The San Francisco call., 1901-10-02
TESTIMONY OF OFFICERS.
Evans and Sigsbee Give Interesting 6
Details Of the Campaign.

with the recall of former witnesses who had
completed their testimony, for the purpose OF
making such verbal corrections in il they
might desire.
General sympathy was expressed on the part
Of the members OF The court and those in
attendance with Judge Advocate Lemly be-
CURED yesterday. Captain Lemiy was present
when the court convened, but Immediately
withdrew.
Admiral Evans was recalled. Mr.. Raynor
began has Interrogauons by asking -the viii
hess concerning the secret code OF signals for
communication with the Cuban Insurgents near
CienIuegos. The ADMIRAL said that when Cap
tam Chadwick communicated this code to him
lie did not Instruct hlm to give the informa-
questioned the witness especially as to his
interviews with Commodore Schley after the
battle OF Santiago.
Yesterday" said Mr.. Raynor. II was
speaking o. a conversation which L thought
you had at Guantanamo on July .. l md |
have made u mistake ABOUT that' and II
necessary for to repeat my question,
suppose you will answer in the same way
satiOn with Commodore Schley on July 4,
some time during the morning, between and
Y o'clock, on his nagship at Santiago in the
course OF Which yOu used language as fol-
Did you know that Jack Philip started
to run away the beginning oil the battle?'
and to which Commodore SchIey replied: You
are mistaken about that, Evans; l saw nCth-
ing the knG. The Brooklyn made turn
and you must see the tactical situation that
made IL necessary.
do not remember DelnS on DOdTu lHe
Brooklyn the 4th OF July. l think 1t
the 5th at Guantanamo. l am quite pos
itive L board the Brooklyn off
santiago but once, and that was long time
before that AS TO the conversation. l never
said to the effect that Captain Philip had run
away, attempted TO run away On think
ing over what old with reference to the
Texas, 1 think Commodore Schley and dis
cussed the position Of the Texas when the
fight began. The Texas was lying with her
head to the east and when the engagement
began she had turned with starboarc helm
rest of us, She fired first with her port bat
terry ana then put her helm to starboard and
headed in the same direction with the rest
OF the ships l think that is the question
discussed with Commodore Schley. 1 cannot
De sure Of it, but thaI l ever intimated that
Captain Philip attempted 10 run away with
the Texas is preposterous on the face or II"
Did you have a conversation with him on
the same day at the same place and at the
same hour any other place, in which
7 Shot the bow off the Pluton, the stern off
the Furor put my helm to starboard and raked
the Teresa and knocked out the Viscaya? !? y
To the best of my knowledge and belief
Were not the commanding officers called on
board the flagship Brooklyn by signal on the
morning Of May g. after the Colon was dis
can you tell me or do you recollect what
took place at the conference of the command
ing officers at that time?"
sComnaodore Schley was in the cabin of the
BROOKLYN when we assembled. and there was a
been located last Santiago L do not
recolect any special conference. | don't think
il was in the nature Of conference. / do not
recollect now that the officers were, asked to
express any opinion 1 remember having a
effect OF the fighting batteries the ships.
In which | told him of the experience we had
had at San Juan and expressed the opinion to
him that It was not worth while to risk ships
fighting shore batteries alone: that did not
the case under consideration the Spanish ships
were present in the harbor The conditions
Were changed. and we would have to take the
risk of the fire from the batteries in order to
get at them / remember Commodore Schley
country held him responsible: that the ships
should not be risked under the fire Of the
shore batteries until the Spanish feet was de-
II want to call your attention to the report
Of Captain McCalla of the Marblehead. on page
425 Of the appendix. which says: Commodore
Schley explained TO the commanding officers
that in case the Spanish ships came out he
wished to concentrates the batteries of ali our
ships a portion of those Of the enemy. This
not explained tactical concentration
of our whole force on a part of the enemy.
but as a division Of our whole fire on several
Of the enemy's ships. During the time the
commanding officers were board the flag
If it were his intention to steam at the enc
my's ships in case they should start to come
out. Commodore Schley answered: Certain
ly,' and added words indicative of his intention
to attack them as they came out Of the har-
Il recoliect IT perfectly"
''Is that correct?'
That is correct"
so there was a plan Of battle arranged
by Commodore schley was there not 90
There is nothing there to indicate 1T from
WAS not the same order that was afterward
given by the commander in chief substantially:
Close in toward harbor entrance and attack
them7'
You have not read anything about indi-
eating any plan Of battle
Mr.. Raynor-And added the words (reading)
indicative Of his intention to attack them as
they came OUT
port of the engagement Of the Spanish squad
ron. and I would like you to tell me whether
there is any conflict between them. and II
there is which one of these statements in your
judgment now is correct. Reading)-'After we
passed, at 1875. the Oouendo and Maria Teresa.
on fire and ashore, this vessel continued to
chase and fire upon the Viscava until 1926.
when signal to cease firing was sounded on
board: It having been discovered that the Wis
in your report Now. I want TO read from the
report of the commander-in-chief. Reading)-
The Viscaya still under the fire Of the
leading vessels. the Cristohal Colon had drawn
ahead. leading the chase. and passed be-
American ships The viscaya was soon SET
on fire and at 11:15 she turned in-shore and
beached at Azerra deros, fifteen miles from
Santiago. burning 1ercely, etc. ETC. "
II have no doubt you read it correctly.
tween the comInander-in-chief at the time the
Viscaya went ashore and your report yours
at 10 .3e and his at :15, il becomes a material
point to us which one Of these specifications is
THE time given in that report Of mine was
furnished by the navigator and executive off,
Ger Of the ship. !, Of course, did not take the
time
Mr. Raynor then questioned the witness to
the speed the Iowa making when the
Onuendo and the Maria Teresa went ashore.
The latter replied that he could only say
the ship going fast they could make
her go. He thought she must have been going
nine and half knots hour. In this con-
nection Mr. Raynor asked number of Ques-
tions intended to show that the admirars Of
fcial and his pr1spnf statements
to speed were not consistent.
Mr.. Raynors point that the official re-
port showed. according to measurements that
the Iowa had made eight miles in half an hour
but the admiral said that while this might
be true according to the land measurements
it must be borne in mind that he was running
at Admiral Evans also ques-
TONED TO his statements concerning the dis
tance the blockading vessels were out at night
He said yesterday that the vessels of the
blockadng SQUADRON were farther out at night
than during the day, and Mr. Raynor read a
rareNin1s statement frnrn him the effect that