New-York tribune., 1901-09-24
PRESSING SCHLEY CASE.
ADMIRAL'S CONDUCT TO UN-
DERGO CLOSE INQUIRY.
APPARENT LACK OF UNITY AT SANTI-
AGO-THE TEXASS MOVEMENTS.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrsuxE.I

AGO-THE TEXAS'S MOVEMENTS.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BUNE.l
Washington, Sept 23-No doubt remained
when the court of inquiry's session ended this
afternoon that the investigation will go to the
root of things.
The conduct of the inquiry, which at the
earlier sessions of happy go lucky kind
coupled with a disposition TO indulgence and
apparently satisfied with placing disconnected
snatches of evidence before the high court of
admlrals. has been marked by deiniteness and
pointedness Sunday. and related facts are
being marshalled in a manner that indicates
confidence in their strength and reluctance to
force the fight. The judge advocate and his
assistant have assumed the offensive with much
emphasis. and to-day gave unmistakable notice
this time forth.
THE TEXAS'S MOVEMENTS
The position n which the battleship Texas
placed by the Brooklyn's loop was dra-
matically described in the testimony of her
navigating officer, who proved a clear headed
witness. He had corroboration as to the ur-
gency of stopping and backing his ship to
avoid being rammed by the chief engineer.
from whose memory the incident could not be
dispeled, because the orders shouted down the
speaking tube to him awakened in him the fear
that perhaps a torpedo from the enemy might
end his in another moment.
Commander Schroeder was recalled to show
that his ship at least had plenty of coal for
weeks of blockade duty and therefore that
there was no occasion to start back to Key
West to leave the door ajar to the cage that
contained Cervera's dreaded fighters.
Schley's counsel met the onslaught with vigor
and though unable to break down the evidence
turn portions of 1t to their own advantage. as
at previous sessions. they took some of the
sting out Of the most damaging declarations
and Jared somewhat better than the prosecution
anticipated notably in drawing from every
witness yet presented that the Flying Squa-
dron's blockade did not exceed ten miles off
Santiago. though Admiral Sampson had al
legged that the ships Withdrew twenty-five miles
every night.
SIMPSONS RELATION To SCHLEY.
The most notable occurrence of the day and
the most exciting and important that has hap
pened cooquy between the counsel over
Admiral Sampson. Any attempt of the defence
| to institute comparisons between Sampson and
Schley, their respective blockades. their efforts
to destroy the Colon inside the harbor and their
conduct of the campaign will he resisted TO
the extreme. Sampson. according to the judge
advocate, is not in the precept. does that
paper. which contains everything referred to
the court refer to any of his acts save his or
ders
Schey's representatives waived pressing the
point for the moment but announced later that
they would he compelled insist upon hav-
ing an opportunity TO show that Schleys block
ade, his reconnaissance of the Colon and the
batteries and the Brooklyn's position when
Cervera's sortie was made insepa ra bly,
connected with the acts of the commander-in-
chief; that the blockade was as effective
that of the comma nder-in- n-chief: that the fall
ure to sink the Colon common to both off,
GERS. and that the Brooklyn was located
July where Sampson put her.
POOR OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
The astonishing Inconsistencies of official
naval documents. not to say their utter
liability and worthlessness was another impor-
tant development of the day. The famous chart
of the navigators. showing the position of all
ships at the seven critical periods of the battle
of July 3, hitherto of the chief records of
the engagement, the document upon which the
service Congress and the public have placed
most dependence. is conceded by the gov
ernment TO be without value; yet until to-day
II had constituted the sole official report pos
sessed by the Navy Department that the Brook
Iyn ever made a loop.
Another unpalatable fact brought out
that the steam log of the Texas, at the su-
preme moment of that vessels alleged effort to
escape collision. gives the exact moment when
Continued third page.