Evening star., 1901-12-14
Judge Advocate.

Admiral, L. s. N, President.
sam {. LEMlsf. Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate
THE PRECEPT.
The precept to the court upon which ths
finds were rendered. follows:
10 Admiral George Dewey. United States
navy. Washington, ID. c.
Upon the request of Rear Admiral VIM
Held 5. Schley, United States navy, made
In letter dated July -. 1901. copy here
with. court of inquiry, OF which you are
hereby appointed president. Rear Admirals
Lewis A. Kimberly and Andrew E. X Ben
ham, United States navy. members. and
Captain Samuel c. Lemly. United States
navy, judge advocate general, judge advo-
cate. is hereby ordered to convene at the
Navy Department Washington. ID. c.. at
i o'clock pm.. on Thursday, the 18th day
of September, 1901, or as soon thereafter as
may be practicable. for the purpose of in
quiring into the conduct Of the said Schley,
commodore In the navy, during the recent
war with Spain, and in connection with the
events thereof.
The court will thoroughly inquire into
all the circumstances bearing upon the sub
ject of the investigation hereby ordered,
ana TO this end, besides examining orally
all proper witnesses whose attendance can
be secured, will call upon the department
for all documentary evidence in relation
thereto on its files.
Upon the conclusion of the investigation
the court VIII report its proceedings and the
testimony taken. with a full and detailed
statement of all the pertinent facts which
II may deem to be established, together
with It's opinion and recommendations in
the premises.
While the department relies upon the
discretion of the court TO make it's exam
inaton into this matter full and complete.
as requested by the officer at whose In.
stance 1t is convened, the report should
snow the conclusions reached upon certa
important points, to which attention is
specially directed, as follows:
'His conduct In connection with the
events of the Santiago campaign.
II.
THE circumstances attending, the rea-
sons controlling, and the propriety Of the
movements of the Flying Squadron on
Cienfuegos in May, 1898.
THE circumstances attending. the rea-
sons controlling and the propriety of the
movements of the said squadron in proceed
ing from Cienfuegos to Santiago.
Nv.
THE circumstances attending the arriv-
al Of the Flying Squadron off Santiago,
the reasons for its retrograde turn west
the propriety thereof.
v.
"The circumstances attending and the
reasons for the disobedience by Commodore
Schley of the orders of the department con-
tanned in its dispatch dated May -. 1895,
and the propriety of his conduct in the
premises.
THE condition of the coal supply OF the
Flying Squadron on and about May 21,
1898; It's coaling facilities; the necessity,
If any, for or stability of, the return
of the squadron to Key West to coal: and
the accuracy and propriety of the official
reports made by Commodore Schley with
respect to this matter.
whether or not every effort incumbent
upon the commanding officer OF a fleet
under such circumstances was made to cap
ture or destroy the Spanish cruiser Colon
as she lay at anchor In the entrance to
Santiago harbor, May q to 81, inclusive.
ana the necessity for, or advisability of,
engaging the batteries at the entrance to
Santiago harbor, and the Spanish vessels
at anchor within the entrance to said har-
bor, at the ranges used, and the propriety
of Commodore Schley's conduct In the
premises
1.-THE necessity, If any, for, and advisa-
bility of, Withdrawing al night the Flying
Squadron from the entrance to Santiago
harbor to a distance at sea, If such shall
be found to have been the case; the extent
and character of such withdrawal; and
whether or not a close or adequate block
ade of said harbor, to prevent the escape OF
the enemy's vessels therefrom, was estab-
lished, and the propriety of Commodore
Schley's conduct in the premises.
1.-THE position of the Brooklyn on the
morning of July 8, 1898, at the time Of the
exit of the Spanish vessels from the har-
Dor of Santiago. The circumstances at
tending, the reasons for, and the incidents
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 endangering any
other of the vessels of the United States
fleet and the propriety of Commodore
Schley's conduct in the premises.
''The circumstances leading to, and the
incidents and results of, controversy with
Lieut.. Albon c. Hodgson, United States
Navy, who on July 3, 1898, during the bat
tie of Santiago was navigator of the Brook
lyn. in relation to the turning of the Brook
lyn; also the colloquy at that time between
Commodore Schley and Lieut.. Hodgson and
the ensuing correspondence between them
on the subject thereof, and the propriety
of the conduct of Admiral Schley in the
premises.
THE foregoing specific directions are
given primarily for the information and
guidance of the court, but do not limit or
restrict the scope of its inquiry into the
entire matter the investigation of which
is asked by the officer concerned.
Rear Admiral Schley has been informed
of his right to be present, either In person /
or by counsel, during the investigation, to ]
cross-examine witnesses and to offer evil 4
dence before the court should he so DESIRE 4
The court may at any time grant to others
interested and entitled thereto like privi- I
leges.
1.-The investigation will be held in open
court.
This employment on shore duty is re-
quired by the public interests.
"Given under my hand at the Navy De-
partment, Washington. this twenty-sixth
day of July, nineteen hundred and one
JOHN d. LONG, Secretary"
'Rear Admiral Ramsay was afterward
Coleman Mitchum, a negro teacher at
Paris, Tenn, shot and fatally wounded his
wife and then set fire to the house.