Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-10-19
NEWS OF THE WEEK
scHLEY COURT OF INQUIRY.

In the Schley court OF inquiry
Wednesday Admiral Taylor related IN
4 cidents Of the battle off Santiago on
July 8, including the Brooklyn's IA
NOUS turn. He said that none OF the
Spanish ships had made any effort to
| ram the American vessels when they
| came out of the harbor at Santiago.
| Commander Potts testimony dealt es-
| pecially with the bombardment OF the
| Colon. Answering question from
| Judge Advocate Lemly as to the con-
duct of Commodore Schley during the
engagement he said it was that of a
| man laboring under great mental ex-
citement and OF a man who was anx-
lous to discharge as soon as possible
| q disagreeable duty. Lieutenant Lei
per expressed the opinion that the
Spanish shore batteries at Santiago
had not been at any time formidable
Schley's attorneys secured permission
from the court to introduce as evil
dence the order Of Secretary Long, in
which he was admonished against the
exposure Of the American vessels to
the fire Of strongly fortified ports.
In the Schley court of inquiry Lieu
tenant ]. H. Holden testified in re-
gard to siging an entry in the Scor-
pions log, giving the particulars of the
receipt of a message for Commodore
Schley from the Eagle, which that YES
sci had brought from Captain McCalla
on May 10, 1898, when the flying
squadron, then bound for Cienfuegos,
fell in with Captain McCalla's sub
squadron, which had just left that
port. The government sought to show
that by this message Commodore
Schley had been notified that the
Spanish fleet was not in the harbor Of
Cienfuegos. Other witnesses of the
day were Commander w. H. Schuetz.
who served on the Iowa, and Lieuten-
ant A. w. Grant, who was on the Mas
sachusetts, who testified concerning
the general campaign of the flying
squadron.
Half a dozen witnesses were exam
ined by the Schley court of inquiry
Friday, Captain Chadwick being the
most important He testified concern
ing the code of signals arranged by
Captain McCalIa with the Cuban insur-
gents at Cienfuegos and said he had
not informed Commodore Scnley be-
cause Captain McCalla was to return
lIltASul<JGSiy " "AICt
miral SchIey was stationed. Captain
Chadwick said he had heard Commo-
dore Schley tell Admiral Sampson
after the latter's arrival at Santiago
that it was impossible to blockade the
Spaniards at Santiago if they desired
90 come out Witness also said that
he had objected TO the telegram OF
congratuIation which Admiral Samp-
son had sent TO Commodore Schley on
May %, considering it uncalled for by
the circumstances.
In the Schley court Of inquiry Sat
urday Lieutenant Commander Staun-
ton was called and related the partic- |
ulars Of his securing Information of |
the presence of the Spanish feet at |
Santiago He had received the infor-
nation on the morning of May 20 from
Captain Allen at Key West. The next |
the feet started to blockade
Havana and the admiral forwarded
his dispatches to Commodore Schley
by the Hawk. The next dispatch con-
tanning positive orders to sail for Ha-
vana was sent to Commodore Schley
May 27 In discussion between the
attorneys the fact developed that the
commodore did not get the dispatch
until June 10. After Lieutenant Com
mander Staunton finished his testi'
mony a lively tilt occurred between
the judge advocate and Mr.. Rayner.
Mr.. Lemly insinuated that Sehley's at
torney was making inaccurate state.
ments, to which the latter vigorously
protested to the court. Mr.. Lemly ex-
planned and the incident closed.
The navy department closed it's side
Of the Schley inquiry late Monday
afternoon and the introduction Of wit
nesses for the applicant began. Cap
tain Cook of the Brooklyn was the
star witness of the day. Although
called by Captain Lemly he was in
reality a Schley witness. He said
5chley did not have any information
rs to how he could signal to the insur-
gents at Cienfuegos; that he left there
rs soon as he knew the Spanish fleet
was not there; that he proceeded with
consistent dispatch to Santiago; that
he loop in the battle was the exact
hing to do; that the Texas was never
n danger, and that the Brooklyn did
LII that could be done to keep in the
light to the best advantage; that the
'etrogade movement was the natural
outcome Of the boisterous weather;
Ind that Schley at all times acted the
,art of the commander-in-chief.