Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-07-27
ington, where most OF my papers and
date are stored Very respectfully,
W. S. Schley,
Rear Admiral, u. S. N.
70 the Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, ID. @.


To the Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, ID. @.
SECRETARY LONGS PROMPT
REPLY.
The Secretary Immediately decided
TO comply with Admiral Schlev's re-
quest, and dictated letter to the
Rear Admiral without consultation
with any one and without communi-
eating the request Of Admiral Schley
TO the President. HIS reply follows:
Navy Department. Washington
July "a Sir: am in receipt of yours
OF the 23rd inst. with reference TO the
criticisms uDon you in connection
with the Spanish American war. and
heartily approve of your action, under
the circumstances, in asking at the
hands of this department such ac-
tion as may bring this entire matter
under discussion under the clearer and
calmer review of my brothers in
arms
The department will at once proceed
in accordance with your request.
Very Iespect,fuIiy.
John d. Long.
Rear Admiral w. S. Schley u. S. N.
MAY NAME THE COURT TODAY.
The official order naming the Court
is expected today and it is believed
that Admiral Dewey and retired Rear
Admlrals Francis Ramsay and S. b.
Luce will be members of the Court
which will meet at the Navy Depart
ment about the middle of September
in open session.
1t is expected that the inquiry may
be a protracted one, and. as Admiral
Schley goes ON the retired list on
October 9 and will probably not be
needed for active duty again, it is
necessary to have the Court begin its
labors IN this extremely hot weather,
not to speaker the difficulty of getting
the witnesses together from all over
the globe.
DEWEY WILL BE PRESIDENT.
Admiral Dewey was asked by Secre-
tary Long TODAY to serve as president
of the Corut of Inquiry, and he ac-
cepted. and his appointment is regard
ed as settled. He is not known to have
expressed an opinion about the con-
troversy, and he has certainly not
Gone so in any public wav.
.SCHLEY'S RIGHT TO CHALLENGE
Admiral Schley will have the right
to challenge any member of the Court
when he appears before it, but Secre-
tary Long expects to have Court no
member of which Admiral S chley
will desire to challenge, and will see
that the sessions of fhe Court are
open, so that the evidence may be
fully reported by the press, and Will
give his large reception room as the
meeting place.
NO COURT MARTIAL CAN FOL-
LOW.
No Court martial can follow, it is
held at the Navy Department, under
the act of 1895, which bars Court mar
tial prosecutions two yearsafter the oc
currences, but the verdict of the
Court of Inquiry will be then in it
self as sufficient. vindication or pun
ishment.
Admiral Schley is expected TO post
pone his proposed suit for damages
against the author and publisher until
after the Court of Inquiry acts. The
Court will finish its work before Con-
gress meets.
SAMPSON TALKS OF MALICE.
Boston, Mass. July 25.-Rear Adj
mlral Sampson said today; II am
glad that Rear Admiral Schley has
asked Secretary Long for an inves iga
ton. l hope if there is an investige-
ton it will be thorough ore, and
that not detail of anything that has
been in dispute will be avoided by the
Investigations Board
This whole business is inspired by
malice, but now perhaps, it may be
all investigated and if it is the people
of the United States will know all the
facts. F"