The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-07-25

~ dSllQgIOns july Z4--SeCreTdTy
Long, in accordance with a request
from Admiral Schley, today advised
that officer that he would order a court
OF inquiry to examine into the entire
matter of Admiral Schley's course in
the Santiago naval campaign. Later
the secretary announced that owing to
the extremely hot weather the court
would not meet until September, and
that he would turn over his reception
room to the court. The secretary said;
ct is too HRr Tow and I do not be
lieVe il would De very comfortable for
officers to sit in their heavy full dress
uniform during August. 1 issued an
order some time ago dispensing with
the wearing of full dress uniforms dur
ing a cOurtmaTual, but this case VIII
be so important that every form Of
official dignity viii be observed, even
TO the guard of marines at the door
I propose to give the court the use of
the large. reception room adjoining my
Office, which IS a convenient and com
-aodious place
will the sessions of the court be
oDen?"
".Unuuestionabiy" was the emphatic
reply. ct propose to make that fact
very plain. tt would be a great mis-
take to have a secret court. The COun-
try has the right to know all that
traEspires in the way of testimony Of
fered Personally, / should be very
glad to have a court composed of a
large number of officers, but the naval
regulations restrict me to the selection
of three. I hope to announce the per
sCnEel of the court tomorrow, and this
will give the judge advocate and re
corder ample time to prepare list of
witnesses who are to be summoned
This list viii be necessarily quite
lengthy. and il will take some little
time to assemble the officers. do
not believe that the session OF the
court will be prolonged, because, after
all a great deal of the talk over the
Santiago campaign is like the Genii'S
vapor, which can be condensed into
small bottle"
'sWfH Admiral Schley be allowed to
name Witnesses
Schley May Name Witnesses.
Admiral Schley," was the reply
will be afforded every opportunity for
the appearance of all the witnesses he
may desire. Be is also entitled, under
the naval regulations, to oe represent
ed by counsel
While Secretary Long was not asked
whether the court of inquiry would be
asked to form and submit an opinion
upOn the facts disclosed by the lnNeS-
tigatiOn it is considered quite prop
able that this course viii be pursued
unless the DIuCI tDlAF NAAAAAeo III
expressly requires this opinion 70 De
expressed, its report must be confined
to stating the facts found.
Secretary Long said that the per
sonnet of the court would be mace pup
l,c tomorrow, at which time also the
precept converting the court probably
viii he issued Meanwhile there IS
much speculation as 10 the heulDeiS
nj the court other than Admiral
Dewey. The secretary hlmseH says
there is no warrant for the announce
nnent of any particular name, as ne
SIN has the question under advise
npnt. He has been making inquiries
during the day as to the availability OF
certain officers, and 1t is UNDERSTOOD
that some Geographic inquiries nave
been made of those absent from the
city to see if there Is any reason why
they should not serve
Although Rear Admiral Schley did
not ask specifically for court OF IN
curry. but left the action to pc taken
to the Judgment of the department me
secretary decided that such a court
would be the best means of making an
Investigation which the rear admiral
had requested and three bureau OF
fcers. were called in for the purpose OF
discussing the mode of procedure III
such cases. After his conference win
Admiral Dewey, who had responded 10
the secretary's request for an inter
view. the secretary said he had not
time to decide upon the composition OF
the court. but in response to ques-
fion as to whether Admiral Dewey
would serve upon such a court. II re-
ouested to do so. the secretary said;
Admiral Dewey viii do his duty
Dewey Will Preside.
Although no positive declaration has
been given on this point, it is assumed
about the navy department that Ad-
miral Dewey will be president of the
court which will inquire into the whole
controversy concerning Admiral
Schley's action during the Spanish war.
There is also an impression that the
two other members of the court will be
retired naval officers. or at least officers
who had no connection with the San
+ tiaEO campaign.
The selection Of retired officers
would have a double advantage. Not
only would they he free from any pre-
JUDGE growing out of their active con
nectiOn with the department, but they
would have no fear of future cOnse-
quences arising from their course while
members of the board. The court of
inquiry probably viii not proceed with
its work until fall. Secretary Long
said today tn, would be unfair to
ask a court of Ia Siry to convene in
Washington during the present eX-
tremely hot weather for the prOsecu-
ton of an inquiry which promised TO
be protracted. Admiral Schley's letter
is as follows:
T-T- I'll