Arizona republican., 1905-08-31
Secretary BOndpdTte Dis
approves the Report
A RFDEEMING FEATURE
or the "Discreditable Disaster" Was
the Subsequent Behavior OF the
Omcers and Crsw-.COmmauder l..
YOung Ordered to Court Martial.

Washington Aug. SO.-Secretary C.
]. Bonaparte of the navy in his action /
TODAY upon the findings of the court of !
ino,,irv, in the case of the Bennington (
explosion severely arraigned some of /
the officers of the vessel for failure /
TO look after the safety valves and or |
dered Commander Lucien Young be-
fore a court martial to clear himself !
of the charges of neglect of official !
duty. He also directed the court mar |
tial of Ensign Wade on the charge of !
neglect of duty and disapproved the
court of inquiry's finding that the Ben
nington was "in an excellent state of
discipline and in good and efficient con-
dftion."
Ensign Wade was in charge of the
machinery. The action as to Com |
mander Young was taken in view of
the fact that the court of inquiry in
its findings and opinion did not pass
expressly upon his conduct and the
question of responsibility for the eXplo-
sion. Secretary Bonaparte, however,
approves the court of inquirys endorse
ment of the creditable conduct of all
the survivors of the officers and crew
of the Bennington after the explosion
occurred"
Secretary Ronaparte's endorsement
on the courts findings is in part as
follows: "The department approves the
several findings of fact by the court of
/ inquiry with the exception of so much
| thereof as in the words following:
| That Con July 19. 1905) was in an eX-
ceIlent state of discipline and in good
and efficient condition with the excep-
4 ton Of her boilers, which were in fair
condition and efficient considering their
Z age (about fourteen years. and the use
! to which they had been subjected.
| ssV.ba darRa artr91aut does consider
this particular finding sustained by the
| evidence; the proof tends strongly to
show that the enlisted force of the en-
gineering division had been permitted
I to fall into habits of laXity and mat
tention i'm the discharge of their duties
/ and that at least some of this force
were also imperfectly instructed re-
garding their duties. In tne view Of
the department the evidences estab-
fishes further that certain appurten-
/ ances, to wit. the safety and sentinel
: valves of at least one of the boilers,
were not in an efficient condition at the
date mentioned and had not been in
such condition for a considerable time
previously and in the judgment Of the
department this evidence renders the
statements that the ship was in good
and efficient condition and that her
boilers were in fair condition and ef-
disclosed by the proof
"The department approves the re-
lcommendation of the court of inquiry
that Ensign Charles T. Wade, L. S. N,
be brought to trial by court martial
upon the charges contained in the opin-
ion of the said court of inquiry. Such
court martial is hereby ordered, but the
judge advocate general is instructed to
include in charges and specifications
oh in hpfG 81
forth.
'InasmUch as the court of inquiry did
not pass explicitly in its findings and
opinion upon the conduct of Command
er Lucien Young, L. S. N. command
ing the L. S. S. Bennington, and the
question of his responsibility for the
lexplosion thereon and the consequent
loss of life and injuries to persons and
property, the department must treat
this silence as an implied finding That
he was not thus responsible. After very
careful consideration the department is
compelled to disaprove this implied
finding"
"The facts disclosed by the national
court of inquiry and by the testimony
and exhibits thereto attached, make it
the duty of the department to require
Commander Lucien Young. u. S. N, to
clear himself before a general court
official duty above indicated. Such
court martial is therefore ordered and
the Judge advocate general will pre-
pare the charges and specifications in
accordance with the views Of the de-
partment hereinabOve expressed.
"In view of the many painful features
OF this lamentable affair, Il is source
of especial satisfaction to the depart
ment to approve the findings of the
court of inquiry. the endorsement of
the commander-in-ch chief of the Pacific
squadron and the letters of the mem
: bers of the court Of inquiry with the
further endorsement of the command
er-in chief respecting the highly Gre
ditable conduct of all the survivors of
the officers and the crew of the Ben
nington after tn" explosion occurred.
"It is but Just to mention, and it in
cluded in this commentator Com
, mander Lucien Young, u. S. N, and
Ensign Charles T. Wade, U. S. N, and
| also to note that special reference in
the letters aforesaid is made to Lieu
: tenant F. H. Yates, u. S. N, notwith-
standing the severe loss sustained by
the ships complement and the sudden
ness and terrible consequences of the
accident, that discipline was fully
maintained.
THE department notes with pleasure
this redeeming feature of an appalling
and also discreditable disaster