The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-10-12

was Admiral H. c. Taylor. While he was on
the stand he was asked by Captain Lemly
Spaniards were coming out of the harbor at
Santiago before they made their appearance on
the morning of July B. His answer was
None whatever"
Mr.. Raynor-You did not get message from
the Vixen in reference to smoke coming out OF
the >1 harbor?
Captain Parker-Your attention was not
called to smoke?
Not at all, sir"
DO you remember anybody your vessel
who did observe smoke and report it to you -
Captain Lenly read report from Capt. Mer-
ril Miller formerly of the Raleigh, concerning
the accuracy Of the stadimeter Thls report was
dated in 1895 and stated that the stadimeter
had been found to give accurate results IN
measurements OF less than 500 YARDS put not not
50 when the distance was greater; In one one
case the writer noticed an error of 200 yards
in 1900 yards measurement.
Movements of Massachusetts,.
Lieutenant Adelbert Althouse formerly watch
and division officer on the battleship Massachu-
Sets was then called. He detailed the move
ments of that vessel in connection with the
flying squadron He said that at Cienfuegos
the vessels lay six to ten miles out at night
house said that on the day of the bombardment
Of the Cristobal Colon he had been in charge
of the S-inch turret of the Massachusetts,. He
three minutes in passing the entrance 20 the
harbor on the first passage and that only two
shots were then nreQ. Inc lHSlTucllOHS "elC "
make the range 1000 yards, but the shots fell
short and the range increased on the re-
turn trip to $500 and then to 10000 yards
Asked what developed as to the strength
of the land batteries by this reconnaissance he
said that TO his mind it was shown they were
very weak In reply to a question as TO Wnether
he had made any notes concerning the engage
ment he replied: NO, we went IN unoer IN
structions to sink the Colon" His orders had
been to direct his fire at that vessel.
When Lieutenant Althouse was excused Cap
tain Lemly introduced as evidence the reports
made by Commodore Schley to the Secretary OF
the Navy of the engagement of May 81 In one
of these dated June Commodore Schcley sald:
Reconnaissance was intended principally to
inillre and destroy Colon. The fire was returned
without delay by the heavy batteries to the
east and to the west of the entrance, large
caliber long range; reconnaissance oeTsIoPi ing
equadron lying behind island near inner fort.
as they fired over hill at random. Quite salts
fed Spanish fleet is there"
Lieutenant P. G. Dewey. nephew of Admiral
Dewey who watch officer on the Mas,
sachusetts. was the next witness he pia aGe
Commodore Schley from the mouth OF the mar
Dor at from five to eight miles. the ols 1
being about the same day and night. kh ere
was he said no particular formation OF t ne
vessels. The examination on thls punt was
as follows: -.
Can+ain Ienly-When you were at the west
ern end of the blockade with the leading yes
sci making the turn, what orders We're lneIe
for attacking If you saw the enemy coiiiiiie
out of the entrance? -,
Il do not believe we could have seen the
enemy coming out. There were no orders L
have any knowledge of.
why do you think you would not have seen
the enemy coming out if such had been the
case?'
lowing to darkness and the distance from
the harbor. For instance. when we were at the
western end of the line the ships could have
come cut and stood to the eastward without our
being any the wiser unless they showed lights -
How about the reverse of that proposition
Il think it would have been the same in
either case
Captain Lemly then asked:
-'.Did you have any conversation with the
commanding officer of the flying squadron or
any one in his presence in relation to the fire
on the Colon otherwise?'
Lieutenant Dewey replied:
Il was told shortly before started into
the entrance that the commodore wished to see
the tlrret officers in the pilot house. L went
to the pilot house and the commodore said that
he intended to go in few moments and take
a try at the colon and that he hoped we
would sink her l asked what speed we would
make and told about ten knots l re-
marked that L thought that that was giving
US very little chance at the Colon. as she
would be in sight between the head lines only
a couple of minutes and that the smoke from
the guns would probably make our fire very
slow. To the best of my recollection the COM
modore stated would have to do the best
We could that the speed would be ten knots. -
He said in reply to questions that the Span