Schlettstadt
or SCHLESTADT, a town of Alsace-Lorraine; 27 miles S. W. of Strasburg. It was made a free city under the Hohenstaufen. In 1634 it was taken by the Fre French, and was fortified by Vauban, 1676; ceded to the Germans, 1870; and the fortress destroyed by them, 1874. Here was discovered, in the 13th century, the art of glazing pottery.
It is the birthplace of the reformer, Martin Bucer, 1491. It has manufactories of leather, gloves, cottons, linens, chemicals, beer, spirits, oil, and other commodities.
Pop. about 10,000.
SCHLEY SCHLEY (sli), WINFIELD SCOTT, an American naval officer; born in Frederick co., Md., Oct. 9, 1839. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1854, served with distinction in the Civil War; was present at the bombardment of Valparaiso and Callao by the Spanish fleet, and during the same cruise he suppressed insurrections at both Middle Chincha Island and La Union, Honduras.
He served on the East India and China stations for several years, and in 1871 REAR-ADMIRAL WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY took part in the attack on the Korean fortifications on the Salee river by leading the assaulting column. He commanded the expedition which rescued Greely from Cape Sabine in 1884. When a war with Spain was anticipated, Commodore Schley was on March 25, 1898, placed in command of the "Flying Squadron" at Hampton Roads, comprising the armored cruiser "Brooklyn," and the battleships "Massachusetts" and "Texas."
On May 13, under sealed orders, he steamed out to sea, presumably for the purpose of intercepting and destroying the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cervera.
Commodore Schley divined the probable course the Spanish admiral would take, and on May 28 arrived off the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, in which the Spanish fleet had taken refuge, and by blockading the entrance prevented its escape. His squadron was united with Rear-Admiral SCHMALKALDEN Sampson's fleet on June 30, and on July 3 the combined fleets, under the personal direction of Commodore Schley, attacked and totally destroyed the Spanish fleet while endeavoring to escape from the harbor. In August, 1898, he was promoted rear-admiral. Owing to the absence of Rear-Admiral Sampson, Schley's ranking officer, from the actual battle of Santiago, a controversy arose between the friends of the two officers as to whom the credit for the victory belonged. Schley, having been accused of discreditable actions, asked for the appointment of a court of inquiry which convened Sept. 12, 1901, Admiral Dewey presiding. The majority report found Schley guilty of vacillation, lack of enterprise, and disobedience; while Dewey's report praised Schley for efficient service, and gave him the credit for the destruction of Cervera's fleet.
Schley filed with the Secretary of the Navy objections to the majority report, but it was nevertheless approved by Secretary Long, Dec. 20, 1901. The President when appealed to, also approved the findings of the court. He died in New York City, N. Y., Oct. 2, 1911.