The sun., 1901-09-26

TO the nearesr unIreu srarus pUrr 1
left the Brooklyn about noon, possibly
few minutes before. Immediately
after my departure the Brooklyn cciii-
lnenced steaming ahead, and / noted
that many Of the ships at that moment
under Commodore Schley's command
We're in motion, presumably prepara-
tory to taking their stations In stean,-
ing order to return to Key West. As
soon as / returned to my own ship, aft
er my boat was hoisted, steered to
the southwest for Kingston"
Dispatch to schIey.
In response to further questions Ad.
miral Cotton said that he had the
original translations Of the cipher dis
patches addressed to the Harvard. The
dispatch of May % was then read to
him as follows:
Proceed at once and inform Schley
and also the senior officer present off
Santiago as follows: All departments
information indicates Spanish division
is still at Santiago. The department
looks to you to ascertain facts and that
the enemy, II therein, does not leave
without a decisive action. Cubans
familiar with Santiago say that there
are landing places five or six nautical
miles west from the mouth of harbor
and that there insurgents probably win
be found and not the Spanish. From
the surrounding heights can see every
vessel in port. As soon as ascertained
notify the department whether enemy
is there. Could not squadron and also
the Harvard coal from Merrimac lee
ward Of Cape Cruz, Gonaives channel,
or Mole, Haiti? The department will
send coal Immediately to Mole. Report
without delay situation at Santiago de
Cuba
Mr.. Rayner called attention to the
changes in the dispatches as printed
in the official reports by the navy de-
partmcnt.
Admiral Schley's reply to these dis
patches dated May %, in which he said
he could not obey the orders of the de-
partlnent, was then read, and Mr.. Ray
ner pointed out various changes in the
language of the dispatch as printed in
the official report. He addressed the
court briefly concerning these changes.
He said that Admiral Schley had spo-
ken of the weather as "boisterous" and
that that word had been omitted from
the printed copy of the dispatch. He
also stated that whereas the admiral
had said that $500 tons of coal would
be Necessary the printed copy made ii
10000 tons. 1t was also stated in the
original that the Harvard was going to
Port Royal. whereas Kingston had been
inserted in the printed copy. There also
were other changes.
Admiral Cotton then related conver.
sation lie had had with Admiral Schley
concerning Il proposition of Lieutenant
Beall of the Harvard TO go ashore and
put himself in communication with the
Cuban insurgents. He could not, he
said, recall the exact words of the con.
versation but AT all events Mr.. Beall
had not been ordered ashore.
Judge Advocate Lemly then asked,
After You delivered the order and pri.
or to the dispatch which he delivered to
YOU to be sent to Kingston what ef-
forts did he make to locate Cervera's
fleet to your knowledge?"
'None to my knowledge"
On cross examination Admiral Cot
ton said that while lie had delivered
four or five dispatches TO Admiral
Schley he had had the original only of
the one dispatch which he had given.
They had all been translated by Lieu.
tenant Beall. and he had not seen thu
originals of amy but that one. lie had
no record of any other dispatches.