The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-04-07
PRESIDENT ANGRY
Refutes an lnsinuation of the
Army and Navy Journal
WHITEWASH is CHARGED
investigation Of Collision 6ct"eeo
Rattleshirs Result in Sensation
Thorough Probing Will Be
Ordered.

Ordered.
A Washington special says: Presi'
dent Roosevelt took a hand Monday
in the controversy which has grown
out of the report upon the Missouri
Illinois collision. which nearly result
ed in the loss to the United states
navy of one or both Of these highly
valuable ships. He had long confer
ence with Secretary Moody, and ! IS
understood the result will be e.
mand upon The Army and Navy Jr.:r-
nal for the authority for it's staten ~
that kilograms were sent member CT
the court of inquiry before the nd
ing and that these were designed 70
secure action favorable to Captain
Cowles, Of the Missouri. Secretary
Moody. after the conference, said:
81 have made pretty careful in
quiry as to the statements that have
been published. This does not sho"
that any one sent kilograms to the
court of inquiry. This much is GER
tain: No such kilograms were sent
from the white house or from my Of
fee. T intend to continue the inVcs-
LEGATIONS, and quick and positive ac-
ton will be taken should it be found
that this is the case intend to
probe this matter to the bottom. 1t
is the desire Of both the president and
myself that there shall be most r:g-
i'd investigation"
Secretary Moody's statements re-
fer to telegrams ''To the court Of in
quiry." The charge Of The Army and
Navy Journal was that they were sent
to "a member Of that court" 1t Is
stated at the white house that the
president has directed that nothing DC
left undone, because Captain Cowlcs
is his brother in law. If it is ascer-
tanned that influence was used to pre-
vent fair investigation and to shield
Captain Cowles the president, would
direct that a court martial is ordered,
the facts will show to the discredit Of
Captain Cowles and compel severe
punishment of that officer. In navy
department circles, as we'll as po'iti-
cal, it is said that there are sugges-
tions that a court martial would be
the only satisfactory way out of the
affair, but tbs is regarded as natural,
in view of the prominence of Captain
Cowles and his connections. 1t is un.
derstood that The Army and Navy
Journal will stand pat" upon its
charge that such telegrams were sent.
The Army and Navy Journal, the
old conservative service paper of the
country, devoted cons derable space
in its issue Of April I'd to this case.
In referring to the record, this jour-
nal says:
ut contains the finding of the court
Of inquiry, the endorsement upon 1t
by Rear Adm raj Barker and Judge
Advocate Lemly, the n,nclusions OF
the secretary Of the navy and .atts:
from the secretary Of Admiral Few
ey and Admiral Dewey's reply. The
record does not include, however, the
two dispatches by nigh authority at
Washington to a member of the court
previous to the fin ling"
1t is the talk in navy circles that
previous to the f1ding of the court Of
inquiry, two dispatches were sent to
a member Of that body by som one
''high in authority" in Washington,
who were intended to infuen;e the
finding of that court.
1t has also been discovered hat the
finding of the court, which In ha.t.
hearted way recommended hat no
further proceedings be taken. was not
the unanimous decision Of tie court,
but was simply concurred in )y ma.
tority Of the members.