The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-09-26
SCOUT CAPTAINS TESTIFY.
THE DELIVERY OF DISPATCHES ES7O
 SCHLEY OFF SANTIAGO.

Cotton, Who Commanded the Harvard
 Declares SchIey Did Nothing to Locate Captain Wise, Who Commanded the | Yale, in n Bad Light-FaiIed to Give 1 SchIey Important n ormation.
 Washington, Sept 25.-Two new wit
 nesses were introduced in the Schley
 court to-day. They were Admiral Cot
 ton, who as captain commanded the
 auxiliary cruiser Harvard, and Captain
 Wise, who commanded the auxiliary
 cruiser Yale during the Spanish war
 Both these vessels were used as scouts and both came up with the Flying Squadron off Santiago on the 27th of May, before the retrograde movement to Key West was begun.
 Admiral Cotton testified that he went aboard Admiral Schley's flagship on that date to take dispatches to him and he said at first that he gave him four or five dispatches addressed to the com- mander of the squadron. He after wards modified this statement, saying that probably all but two of these dis patches were addressed to himself (Ad- miral Cotton), but that they contained information which he thought should be in Admiral Schley's possession. One of these was a copy of dispatch from Admiral Sampson, which had not been printed in the official records, stating that the Spanish fleet was at Santiago, He also said that coal could have been taken from the Merrimac on the 27th of May, the day on which the retrograde to Key West was begun for the purpose of coaling.
 Captain Wise testified that on the 27th of May he signalled Captain Philip, of the Texas, his opinion that Cervera was inside the harbor at Santiago, but the testimony was ruled out.
 During the day Admiral Schley an- nounced that he had selected MT. Ray Judge Wilson.
 some of the Testimonyim Detail.
 In response to questions Admiral Cot ton said that he had the original trans | dIlOnS or the clpileI uiSPitNhS9 sAN- dressed to the Harvard. The dispatch | ,f May 25 was then read to him as fol- ows:
 "Washington, May 25, 1898 Harvard. | St. Nicholas Mole, Hayti-Proceed at once and inform Schley and also the senior officer present off Santiago as All departments information indicates Spanish division is still at Santiago The department looks to you O ascertain facts, and that the enemy, f therein, does not leave without a de- isive action. Cubans familiar with Santiago say that there are landing places five or six nautical miles west rom the mouth of the harbor, and that here insurgents probably will be found md not the Spanish. From the sur ounding heights can see every vessel n port. As soon as ascertained notify he department whether enemy is there. ,ould not squadron and also the liar ard coal from Merrimac leeward of ,ape Cruz, Goniaves Channel or Mole, Iayti? The department will send coal to Mole. Report without clay situation at Santiago de Cuba.
 Long"
 Mir. Rayner called attention to the act that there were some immaterlal hanees in the dispatches as printed in he official reports by the navy depart lent.
 Admiral Schley's reply to these dis atches dated May 29, in which he said Q could not obey the orders of the de- artment, was then read, and MT. Ray CT pointed out various changes in the : lnguage of the dispatch as printed in 1e official report He addressed the , ,urt briefly concerning these changes. , -e said that Admiral Sehley had spok- f , of the weather as "boisterous," and lat the word had been omitted from z ,e printed copy of the dispatch He C so said that whereas the admiral had C Lid that $500 tons of coal would be ] scessary, the printed copy made 1t 1O,- r 0 tons. It was also stated in the orig al that the Harvard was going to Port oval. whereas Kingston had been in- rted in the printed copy. There also ' ere other changes.
 The following is the text of the origi- Il dispatch sent to the navy depart ent n v ReCelVeu ulSpHlCll Ul way 1o py Iidl~ I | lrd off Santiago de Cuba. Merrimac's I lgine is disabled, and she is helpless; V n obliged to have her lowed to Key b est. Have been absolutely unable to W al the Texas, Marblehead. Vixen and il from collier, owing to very ugh seas and boisterous weather since aving Key West Brooklyn is the ly one in squadr having more than fl ficient coal to reach Key West. Im- f, ssible to remain off Santiago in pres- c, t state of coal account of the squad f. n. Not possible to coal to leeward of il, .pe Cruz in summer, owing to south " ,st winds Harvard just reports to fir , she has only coal enough to reach K maica, and she will proceed to Port 1 F ,yal; also reports only small vessels uld coal at Gonaives or Mole Hayti nneapolis has only coal enough to ach Key West, and same of Yale, lich will tow Merrimac It is to be tV yretted that the departments orders 1t mot be obeyed, earnestly as we have hf striven to that end. I am forced to urn to Key West via Yucatan chan
 for coal Can ascertain nothing lcerning enemy. Was obliged to send on gle to Port Antonio, Jamaica, yes 3. day, as she had only twenty-seve oe IS of coal on board. Will leave St. m ul here. Will require $500 tons of Il at Key West"
 admiral Cotton then related con-