New-York tribune., 1901-09-22
CASE AGAINST SCHLEY
THE INQUIRY SHOWS MANY
OPINIONS, FEW FACTS.
COMMANDER SCHROEDER'S TESTIMONY
NOT FAVORABLE TO ADMIRAL'S
TACTICS
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

washington, Sept. 2I-Tne progress OF tne
schley Court of Inquiry. while thus far disap-
pointing to those who expected continual excite
ment and rapid succession of startling and
hitherto unknown evidence had been satisfac-
torily substantial when adjournment was taken
to-day to Monday morning. Commander seaton
Schroeder, recently Governor of Guam, the
only new witness examined. the early session
being devoted to correcting the record and In
effectual cross questioning of Commander Har-
ber
Commander Schroeder proved the most intelli-
gent source of information produced up to this
time, but like the witnesses Tor the prosecution
who had preceded him, he gave, perhaps, more
consolation to the defence than to the Judge
advocate. This feature of the inquiry. the utter
absence so far of strong statements discrediting
Admiral Schley. the evident reluctance of wit
nesses or their actual inability to recollect Incl
dents clearly detrimental to his case as well
as the readiness with which his counsel induce
statements rather in his favor. have astonished
the public and led to wonderment to where
the sweeping charge Of reprehensible conduct
had it's foundation.
AN APPARENT LACK OF AIM
1t is known that the judge advocate expects
to present some damaging facts in support of
each of the ten indictments OF the precept but
up to the present time the eliciting of testimony
has been conducted along scattering lines, and
there is skipping about among the salient in
cidents without really serious effort to exhaust
a.
ular incident.
Particular precaution to be taken by
the prosecution not to let any witness answer
questions at this time regarding events
ring after June 1. when Admiral Sampson re-
lieved Schley of Santiago. while the defence ap-
pears impatient to hurry ahead to the actual
battle. 1t is already reasonably clear that much.
II not all, of next week. will be devoted to the
preliminary period when Schey was independ-
emily in commando period which is already
coming to be regarded as OF inferior Importance
and that the great questions OF dlsobedience
of orders and of the Brooklyn's loop will not be
reached until October.
Perhaps Tho Dsost g snneant occurrence co.
day, although one of the brefest and least no.
ticed at the moment. was the warning given
by the naval solicitor to the counsel for the de-
fence that resistance would be made against
any effort to institute comparisons involving
naval officers who not before the court
Admiral Schleys attorney promptly Withdrew
the question he propounding with a view
to showing that the blockade of Santiago was
not as effective before June / as later because
so many vessels were not available at that time
WITNESSES FORGETFULNEss.
notable embarrassment TO the prosecution
which has been strikingly shown in the case of
every witness the stand Is the manifestation
! OF exceeding caution and extraordinary difficulty
in remembering the crucial facts of three years
ago contrasted against the surprising facility
with which the same witnesses recollect mere
matters of opinion. Exactly what did happen,
what orders were given signals made distances
preserved. how much coal was in the bunkers
and even the names of ships have seemingly
been driven out of mind to be replaced by most
/ vivid and precise memories of what impressions
were held to somewhat irrelevant conversa-
tions, controversial questions involving dscre-
tion policy. probable consequences and crlti-
cisms
Another point of interest is the apparent in
concusiveness of the written records of the
exciting period For instance it was brought
out to-day that the steam log of the Texas did
I not show that the engines of that vessel
stopped or reversed at the battle of July 3 The
senior surviving officer not sure that the
vessel was either stopped backed to avoid
ramming the Brooklyn during the loop.
Later the judge-advocate will summon the
engineers force of the ship to clear this ques-
tion and 1t remains to be seen whether these
men, fastened twenty feet below the battle
backing and if so. whether they of
the cause Of the action. 1T being impossible for
them to see the Brooklyn any other ship.
/ FLYING SQUADRON SLOW
Notwithstanding the dictum of the court yes
terday to limit the testimony to bare facts and
to bar expressions of opinion, at least two ques-
tions of individual judgment were admitted to-
day Commander Harber's belief that he could
have coaIed the Texas at any time off Santiago
and Commander Schroeder's emphatic NO"
when asked whether the Flying Squadron pro-
ceeded from Cienfuegos to Santiago with all
dispatch
In the first instance. cross examination. while
not shaking Commander Harber's confidence.
adduced signals and records indicating reluc-
tapca ,pon he mart of the TeXaS'S commander