Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-09-30
FROM WASHINGTON.
rCorrssp ,ndsucs OF the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington. September 30.

,yidspce before the naval Court OF
souiry that will be most emphasized
when the finsl arguments are made, ls
the fact that disobedience OF orders YVES
not unusual during the war. II IL Is
shown that Schley used his Judgment
in modifyine orders received from the
department, it will be claimed tnat
other officers, feeling justilsd Dy tne
sneeial information they had, did the
same thing. Two clearly developed
and one probable case OF instructions
disobeyed have been presented to the
o,urt. Captain Wise admitted that ne
did not notify Sohley OF the Navy de-
nartmepts dispatch that CerVera was
nrobably ia Santiago. He was ordered
r. Give the information to oil COM
'oanders and he saw the Brooklyn but
aid not tell s ,hley because he tnougnt
the latter mad already been informed;
Cant. McCalla testified that ne hSu
taken ell his ships from Cieniuegos,
although the department had oroereu
MIN 10 leave one or more small vessels
off the Cuban port. McCalla did not
obey because be thought that II ne ielt
the Eagle there it would probably have
been captured by the Spsnisrds. had
the Eagle remained at Cieniuegos
Schlev would have been notified upon
his arrival of the absence OIL the spanish
feet and would have been enapieu 10
proceed directly to Santiago. as
was he lost about three days watching
Cienfuegos. Capt. McOalla said that II
Cant. Switzerland, of his sub-sqDadrono,
did not tell the Scorpion, OF Schley's
squadron. that McCslla had established
| communication with the Cubans al
| C,.nfuee.os. Switzerland disooeyed
orders. The preponderance OF evidences
seems to be to the effect tnst ooulnei-
land did not give that Information 10
the Scorpion. These precedents WI
be used by Mr.. Rsyner to break tne
force of Judge Advocate Lemly's
charges that Schley modified orders
received from the department be-
causs of his knowledge OF condi-
lions at the field of operations.
A noint established by Schley that is
considered Of importance by his frlends
js that there was no truth 10 the charge
that he withdrew his vessels 20 miles,
as stated by Sampson, or any other as
tance from the Santiago blockade. The
charges that he withdrew his ships has
been repeated 10 many forms, bus with
one exception ali the witnesses thus lar
called have testified that he maintained
a close blockade. There was the usual
crowd of 200 at the first session OF the
court OF inquiry this morning.
Capt Lemly expected to complete the
presentation of his side OF the case ibis
week. 1t will require two or three
weeks more, however, to complete the
evidence In the case.
The session OF court opened at III q. m.
CAPTAIN Switzerland corrected his testi.
mopv OF Saturday. He said he could
not definitely say that the vessels on
the blockade could have seen Admiral
Ceryera's feet had it been 10 the har-
Dor OF Santiago. Commander James
M. Miller Of the collier Merrimac
wasthe next witness. He testified to
coalinV vessels of the fleet. He also
testified to the impracticability OF coal
ing vessels of the feet at times. From
NAV "a to May q he coaled no vessels.
This supported Schley's contention that
coaling was impossible when be began
to retrograde movement on the evening
OF May 26.
The court then took a recess for an
hour.
Rear Admiral Robley ID. Evans
"Fighting Bob" Evans, who was cap
tain of the battleship Iowa during the
war. was called as witness when court
reconyened at 2 o'clock. He ia now
President of the board OF inspection and
survey.
| Captain Evans said; $50 far as
know nothing was done to develop
the fact that the Spanish feet was 10
Ciepfuegos or the strength OF the bat
teries. We arrived the afternoon OF the
26th at o point about 80 miles to the
south of Santiago. There was no sea
to prevent coaing that night. The
fret signal of the retrogrsde move
ment was made about 6 p. M
that day. / do not know why
this retroersde movement was made
Ion May 81 the sea was smooth anc
the Iowa could have coaled from col
lier at any time; remember sigma
from the Brooklyn at 4:O5 p. no
May % stating that while of ssntisgc
the general meeting place would be u
miles south Of that place and first saw
! the Colon Just after daybresk thu
|, morning OF May 90 She was living jus
inside the Moro channel. No effor
was made to capture or destroy tina
day." Witness related the signal o
} Schley on May 81, and the going in o
the Iowa and Massachusetts.
Admiral Evans, continuing, described
{ the blockade Of Santiago May 1881
( and the battle Of July s. He said
9 "When the Spanish feet came out o.
July Sd, the Iowa held the center
The only chip between US and tn
! Brooklyn was the Texas. When th
! fight began / saw the Brooklyn steam
=. ing northwest. Five minutes later sh
was steaming east very fast. pai
= no attention until the navigate
Y said: Look out for the Texas
q Where the devil Is the Texas p Here
the smoke" "Captsin Philip will look OF
Q for the exss, said, and went below. "Prett
n soon Yves reused by the navigator cryin
assin, Is ook out you will be into the Texas
Z saw military tops 10 the smoke and 6nall
Is made out the Brooklyn 100 yards directl
), iu front of the Texss, The latter was dsr
gerously rear the Iowa and was sppsTentl
l. backing. Just at this time the Oregon pssse
"a between me and the Texas AL three wei
punched close together. rhe Colon passed I
l. and some one shouted: The Brooklyn
s knocked out"
= Asked il be did not give the code
y signals to Commodore Sehley, Captain Eval
said mo, it never entered my mind TIL
he did not know 1t. 1 did not give it