Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-01

| Can you tell me or do you recol-
lect what took place at the conference
OF the commanding officers at that
time"
Commodore Schley was in the cab
In OF the Brooklyn when we assembled
and there was general talk about the
Spanish iieet having been located at
last at Santiago.
NO SPECIAL CONFERNECE.
81 do not recollect any special con-
ference. | don't think IL was I'm the
nature Of conference. do not recol-
lect now that the officers were asked
TO express any opinion / remember
having a conversation with Commodore
Schley about the effect Of the fighting
batteries on the ships. In which / told
him OF the experience we had had al
san Juan and expressed the opinion
10 MIN that II was not worth while TO
risk ships fighting shore batteries
alone; that | dil not think anything
would be gained by it. In the case I'M
der consideration the Spanish ships
were present in the harbor The con.
ditiOns were changed and we would
have to take the risk Of the fire from
the batteries In order TO get at them,
remember Commodore Schlev remark.
ing before we left that he felt that the
country held him responsible that the
ships should not be risked under the
fire OF the shore batteries until the
Spanish ileet was destroyed"
II want TO call your attention to the
report Of Capt. McCalla, OF the Marble-
head. on page 426 Of thu appendix
which says
Commodore schley explained TO
the commanding officers that in case
the Spanish ships came out he wished
70 concentrate the batteries OF an cur
ships on portion of those OF the
enemy. This WAS not explained as
tactical concentration Of our whole
force on part Of the enemy. but as
division Of our whole hre IN several OF
the enemy's ships During the time the
commanding officers wcra on board he
flagship Capt. Evans asked Commodore
Schley II IL were hla intention 10 stenm
az the enemy's ships 10 case they
should start 10 come out Commodore
Schley answered: Certainly. and
added words indicative Of his Intention
70 attack them as they came cut OF the
harbor'"
u recollect It perfectly"
rs that corrpctq"
That Is correct"
So there was plan Of b I le ar
ranged by Commodore schley. was
there not?"
! There is nothing there to indicate II.
from what YOU have read"
| Was not the same order that was
afterward given By the commando.
in-chiet substantially. 'Closa IN To-
yard harbor entrance and attack
! You have not read anything about
indicating any plan Of battle"
! Mr. Raynos--And added the wora,
! ueaulngl indicative OF hts Intention
TO attack them as they came out.
EVANS REPORT OF ENGAGEMENT
want to read you two reports. YOUR
report of the engagement Of fhe snan.
ism squadron and ! would Ike Won 10
J ten me whether there is any conflict
between them and II there Is which
one OF these statements. IN your insy.
| INIT, now Is correct Renfirrl ia s'e~
having passed at 1926 the oquendo and
MARIA Teresa, and on fire. this geeesI
continued 10 chase and fire unon the
| Nlzcaya until 1896 when signal 10 cease
nrlng was sounded on board. II having
| been discovered that the Vizcaya had
| struck her cCl0rs That was at 1873
/ IN your report Now / want 10 read
/ from the report NJ the commander In
chief tReadingl, The Vlzcaya was stfll
under the fire Of the leading vesselx. the
! Crlsiobal Colon had drawn ahena.
leading the chase. and soon passed be-
| yond the range of the guns OF the lead
| Ing American ships The Ylzcaya wa,
soon set on fire and az ll,l5 she turned
In shore and was beached AT Azerrade.
ros, 10 miles from Santiago. burning
fercely, ETC."
Il have no doubt you read 1t cor.
Wits Is correct? II there Is con-
| hict between the commanders
at the time the Vlzcaya went ashore
and your report yours at 1896 and his
az HIS. II becomes a material point
TO us which one Of these specifications
IS correct"
The time given in that report OF
mine was furnished bv the navigator
and executive officer Of the ship. /. OF
course. ala not take the time"
SPEED OF Trlr IOWA
Mr. Raynor then questioned the wit.
ness as 20 the speed the Iowa was
making when the Oquendo aud the
Maria Teresa went ashore The latter
replied that he could only say the shin
was going as fast as they could make
her go. He thought she must hive
been going 9is knots an hour M this
connection Mr. RavnOr asked a number
OF questions Intended 10 show the adj
miral's official report and his present
statements as 10 speed were not con-
sis'ont.
Mr. Raynor's point was that the on
cial report showed. according 20 mea-
eurements that the Iowa ha1 mhde
eight miles IN half an hour. but fhe
admiral soid that while this mleht be
true according to the land me3sure-
ments. Il must De borne IN mind :hat
he was running a course az sea Nd
mlral Evans was also questioned rs 10
his statements concerning tho diG7nce
the hlockading vessels were ont ~
night 10 a1ii yesterday that the yes-
sells of - nl0cRadiug squadron were
farther 0ui AZ nlrht than during The
day and Mr. Ravnor read a previous
statement from him 10 tho effect mat
"at daylight we closed TO-"
This. the admiral said vss ihe ok
act foot. th0t after being our farther
az NIGHT the vessels came IN closer "a
daylight 10 said that in st,amIng
back ana forth at nlCh' 'ho vessel iust
ahead -houid be seen. hu' not The We
SCI 90 the head off thr column. The
Marh'ebc1i farther 20 could be occa-
sionally seen bur the Vixen never.
"WhNo before CMniueEof or on the
WAY 20 SANTIAGO Gil Won have any or
dcrs for b0t'ler" sked Mr. Hanna.
$50 responded the witness we
steamed IN column With nankors on
each side"
Had you Instructions as to what 70
do 10 case the enemy should appear
I'VE had not"
Admiral Evans was then excused AMI
Mr Thomas NJ Dieuadc, NEWSPAPER
corrcsnondent. who was on hoard the
Texas during tho Santiago campaign
was called.