Evening star., 1901-10-29


yesterday afternoon until o'clock, when
the court Of inquiry adjourned until today.
At that time only about one-third Of the
ground to be covered by the Judge advocate
in his cross-examination had been covered.
The Conling Problem.
After The Stars report of the proceed
ings was closed Admiral Schley in reply to
a question said he felt that there would be
greater difficulty in coaling of Santiago
than there was at Cienfuegos.
"You anticipated difficulty then in coal
ing at Santiago?"
Undoubtedly. In June we coaled con-
siderably there, but on one occasion we
cast off after coaling for an hour or So
AS our experience increased we got on
better, and furthermore the later collters
were better arranged than the former
There are some difficulties about coal
ing at sea generally. are there noti
There are, and think we met them
Did you consult any Of your captains
about coaling on the 26th?''
II did not. I preferred to act upon my
own Judgment
"Was there any time after your arrival
at Cienfuegos, except May p and 26, when
some vessel did not take coal?'
"On the 9th and 2sth some vessels
coaled, also on the 31st. but do not re-
call about the 10Th and 3Oth."
Had you less coal when you arrived OIL
Santiago than you had expected to have?"
Il don know out hdu Oh account VI
the limited supply Of the scout boats
found there
'"The scout boats were self-supporting in
the matter of COAL were they not?'
II don't know what you mean unless 1t Is
that they could have made it."
II mean to cruise around from point to
point and get it. Did they rely at any
time upon the golfers Of the squadron to
supply them with coal?'
Yes sir"
IN view of the idea you had of preserv-
ing the squadron as a unit. why did you
detach the Eagle?"
Simply because she was an impediment.
I did not think 1t possible to coal her In
that state of the weather l used to con-
slider myself weatherwise, now I find am
sometimes otherwise" Oaughter.)
You testified that you received I! as signal ma
from Lieutenant Switzerland that the Ea-
gle was dangerously short of coal?"
II think the message was by mega
phone
How much coal did you have then?"
II do not remember. Switzerland was
very sohcitous. A days coal, probably;
perhaps five tons"
why did you not tow the Eagle?'
Because it would have been for an in
definite time
But you were approaching Santiago?"
Yes
"How far away was Santiago?"
Perhaps fifty or sixty miles,
The judge advocate then read from the
log of the Eagle to show that on May 26
(the day she was detached) she had twenty
eight tons Of coal aboard.
"Why did you not take the Eagle, Vixen
and Merrimac in tow and push on to San
tiago?"
Because in my opinion at ten knots the
auxiliaries would have towed under
''Why not abandon them and push on
with your fighting force to Santiago, ap-
pointing a rendezvous for the other YES
sels?"
Because in my opinion that would have
been poor military policy. 1t would not DO
to abandon auXiIfarfes when they might
have been picked up by the enemy. Such
course would have been censurable.'
Asked why, If he believed the enemy's
vessels had left Santiago before he left
Cienfuegos he had not dispersed his vessels
miral Schley said that that was a military
disposition about which there might be rea-
sonable difference of opinion Such dis
position would have rendered the smaller
vessels more liable to attack.
why did you not steam In line?"
THAT would have been the weakest pos
sible formation. My plan was to keep the
ships constantly in order Of battle"
did you in your western movement In
struct your captains to look out for the
Spanish fleet en- route?"
'I do not recall that 1 did, but orders
were usually signalled to keep bright look
out and be in readiness"
Coaling on Haiti.
Did you, before meeting the scouts OF
Santiago. contemplate going to the coast Of
Haiti?" asked Captain Lemly.
'No, did not
ing there?"
Il had thought that would be one of the
rendezvous we might have to resort to out
side the marine limit
DO you remember any message mega
phoned to any one before leaving Cienfue-
gos about going to Haiti?"
II do not recollect any,
II will make it more explicit and say
about going to Gonaives bay?"
Il do not remember megaphoning that
message at ALL
Did you ask the department by telegraph
to have colliers sent to you?"
''Yes. I did, and they replied they would
send them"
"Why did you want colliers there If you
did not intend to coal?'
Il would have sent perhaps two ships. one
ship more probably, at a time because I
did not believe We would be able to solve
the problem Of coaling in the open sea."
You say one vessel at a time. Was that
on account of the contracted room of the
harbor?"
Il did not intend to go into Gonaives bay.
Captain Cotton informed me that only small
vessels could coal there. 1 intended to coal
off the coast, outside the marine limit MY
impression Is now that Captain Cotton re-
ported to me. and the purport Of the in
the harbors were contracted and would ad-
init of the coaling only of the smaller
ships
Didn't he say large vessels could coal
there, but not more than one at timer"
He may have said that In his evidence,
but l do not remember he communicated
that to me in any interview. 1 sent a tele-
gram about that time which 1 think will
make the matter clear. My recollection Of
that communication now Is that it referred
entirely to the coaling of small vessels. I
do not see it here docking at the log he
held in his hand). Reference, however, is
made to the Haiti coast in that telegram of
May 2s The reason l say that is because
the impression left by the communication of
Captain Cotton upon my mind was that the
ports of both Gonaiyes and Mole st. Nicho-
las, Haiti q never had been in either), were
so contracted that nothing but small ves-
sells could coal there"
Captain Lemly-"May 28; that was after
the turn back from the westerly move
ment?'
Yes. but this was something don't real
ly remember just the time when this com
munication was made" (Reading) 1--we
Will then go to Gonaives or coast near or in
the vicinity Of Port au Prince to coal That
was after we had repaired the collier and
mad gone back fO