The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-08-27
BARELY CAUGHT THE CHINA AT
YOKOHAMA.
Is Hurrying to washington to Testify
Before the Schley Board of Inquiry,
Was on Massachusetts.

Commander Seaton Schroeder u. S.
N. late governor of the island of Guam
is q passenger on the China lor Wash
ington. He received imperative orders
this month to report Immediately to
Washington. While the order did not
state the purpose for which he was
summoned it is known that he has been
called to testify in the Schley Board of
Inquiry,
Comniander Schroeder had quite an
exciting time making connections with
the China. AS his orders were impera-
tive to start without delay to Washing
ton he had q short time in which to
pack his clothes and take the York
town from Guam. 1t would have been
too roundabout a course to have gone
by way of Manila so it was figured out
that his only chance of making a close
connection was by the china.
The vessel could not have been caught
at Hong Kong where she left August
6 but it was possible to make lie liner
by taking a direct run up from Guam to
Yokohama. So close were connections
made thai Commander Schroeder arriv-
ed only the night before the China sail
ed for America. She left August II and
the Yorktown by being pushed to extra
speed succeeded in getting into that
port the night previous.
81 can not state officially" said Com
L
sunnmonded to Washington From the
reports in the newspapers however 1
Judge that l am to testify before the
Scheley board of inquiry. 1 was on the
battlesnip Massachusetts during the
Santiago campaign but 1 can not state
what my testimony will be or what 1
shall say"
The nature of his testimony is gem
orally known however for, according to
reliable sources and the history of that
naval campaign, the Massachusetts did
not figure very actively in the pursuit
and destruction of the Spanish fleet but
was very prominent during the bonn
bardment of the forts and the Spanish
J fleet while the latter was blockaded in
Santiago harbor
The Massachusetts was one of the YES
sells which Commodore Schley took with
him when he began the bombardment
of Santiago. One of the counts in the
charges against Schley is that he failed
to try to destroy the Christobal Colon
when she was within plain sight of his
/ fleet and also, that when he did attempt
a bombardment he did not venture close
enough in shore to make it effective II
is probably on these points and perhaps
on the matter of the DELAY off Cienfue-
gos and the alleged delay in coalng,
that Commander Schroeder will be ask.
ed to give testimony.
IN MS executive capacity. Governor
Schroeder reported every thing in good
shape on the island of Guam, which
has now practically recovered from
the effects of the hurricane of last Nov
ember. The government survey party
headed by Commander Merry were
there for several months inspecting and
| preparing for the establishment of a
coaling station and the publishing of
their report is shortly expected.
/ In relation to the characterization OF
the forces on the island through theil
obtaining quantities of liquor and the
prompt measures taken to suppress the
affair and any likelihood of its repeti-
tion, Governor Schroeder had little tC
say.
II have embodied the affair in a re-
port already" said he land there is lit
tie more to be said. There is force of
10 marines and so sailors on the island
and the decisive steps .,>Aen by me tC
crush the affair were necessary to pre-.
vent the possible growth of p much
more serious outcome. Everything is
going along smoothly now. The reports
that got out about the matter were
without doubt exaggerated. Princi-
pally I think owing to the fact of my
being so great a distance away from
direct and satisfactory communication
But that is to be expec,-
"As with your predecessor ant
! Governor Leary and the wholesale
marriages. GOVERNOR"
The governor smilingly assented. He
closed the interview by stating that h,
expects to arrive few days before the
court of inquiry opens, after the clos
ing of which he anticipates returning
directly to his post at Guam.