The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-30

Washington Oct 29.--The cross-exam- ination of Admiral Schley was continued throughout the session of the court of in- quiry today. The progress made was ex- ceedingly slow. Practically the whole day was consumed in questioning the Ad- mral on the cruise from Cienfuegos to Santiago and the moves and influences that governed him in turning back after his squadron had arrived in the vicinity of the latter port. This latter branch o the cross-examination had not been con cluded when the court adjourned. The blockade at Santiago. the reconnaissance of May 31 and the battle of July 5 still remain to be covered.
 The Judge Advocates questions called for comparison of statements Admiral schley has made either in his direct tes- in his communication to the Sen ate, or in his dispatches to Admiral Sampson or the Navy Department; with the testimony of witnesses who have pre- ceded him and the logs and signal books of the other vessels of the fleet. The questions were not asked in chronologi- cal order. but jumped from one subject to another and from one stage of the cam paign to another. Throughout the strain to which the witness naturally was sub- jected while under examination, the Ad- miral retained his customary composure.
 Made Tart Answer.
 At one point when he was being search ingly interrogated as to his distances from shore at Cienfuegos and as to the distances were a matter of record, he responded. rather tartly:
 "Oh. no. I did not know they ever would become a matter of such great im- portance or I should have plotted them and made a memorandum, as I should of many other things"
 The main points to which the cross-ex- animation was directed today were the ability of the ships to coal off Cienfuegos and the reasons for what Is known as the "retrograde movement"
 The latter point was dwelt upon with much emphasis and detail and had not been disposed of fully when the court ad- journed The Admiral gave three req sons for turning back. First. the state ment of Captain Sigsbee who comma nded the scout ship St. Paul, that the enemy was not in Santiago; second, the opinion of Nunez, the pilot, that the entrance was too narrow and shallow for the Spanish ships to enter. and. third, the ambiguity of the departments telegram. In tho course of the cross-examination the Ad- miral said he regarded the department 8 dispatch rather as a suggestion than as an explicit order, a suggestion which he carried out after the sea had abated and the coal supply of the ships had been re- plenished.
 Questions at Random.
 Captain Lemly during the morning at no time pursued a direct line of enquiry. He jumped from Hampton Roads to San tiago and then doubled back to Key West, with his next question in reference to something which occurred off Cienfue- gos. Admiral Schley was urbane through out except when he was pelted with questions which he considered immaterial.
 At the opening of the afternoon session, In reference to the ending of the retro grade movement and the start toward Santiago, Admiral Schley said: After coaling. finding that the sufficiency Of the squadron was established nearer on a basis of equality and, as we were not d great distance from Santiago, l return ed in view of the suggestion of the De- partment to that port to ascertain defi- nitely whether the enemy was in port before proceeding to the westward. On our return we discovered the Spanish fleet"
 After you stopped May 26th, when the Merrimac's engines broke down, dc you remember whether you started agair until p. m. May 27th?'
 We attempted to get line aboard and my impression is we did not get under way until after o'clock.
 Referring to the signal of the Texas on May 2. saying We can try, Tn to the inquiry whether she could coal, Admiral Schley said the Texas not only succeeded in coaling. but that she succeeded in doing much injury to her self and also to the Merrimac in the The damage was not great, put 1t indicated that there was reason for he doubt which Captain Philips signal lad indicated him to be in.
 Retograde Movement.
 Captain Lemly then asked If. having brought the flying squadron to the Vicini- y of Santiago and having in your posses ,ion a dispatch from the Navy Depart ment dated Washington May 25, lS9S which directed the Harvard to proceed at once and inform you and also senior officers pI escnt off SantiaGo All depart nent's information indicates Spanish division is still et SantaGo.' whether you lid not with this dispatch In your pos session from the department. signal Destination. Key West without consult ing the commanding officers of the several ships composing your squadron"
 Il did not get that dispatch until the 27th of May. althouch dated ihe 18th at and l did hoist the signal afterward, for the reason, as l stated a little while ago. that the information In my possession at that time from Captain Sigshee, the positive assertion that the Spanish squadron was not there at all. supported by the testimony of N~nez that they could not get in on aCcouit of the vessels draught and the narrowncss of the channel I considered then that had 10 act on my own responsibility. l did not call the commanding officers on board, for as l stated in my direct testi- nony. l was always ready to assume the for any movement that might involve Censurc rather than throw ng myself back upon anybody else. That vas the motive and reason for this ac- ion" The Admiral said that he had in lis possession the department communi- ,atIon of May 9 on May 2, when he had again signalled indicating a hIrpose to go 10 Key West.
 Cook Might Have Ka9wn.
 In response to an inquiry, h& said that