Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-24
NAVY DEPARTMENT,

WASHINGTON, July "A, 1SOl-
Sir:I am in receipt of yours of the 22d
instant. with reference to the criticisms
upon you in connection with the Spanish
American war, and heartily approve of your
action, under the circumstances, in asking
at the hands of this department such ac-
tion as may bring this entire matter under
discussion under the clearer and calmer
review of my brothers IN arms"
The department will at once proceed in
accordance with your request.
Very respectfully,
(Stgned) JOHN D. LONG.
Rear Admiral W. S. Schley. L. S. N.
Court of Inquiry to BE Ordered.
Secretary Long this II ornins received the
above letter from Rea. Admiral Schley
and dictated the letter in reply.
1t is said the Secretary decided on this
action without consultation with anybody
and without communicating the request of
Admiral Schley to the President. He then
called in Rear Admiral Crowninshieid and
Captain COwles. chief and assistant chief,
respectively, of the bureau of navig Ition,
and also Judge Advocate General Lemly,
who has charge of fOrmaiitleS OF nav al
courts. He also sent for Admiral Dewey
Although Rear Admiral Schley did not ask
specifically for a court of inquiry, but left
the action to be taken to the Judgment Of
the department, the Secretary decld d that
such a court would be the best means of
making the investigation which the rear
admiral requested. and the three bureau
officers were called in consultation for the
purpose of discussing the mode of pro-
cedure in such cases. After his conference
with Admiral Dewey. who mad RESPONDED i'm
medlately to the Secretarys request for
a conference, the Secretary said that he
had not yet had time TO decide upon the
composition of the court. bat in response
to a question as to whether Admiral Dewey
would serve upon such court if request ed
to do the Secretary said. Admiral
Dewey Will do his duty.
Dewey to Preside.
Although no positive declaration mas been
given on this point, it is already assumed
about the Navy Department that Admiral
Dewey will be president of the court which
viii inquire into the whole controversy
concerning Admiral Schley's action during
the Spanish war. There is also an impress
sion that the two other members of the
court will be retired naval officers or at
least officers who had no connection with
the Santiago campaign The selection of
retired officers would be double advan-
tage- Not only would they be free from apy
prejudice growing out of their active con-
nection with the department, but they
would have no fear of future consequan ces
arising from their course while members
of the board.
Not to Meet Until Fall.
The court of inquiry will probably not
Long said today that 1t would be unfair
to ask a court Of inquiry to convene in
Washington during the present extremely
hot weather for the prosecution of an in
quiry which promised to be quite pro-
tracted.
The Information that Admiral Schiey' 5
letter asking for court OF inquiry had
been received by Secretary Long soon
spread through the Navy Department, and
was the theme OF universal discussion. Ofi-
GERS and clerks joined in the whispered
comments, and not since the recent war
days has one subject excited such general
attention
Regulations Regarding Courts of In
Qufry.
The chief interest turned to the compo-
sition of the court and the formalities to
be observed in connection with it. The ma
val regulations lay down the following gen.
eraI provisions to courts of that character:
In important cases. where the facts are
various and complicated, where there ap-
pears to be ground for suspecting crimi-
nality or where crime has been committed.
or much blame incurred without any GER
tainty on whom It ought chiefly to fall. a
court of inquiry affords the best means of
collecting, sitting and methodizing infor-