The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-25
SCHkEYONTaESTAND'
The Rear Admiral Relates His
Own Story.
LARGE AUDIENCE HEARS RECITAL.

LAkdE AUDlENVt HEAkS kEVllAl,
The History Of the Campaign Which
Ended In the Destruction Of Cer-
vera's Fleet Well Under Way
When Court Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-Admiral
Schley yesterday took the stand in his
own behalf at the court Of inquiry
which 10 investigating his conduct as
commander In chief Of the flying squad
ron during the Santiago campaign. He
was summoned few minutes after the
court convened at 2 o'clock for the aft
ernoon session, and when the court ad-
journed at 4 O'Clock he apparently had
only got well under way in his testi
mony.
Captain Charles e. Clark of the Ore
gon had just concluded his statement
when Mr. Rayner, rising from his seat,
said, Il should like to have Rear Ad-
miral Schley called and the admiral
accordingly was asked to take the
stand:
There were still two witnesses on his
list who had not been heard, and it was
understood to be his purpose not to
take the stand until the entire list had
been exhausted. He, however. respond
ed Immediately to the call, and before
the audience was well aware of the
fact be had begun his narrative Of the
campaign which terminated In the de-
struction of Cervera's feet.
The audience which listened to his
recital was by far the largest which
has yet gathered In the gunners' work
shop where the court sits. All the re-
served seats were occupied, as were
the seats set apart for the public at
large. In the rear of the room stood
probably ns many people as found
seats, scores of men and women stand
ing upon tables, chairs and windows
In fact, anywhere from which they
could see the court
II was commodore" the witness
began in response to Mr.. Rayner's re-
quest for n connected narrative of the
campaign. land was ordered to COM
mand the flying squadron on the 3Sth
of March, 1893. and served until the
Goth day of June of the same year in
that capacity"
He hsd taken command Of the squad
ron at Hampton Roads, Va, hosting
his flag on the cruiser Brooklyn. Aft
o,, lot ho Ia nf In,
squadron at the Virginia port he said
that he had called the commanding Of
fcers Of the vessels constituting that
squadron together, and then he added:
1.-THE plan of campaign was thrashed
out. put the squadron Immediately
upon war footing and established
pickets and patrols and also the mask
ing of lights
Admiral Schley plunged Immediately
into the campaign by outlininA al this
point the plan which ne had indicated
to his commanding officers before leav-
ing Hampton Roads saying:
During this time explained to all
the commanding officers that as it
VoutN ILPpSblolC " II pan
of battle that would meet unforeseen
contingencies the general plan of the
squadron would be to cruise In line of
battle, aud its general principle would
be to attack the head nd leading ves-
sci, concentrating the fire upon them in
order. first. to obtain the moral effect
and, second, to throw them into confu-
sion, making-l victory over them prob
ably very much more successful and
complete did that for the reason that
the older plans of battle had all been
to attack centers and rear, resulting in
the escape usually of part of each
squadron. felt that the attack of the
head Of Il squadron, which was to some
extent new, would involve the destruc-
tion Of the whole, and that was the
general plan Of action as explained to
them on that occasion"
The admiral then detailed the target
practice of the squadron daily, saying
that no day was bad enough to prevent
its continuance, Subcaliber was used
entirely. This practice said the adml-
raj, resulted in an accuracy of fire
which was fully demonstrated in the
action six weeks or two months later.
kept in readiness so far as coal. water
and supplies were concerned. On May
II or l3 he received orders from the
secretary of the navy to proceed to
Charleston, n. c. The squadron arriv-
ed there Oh the 18th and found orders
from the secretary directing him to pro-
coed to Key West and report to Com
modore Remey for further instructions.
The flying squadron arrived at Key
West on the 18th, the admiral thought.
and on the next day he went ashore to
pay his respects to Commodore Remey,
after having saluted his flag. Continu-
ing his narrative, the admiral said:
"While there the commodore showed
me telegraphic order from the hon
orable secretary Of the navy directing
me to proceed with all dispatch to the
blockade of Havana. He also showed
me number of other dispatch the
purport Of which l remember, but the
contents do not. During the time l
was On shore, after having had my con-
ference with him, there were several
of the Cuban people resident there
who informed me that the province in
which Cienfueg0s was situated and
from that to the westward was almost
thoroughly occupied by Spanish troops
and that we had better be careful In
any attempt at intercourse. ! hasten
ed of. and on my way to the ship in
the afternoon thought I saw the New
York approaching. Al all events, when
l got on board. determining to go at
once of Santiago. the flagship had ar
rived and saluteS were exchanged