Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-11-08
Might Drop Slower Vessels.

Might Drop Slower Vessels.
He admitted that the weather on the
voyage was bad for the smaller YES.
sels, particularly the Eagle, and said
that speed of the squadron was slowed
In order that they might keep up. He
contended, ga however, that if that YES.
sci was to be sent away, she should
have been sent at the time when she
was causing the delay and not when
the voyage was practically completed
and the weather improving. In this
connection he suggested that all the
slower vessels, in view of the urgency
OF reaching Santiago, might have been
dropped with a rendezvous to be
Joined later by the fighting vessels.
+ Having brought the squadron to the
southwark Of Santiago, on May 28, the
judge advocate took up the coaling
question, quoting Lieutenant Dyson's
figures on the question of coal supply
IN some detail. Then he considered
the retrograde movement This step
he said, had been undertaken with.
out sufficient or decisive steps being
taken to ascertain whether the Span.
ish feet was actually in the harbor OF
Santiago, leaving the mouth of the
harbor unmatched and Cervera free to
escape, with the possibility of his max.
ing a descent upon our coast-the
moral, to say nothing of the material
effect of which 1T is impossible to
overestimate.
Whatever opinion Captain Sigsbee
and Pilot Nunez may have given the
commodore as to the presence Of the
Spanish fleet in the harbor Of Santi.
ago (and I believe that the captain
never said that the Spanish fleet was
not therein) the commodore was alone
responsible for the retrogade move
ment."
The details of the retrogade move
ment were rehearsed as were those
concerning the delivery of dispatches
by the Harvard. Captain Lemly con-
tended that the dispatch conveying
positive information that the Spanish
fleet was in the harbor must have been
delivered to Commodore Schley not
withstanding his denial because he
considered it inconceivable, having it.,
that Captain Cotton should not have
communicated it's contents to the COM
modore."
Here Captain I.emly quoted in full
Commodore Schley's Cannot obey
orders' dispatch to the department on
May 27 and commented upon it, say
ing: Whether the departments In
structions definitely directed, in posi-.
tive terms, that the squadron remain
off Santiago, or whether it's desire that
this hould be done was simply indicat-
cd, appears to me, under all the cir
cumstances, to be immaterial. Dis
obedience OF orders may be an &imper-
ative and glorious duty, but, If it be
not justified by the facts, it cannot be
condoned by terming it an error Of
Judgment. This was not an error Of
judgment, 1t was an error OF conduct" I"
Bombardment Of the Colon.
OF the reconnaissance Of May
81 Captain Lemly said: : <s$."5'
! It has been claimed that the OBJ
ject Of this affair OF May 81 was to
develop the eneny's batteries and that
this. was accomplished. There is,
however, great deal Of doubt, in
view Of the varying signals and state
ments made by the commodore, both
before and after the action, as to what
was the real object, whether a recon.
noissance or an attempt to destroy the
Colon. to ss5s ss:. % &!
Il The defense to the failure to go In
closer on May 81 By pleading at this
time the cautienary order of April 6
does not appear to he sufficient. even
If the commodore was acquainted with
ITS contents. The order moslifies itself
and from first to last clearly indicates
that our A set was to be kept for the
Spanish sh lbs. = # .5s4si s:z$
Discussimy the Bro0klyn's loop Cap
tain Lemly M expressed the opinion,
based upon evidence, that In turning
to starboard when ali the other Amer
lean vessels turned TO port, the Brook
lyn endangered not only the Texas
but other vessels as well It was, he
said, clearly established that the Tex.