The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-24

 Schley that in an editorial it insisted that he owed it to himself as well as to his friends to begin proceedings against Mir. Maclay, the author of the history of the United States Navy. to disprove the latter's charge adding: "will you do this? Please wire state ment."
 Today it received the following tele- gram:
 Great Neck. |. l., July 2S.-Editor
 Washington Post:--I believe the first step should be investigation of all mat ters by court, then civil action after
 ward. I am preparing to take this course. w. ;. Schiey'
 The Post in the morning, as a result of extensive inquiries. based on the Admiral's dispatch, will say in part:
 Admiral Sohley proposed to ask an at the hands Of Naval Court of Inquiry, and then to sue Hls- torian Maclay for libel
 This action is the sequel to the deYel- opments during the past week when tne entire country has been stirred by the publication of the unexampled abuse poured out upon him in the third vol ume of E. 5. Maciay's history Of the United States Navy. in which puolica- tion Schley is said to have run away m .iCaitiff flight" and Is in addition de- nounced as coward, cur and a traitor.
 The Schley court of inquiry will un- doubtedly be one of the most celehrat- ed in naval or military history of the country. The high rank of the officers involved in the controversy and the ln- tense public feeling which has been aroused will combine to give the iri- vestigation a dramatic interest. Noth- ing has occurred in Washington for many years that will compare with 1t.
 The appointment of the court of in- Quiry Is expected to be made by Sec- retary Long, though 1t would be in the power of the President to make the se- lections if he choose. This is hardly likely to occur. however. Amiral Schley'e letter. asking for the appoint ment of the court, will be addressed to Secretary Long. who Is his immediate chief. To address the communicate to the President, ignoring Secretary Long, would not only be a breach of naval etiduette. but would be totally at va- riance with Schleys careful observance of punctilious procedure. The court therefore will be named by Secretary Long unless he shall refer the matter to the President.
 Secretary Long has stated that if Schley requested court of inquiry he will grant the request and he has also his willingness to personally select the court. While he has not made any statement as to it's person. mel, there is every reason to believe that he favors Admiral Dewey and Rear-Admirals Ramsey and Benham, the two latter being now upon the re- tired list. The name of Admiral Wal ker has been suggested. but 1t Is known that he expressed views on the n-Schley controversy in antag- onism to Schley, and his appointment would therefore be questioned. It is said that Dewey. Ramsay and Benham have always carefully avoided giving an opinion as to the merits of the con- troversy. All these officers are resi- dents of Washington, although tempo rarily out of the city to escape the heat. but could be quickly summoned to take their place around the table of the court.
 Three names are mentioned as that number is specified in the naval regu- lations for courts of inquiry. There is a possibility that Admiral Dewey will ask to be excused. which he has a right to do, but 1t is said that if he is detailed by the Secretary to be on the board, 1t will make his imperative. Secretary Long has. from. the moment that a court of inquiry was suggested, favored the of Admiral Dewey, be- ieving that his appointment would give character to the court and that any decision which it might reach would be accepted by the American people.
 Admiral Ramsay was for eight years at the head of the Bureau of Naviga- ton.
 Admiral Benham came into promi- hence in 1894, during the brief revolu- ton against President Fonca of Bra gil. The Brazilian navy under Admi- rals Mello and De Gama, had revolted, and De Cana. in command of the Bra gillian ships in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, had declared a blockade. Ad- miral Benham was in the harbor with an American fleet, consisting of the New York. Charleston, Detroit. New ark and San Francisco. All the Eu- ropeans had quietly submitted to the De Cana government, the German even failing to resent the firing upon the German flag. But Admiral Benham sent word to be Cana that the American flag must be respected. and that any merchant man flying the stars and stripes would land when and where he pleased. The Brazilian Admiral defied the Ameri- gan. Thereupon Benham told him that the American ships would be conveyed Into the harbor and then he ordered his fleet cleared for action while the Detroit conveyed the bark Army to her wharf. De Cana fired upon the park, and the next moment a solid shot was put into the Trajano, De Gama's flagship, That ended the controversy md thereafter every American entered he harbor at will.
 With respect to the matters to be in iuired into by the court, The Post will iay that 1t might be difficult to state, briefly, the exact questions which will come before the court, but that Ad- niral Schley condensed them in a let CT written to Senator Hale, chairman ,f the Senate Committee of Naval Af- ,airs. February IS. 1899. This letter divided the criticisms of himself into 'our heads, as follows:
 First-The alleged delay off Cienfue- sos, Cuba.
 Second-The alleged slow progress to- ward Santiago de Cuba from Cienfue-