Evening star., 1901-08-01
NAVY DEPARTMENT.

Washington. August 1, 1901.
SIR: The department has received your
letter of the 9th ultimo, in which you ac-
knowledge the receipt of a copy Of the or
der convening, at your request court Of
inquiry 10 investigate your conduct during
the war with Spain, and suggest that para
graph five of said order, directing the
court to inquire into "the circumstances
attending and the reasons for the dis
obedience by Commodore Schley of the
orders of the partment" etc, be so
modified to omit the departments ex-
preston OF opinion, and thus leave the
court free to express its own opinion in
that matter
In reply you are advised that the pre-
cept calls for an inquiry by the court, and
the ascertainment of pertinent facts. For
the purpose of setting on foot this inquiry,
the precept treats certain matter estab-
lished, such, for instance, as the arrival of
the 'fiyIng squadron off Cienfuegos and Off
Santiago; the retrogade movement west
ward: the turn of the Brooklyn on July 3,
1875; and the fact that you disobeyed or
ders as reported by you in your telegram
dated Kingston, May 2s, 1898. In which you
say: Much to be regretted, cannot obey
orders of the department.
1nasmuch however. as II Is the depart
ments purpose that the court shall be alb
solutely free to report, If such shall be
found to be the case that you did not will
fully disobey the orders. or that you were
justified IN disobeying them, and that this
may be clearly understood. your letter of
the 9th ultimo. with copy of this reply,
will be duly forwarded to the court. Very
respectfully, F. w. HACKETT,
Acting Secretary.
Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schey, U. s.
navy, Great Neck, N. Y.
SchIey's Letter Sent to Dewey.
Formal action in the matter of the
Schley court of inquiry was today con-
fined to the dispatch of letter to Admiral
Dewey, stating that 1.-The department here
with transmits copies of letters dated
July q and August 1 respecting the rre-
cept under which the court of inquiry in
the case of Rear Admiral Schley is to be
convened" The court. through Admiral
Dewey, had already been supplied with a
neatly printed copy OF the precept itself
The correspondence referred to Is Admiral
Schley's letter suggesting the omission Of
the departments expression of opinion
touching his alleged disobedience of or
ders. and the reply from Acting Secretary
Hackett declining to make this medifica-
ton 1t is very seldom necessary to amend
a precept convening a court of inquiry
The departments action, 1t Is stated. while
technically declining Admiral Schley's sug-
gestion. is considered to amount to an
him. As indicated In the letter to Ad-
miral Dewey, this correspondence will
form a part of the record and is a supple
ment to the precept and os as much force
as the original document.
Vacancy In the Court.
The vacancy of the court caused by Rear
Admiral Kimberly's application to be re-
lieved has not yet been filled. 1t is be-
lieved that the department is communicate
inc hv yctr nd Lot nf
retired rear admirals who are regarded as
on the eligible list 1t has no desire to
make public any declinatons, and it Is
understood that the name of the person
chosen will not be announced until he has
finally accepted the assignment. The eff
feet of declination such as Admiral Kim
berly gave is supposed to be distinctly in
furious. tending 10 cheaper the place and
make II difficult to secure proper person.
IL suggested at the department today
that Admiral Kimberlys action Is not yet
final. Secretary Long at his home in Hing
ham is within hour or two's run of Ad-
miral Kimberly's home at West Newton.
and the Secretary NAV take advantage of
that fact to visit the admiral personally and
endeayor TO have him reconsider his de-
cision.
Examining the Logs.
Capt. Parker OF counsel for Admiral
schley continued his work at the Navy De
partment today of scanning the log books
and other records bearing upon the opera
tons OF the West Indian fleet He hopes to
finish this work this week. He is main
tanning a close silence of his discoveries, If
he has made any. and Is evidently an OBJ
ject of great interest TO the naval officers
at the department, who watch him closely
and use every precaution to prevent the
newspaper men from coming in touch with
him. The log books are ponderous vol
umes. and the messengers who have been
employed in carrying them to and fro be-
tween the log room in the fifth story of
the Navy Department building and the
Svcretary's private office, where Capt. Par
ker is, have been having busy time of it.
Captain Parker's Career.
Captain Parker Is a native of Ohio, but
has made his home at Perth Amboy, N. D.,
since the civil war. He entered the navy
in 1916, when fourteen years of age, and
resigned In 1856 to return to civil life. At
the beginning of the war he reioined the
navy as a volunteer officer and again re-
signed in 1856 with the rank of lieutenant
commander. Since that time he has prac-
ticed law and has made naval courts a
speciality. He was counsel for Pay Di-
rector Stephenson several years ago In HIS
famous controversy with Secretary Tracy.