The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-10
THREE NEW WITNESSES
Commander Potts Tells Of B0mbard-
ing the Colon
THOUGHT ScHLEY Greatly EXCITED
Confronted With Longs Order For Ships to
Ayjid Fire From Shore Batteries the
Witress Would Venture no
Further Opinion.
Further Opinion.
(By the Associated Press.)


(By the Associated Press)
Washington, d. c., Oct. 9.-In the
Schley Naval Court Of Inquiry today
Lieut.. L. M. Bristol completed his testi-
mony which was begun yesterday and
three new witnesses were introduced.
They were Rear Admiral Henry C. Tay-
lor, who, as captain, commanded the
battleship Indiana during the war with
Spain; Lieutenant Commander T. M.
ship Massachusetts during that period
and Lieutenant Edward p. Leiper, who
was ON the New Orleans during the war,
the last named being still on the stand
when the court adjourned for the day.
During Commander Potts examina-
tion Mr.. Rayner secured permission
from the court to introduce as evidence
the order of Secretary Long to Admiral
Sampson, dated April 6, in which he was
admOnished against the exposure of the
American vessels to the fire of strongly
fortified forts. The paragraph in that
order which he especially wished to have
considered reads as follows:
"The Department does not wish the
vessels of your squadron to be exposed
TO the ire of the batteries at Havana
Santiago. or other strongly fortified
forts il Cuba, unless the more formid-
able Spanish vessels should take refuge
within those harbors. Even in this case
the Department would suggest that a
rigid blockade and employment of our
torpedo boats might accomplish the de-
sired object, viz, the destruction of the
onemy's vessels, without subjecting un-
necessarily our own men Of war to the
fire of the land batteries
This dispatch also contains the follow
ing orders:
The Department further desires that
in case of war you will maintain a
strict blockade of Cuba, particularly at
the ports of Havana, Matanzas, and, if
possible. Santiago, Manzanillo and Glen
fuegos.''
BRISTOL AGAIN QUESTIONED.
Lieut.. Bristol was questioned by Mr.
Rayner concerning the distance out of
the blockading ships at Cienfuegos, but
he declined to change his estimate of
yesterday that it was from eight to ten
miles distant from the harbor.
Mr. Rayner read Commodore Schley's
report rs to the blockade off Cienfuegos
in which he said "a line of blockade was
established about four miles off shore at
Cienfuegos' and asked: THAT is not
correct statement of the Commodore s
is it?"
THE statements l make are what
thought and what I believe to be right
I do not question other peoples words"
Speaking of the weather during the
cruise of the Flying Squadron from
Cienfuegos to Santiago the witness said
there were fresh breezes and that there
was moderate sea. A small boat could
he said, have been lowered at any time
during the voyage.
Mr.. Rayner asked the witness whether
there had been any menace to any of the
American ships on July 3 from the shore
batteries. Lieut. Bristol replied that
there was danger to the Gloucester be-
cause that vessel was unarmored. He
said that he did not consider the New
York in danger.
AT the request of Mr.. Rayner the wit
ness made measurements from his chart
TO show the distance the Brooklyn was
from the Spanish ships during the fight
off Santiago. The reply was: 1.-THE dis
tance CT the Oquendo from the Brook
lyn, taken from the chart lust before
the turn is 4,600 yards, the Maria Teresa
..100 yards. Taken from tire chart when
the Maria Teresa and Ouuendo were
cbout .c run ashore, which is practically
the nearest point, the Oquendo was $500
yards from the Brooklyn and the Maria
Teresa 5000 yards"
DISTANCE TOO FAR TO HIT.
Quoting Lieutenant Commander Hodg-
sons statement that the shortest range
OF the !'rooklyn's guns in the battle was
l,400 yards and her greatest $500 yards
and referring 10 the fact that a number
OF the Brooklyn's five-inch shells had
struck the Spanish ships, Mr.. Rayner
asked u number of questions for the
purpose of showing that if the distance
was as great as the chart shows and
the guns were set for the range given
ii would have been Impossible for the
shots to go to the mark.
The Judge Advocate asked: How
far would have been the Brooklyn from
the leading Spanish ships just emerging
from the harbor of Santiago provided
she had Immediately started ahead at IL
knots?"
In reply the witness gave figures to
show that she would have been 5000
yards off at the first shot.
The court asked did you hear any
firing at or near Cienfuegos on the day