with
a specific request that all Of the witnesses
easily, available be summoned for purposes
of conference. The request contemplates
the presence OF all witnesses not so far
removed from the country as to be clearly
beyond reach, and in this connection, no
distinction is made as to their Importance,
as 1t Is assumed that all are Of equal i'm
portance. If 1t were not for the courteous
formality always observed in such COM
munications, this one would probably be
regarded as a demand for the presence Of
all witnesses within reach, but 1t is un-
derstood that the communication itself con-
tains no language of demand
The other communication is understood to
relate to a formal detail of the trial.
Commander Mason Summoned.
One Of the officers summoned by the
Judge advocate of the court of inquiry for
a preliminary conference Is Commander
Newton E. Mason, who was executives of
the flagship Brooklyn during the West
Indian campaign, which eliminated In the
destruction Of the Spanish fleet. Command
er Mason is popularity supposed to be one
of Admiral Schley's strongest witnesses.
Consequently his preliminary examination
at the Navy Department Is OF more than
ordinary interest and may be significant
of the purpose Of the judge advocate of
calling him as a witness for the govern
ment.
1t is not now regarded as likely that
Rear Admiral Remey, commanding the
Asiatic station, will be summoned as a
witness In the case. He was in command
Of the naval station at Key West during
the Spanish war, and was the medium
through which communications passed be-
tween the Navy Department and the COM
manding officers of the fleets. AS all such
communications are matters of record
there Is not the same necessity for the
presence of Admiral Remey as otherwise
would have been the case. Admiral
Remey's term of sea service will expire
In about three months, and 1t Is generally
expected that Rear Admiral Frederick
Rodgers, the officer next in rank, viii
then succeed to the command OF the ASH
attic station.