The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-26

Washington, July 23.-The Washing
ton Post last night telegraphed Admi-
raj Schley that n an editorial it insisted
that he owed it to himself, as we'll as
to his friends, to begin proceedings
against Mr.. Maclay, the author of the
History OF the United States Navy"
to disprove the latter's charge, add
ing:
will you do this? Please wire
statement"
To-day it received the following tel
egram:
Great Neck, L. l., July %.
Editor, Washington Post:
Il believe the first step should be an
investigation of all matters by a court,
then a civil action afterwards. 1 am
preparing to take this course.
w. S. SCHLEY."
The Post in the morning, as a result
of extensive inquiries based upon the
admirals dispatch, will say in part:
Admiral Schley proposes to ask an
investigation at the hands of a naval
court of inquiry and then to sue Histo-
rian Maclay for libel.
His action is the sequel to the devel-
opments during the past week when
the entire country has been stirred by
the publication of the uneXampled
abuse poured out upon him in the third
volume of E. S. Maclay's History of
the United States Navy" in which
publication Schley is said to have run
away in caitiff flight and is, in addi-
ton, denounced as coward, a cur and
a traitor.
The Schley court of inquiry will un-
doubtedly be one, of the most celebrated
cases in the naval or military history
of the country. The high rank of the
officers involved in the controversy
and the intense public feeling which
has been aroused will combine to give
to the investigation a dramatic in
terest. Nothing has occurred in
Washington for many years that will
compare with it.
The appointment of the court of in
quiry is expected to be made by Sec
retary Long, though it would be in
the power of the president to make
the selections if he chose. This is
hardly likely to occur, however.
Admiral Schley's letter asking for the
appointment of the court will be ad
dressed to Secretary Long, who is his
immediate chief. To address the COM
munication to the president, ignoring
Secretary Long, would not only be a
breach of naval etiquette, but would be
totally at variance with Schleys care
full observance of punctiliOus procedure.
The court, therefore. will be named b.
Secretary Long, unless he shall prefer
to refer the matter to the president.
Mr.. Long has already stated that If
Admiral Schley requested a court o.
inquiry he would grant the request,
and he has also expressed his willing
Trr
While he has not made any statement
as to it's personnel. there is every rea-
son to believe that he favors Admiral
Dewey and Rear Admirals Ramsey and
Benham, the two latter being now upon
the retired list. The name of Admiral
Walker has been suggested, but it is
known that he has expressed views
upon the Simpsons -Schley controversy
in anita gonism to Schley. and his ap-
pointment would. therefore, be serious
ly questioned. 1t is said that Dewey,
Ramsey, or Benham have always care
fully avoided giving an opinion as to
the merits OF the controversy. ALI
these officers are residents Of WASH
ington although temporarily out of the
city to escape the summer heat, and
could be quickly summoned to take
their places around the table of the
court
Three names are mentioned because
regulations for courts of inquiry.
There is a possibility that Admiral
Dewey might ask to be excused, as he
would have a right to do, but it is also
morally certain that in this event he
would be specifically detailed by the
secretary for services on the board.
This would make his attendance i'm
perative. Secretary Long has from the
moment that a court of inquiry was
suggested, favored the appointment OF
Admiral Dewey, believing his appoint
ment would give the highest charac-
ter to- the court, and that any decision
which it might reach would be accept
ed by the American people.
admiral Ramsey was for eight years
at the head of the bureau of naV1ga-
tion.''
with respect to the matters to be in
ouired into by the court OF inquiry Inc
Post will say that it might be olmcuit
to state briefly the exact queslohs
which will come before the court, put
that Admiral Schley condensed them
in a letter written to Senator HAZE,
chairman of the senate committee on
naval affairs, February IS, 1899. TINS
letter divided the criticisms Of hlmseil
into four heads as follows:
Il. The alleged delay off Cienfuegos,
Cuba.
.2 The alleged slow progress toward
santiago de Cuba from Cienfuegos.
"3. The retrograde movements on the
26th and 9th of May. CThis refers to
the turning of the fleet from Santiago
toward Key West).
"a The battle of Santiago and the
destruction of Cervera's fleet"
ssIt is expected says The Post, that
Admiral Schley in his letter to the Sec
retary requesting a court OF inquiry
will specify these grounds of criticism
and that Secretary Long will, in turn
repeat them in his orders assembling
the court,