The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-11-07
AE SPEAKS FOR SCHLEY
CAPTAIN PARKER BEGINS HIS
ARGUMENT BEFORE THE MA.
VAL COURT.
DEFENDS CLIENTS CONDUCT

Bad Judgment-Mr. Hanna Severely
criticises the 5rooklyn's Loop and
Again Goes Over the 7etrograde
Movement.
washington, Nov. 6.-The time of
the Schley court of inquiry was en-
tirely devoted to hearing arguments
in the case of Admiral Schley. Mr.
Hanna finished his argument in be-
half of the department, which had
been begun Monday, and Captain
James Parker began, but did not con.
clude, his presentation of the case for
Admiral Schley. Mr.. Hanna consid-
cred the retrograde movement, the
bombardment of the Colon, and the
charge made against Admiral Schley
of disobedience OF orders. Captain
Parker had only reached the coalins
question when the court adjourned.
He defended the conduct of his client
at all stages of the campaign so far as
he went.
At the opening of the days session
Mr.. Hanna continued his discussion
of the retrograde movement, saying
that but one explanation had been
given for it in Admiral Schley's dis
patch, namely, the inadequacy of the
coal supply. There isl he said, mo
suggestion of any other reason in this
dispatch. In his testimony before this
court Admiral Schley gave four rea-
sons for leaving his station at Santi-
ago, but no one of these four reasons
appears in his Geographic report at
the time"
Relating to the disobedience of the
orders Of the department contained in
the dispatch Of May 25 Mr. Hanna
maintained that this order was not a
suggestion but mandatory order
After discussing the coaling question
and condemning the action of Com
modore Schley on that occasion, Mr.
Hanna took up the question OF
The Loop of the Brooklyn.
Mr.. Hanna said that according to
the weight of the testimony no dis
position was manifested by the Span
ish ship to ram the Brooklyn. With
reference to the testimony concerning
the possibility of collision with the
Texas, Mr.. Hanna called attention to
the fact that the two vessels in clos.
ing in moved on converging lines. He
said that Captain Cook and Navigator
Hodgson evidently had observed Com
modore Schley's movements on the
day Of the battle from different stand.
points. Mr.. Hanna said beyond per-
adventure the progress Of the Texas
was seriously interfered with. He
quoted Captain Evans of the Iowa and
Lieutenant Nicholson of the Oregon to
sustain the contention that the Texas
came to stop. Thus, he argued, a
battleship not only was imperiled, but
delayed by the danger of collision at
this critical time. The loop of the
Brooklyn was he concluded, the only
movement of that day that had called
for any explanation.
Mr.. Hanna contended that it was
not made to avoid the Brooklyn being
rammed, as there was no such effort
at that time. He quoted Commander
WainWright's testimony to the effect
that the Brooklyn's turn left a gap
for the escape of the enemy.
Mr.. Hanna also discussed the re.
ported colloquy between Commodore
Schley and Lieutenant Hodgson, which
forms the 10th count in the precept
in which Schley was reported to have
said during the turn, Damn the
Texas" This remark, Mr.. Hanna
said, showed lack of interest in
another ship of the fleet. He ex-
pressed the opinion that there was
much to sustain Mr.. Hodgson's recol.
lection of this incident, he having
spoken. about four and one-half hours.
Parker Begins His. Address.
Captain Parker then began his ad-
dress in support of Admiral Schley.
After few preliminary remarks he
took up the events of the campaign in
their sequence. He criticised Admiral
Sampson for Withholding information
of the Spanish fleets whereabouts
from Commodore schley. He said
that any one who condemned Admiral
Schley for this voyage from Key West
to Santiago must be pretty hard up
for an issue. 1t was a charge un-
worthy of anybody's consideration
Reverting to the claim shat Commo-
dore Schley had not made proper eff
forts to locate the enemy at Cienfue.
COS, Captain Parker said that the task
of landing boat on the coast was an
exceedingly dangerous one.
Referring to the retrograde move
ment, he said that with the informa-
ton given him Commodore Schley
acted wisely in turning back. He
criticised Captain Sigsbee as "curious-
ly blind-not purposely blind in not
being able to find out anything about
the Colon when she was there in plain
sight.
Referring to the trip from Cienfue-
COS to Santiago, he said that sub
ordinate, when he reports that he is
unable to obey orders, might be GEN.
sured for bad judgment, but for
nothing more serious. The captain
was still speaking when the court adj
journed for the day.. -.
Republican Majority Decreased. Z;
Providence, R. l., Nov. 6.-With
nearly half the districts heard from
the Republican plurality for the state
ticket promises to ruin we'll over 5000.
This is a net loss of $500 from last
year, due to the light vote. Seventy