The San Francisco call., 1905-08-31

YOUNG MUST
FACE TRIAL
Accused as Result
Of Bennington
Disaster.
Naval Secretary Finds
Fault With the
Report.
Ensign Wade Also to Be
Asked to Answer Charges
of Neglect.

w WASt1lN(T1ON,s aug. ou.-SeCfetdry
Bonaparte in his action to-day on the
findings of the court of inquiry in the
case of the Bennington explosion severely
arraigns some officers of the vessel for
failure to look after the safety valves;
orders Commander Lucien Young before
a court-nartial to clear himself of the
charges of neglect of official duty; di-
rects the court-martial of Ensign Wade
on the charge of neglect of duty and
disapproves the court of inquiry's finding
that the Bennington was Sin an excellent
state Of discipline and in good and eff
cient condition.
Ensign Wade was In charge of the ma
chinery. The action as to Commander
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 his respon-
sibility for the explosion Secretary Bo-
naparte. however, approves the court of
inquiry's Endorsement Of the creditable
conduct of all the survivors of the Ben
nington after the explosion occurred. -
BONAPARTEs sTATEMENT.
StcrefarS Bonasarte's statement on the
courts findings is as follows:
THE department. has very carefully
considered the findings and opinion of the
court of inquiry. the testimony and ex-
hibits thereto attached and the indorse-
Pacific squadron thereon. 1t has also
considered the letters of the court of in
quiry commendatory OF Lieutenant 4. e.
II. Yates, u. S. N, and Ensign Charles
T. Wade, u. S. N, and the Endorsements
thereon of the commander-in-chef of the
squadron aforesaid. The questions in
volved in this inquiry. being deemed bv
the department of exceptional interest
and Importance to the service. have been
weighed with more than ordinary care
and deliberation.
The department approves the several
findings of fact by the court of inquiry
with the exception of so much thereof as
is contained in the words following:
That the Bennington on July 10, 1905,
was in an excellent state of discipline
and In good and efficient condition with
the exception Of her boilers, which were
In fair condition and efficiency consider
ing their age (about fourteen years) and
the use to which they had been subjected
DIsAPPROvES OF FINDINGS.
The department does not consider
this particular finding sustained by the
evidence. The proof tends strongly to
show that the enlisted force of the en-
gfneering division had been permitted
to fall into habits of laxity and mat
tention in the discharge of their du-
ties. and that at least some of this
force were also imperfectly instructed
regarding their duties. In the view
of the department the evidence 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 statement that that ship was
in good and efficient condition and
that her boilers were in fair condition
and efficient inappropriate to the facts
disclosed by the proof
THE department approves and con-
ours in the opinion expressed by the
court OF inquiry respecting the
causes OF the deplorable calamity as
one which the said court was consti-
tuted to INQUIRE into and the RESPONSE
bility and consequent culpability of the
several persons mentioned in the said
opinion of the said court"
YOUNG ALSO ACCUSED.
The Secretary then discussed certain
portions of the evidence, which, he
says, was sufficient to justify the court
in advancing another charge of neglect
of duty against Ensign Wade, and pro-
ceeds:
THE department approves the recon-
mendat1On or the court of inquiry that
Ensign Charles T.. Wade, U. S. NJ, be
brought to trial by court martial upon
the charges contained in the opinion of
the said court of inquiry. Such court
martial is hereby ordered, but the
judge advocate general is instructed to
include in the charges and specifica-
tions the further charge hereinbefore
set forth.
''Inasmuch as the court of inquiry did
not pass explicitly in its findings and
opinion upon the conduct of Com
mander JLucien Young. u s. N, COM
manding the United States ship Ben
nington and the question OF his respon-
sibility for the explosion thereon and
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 respon-
siblee After very careful considera-
ton the department is compelled to
disapprove this implied finding"
The Secretary then cites and COM
ments upon the various provisions. of
the navy regulations and concludes as
follows:
1.-THE foregoing provisions of the regu-
lations and the facts disclosed by the ma
tional court of inquiry and by the testi-
mony and exhibits thereto attached make
Confi.neA nm PAGE 2. CoInmn q.