The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-20

/ West Indian islands. together with
| small chart Of the south coast of Cuba
! in the vicinity of Santiago.
/ There was uo objection ON the part Of
/ Admiral SchIey.s counsel For reference
/ was also submitted and admitted Sail
( ing Directions No SG." prepared 10y the
! Bureau OF Navigation.
The First Witness.
Rear Admiral Francis J. HiggfnsoH.
who commanded the Massachusetts dur
! ing the war. was the first witness 90 take
| the stand. His answers, given in rather
/ a low tone We're brief and to the point
/ As a captain ne stated he had com
! manded the hattIeship Massachusetts,,
/ which became a part Of the flying squad
/ ron at Newport News before that com
I mand proceeded to Key West. where It
, arrived on MAY IS. ISgS- In reply to Qucs-
/ tions Of Captain LemIy he outlined the
! progress of the fleet to CieafueEos. where
/ tho squadron remained until May at
| suudovn. the distance maintained from
/ the forts being about three or four miles
In reply To- a question as 20 whether or
| not Admiral Cervera with the Spanish
/ fee was at CIeufueEos. Admiral Higgin-
son said that az the time he understood
/ that Admiral Schley had received from
NsAlIesiLl NllA ANA ll4ltFl lstlsou liiaA lIl
/ Spanish fleet was not there. This infor-
nation, he thought, was gained on
May "a
! Relative TO the coal supply Admiral
J. HigEiuson said that to the best Of his
4 recollection the Massachusetts and the
| Iowa had each taken about 127 tons f
coal from the Merrimac and other col
| lior. considerable difnculty being expert
! euced during the work on account of
! rough weather
The Return to Key West.
What caused the turning toward Key
/ West" asked Captain Lemly
Admiral Higginsou replied that he did
not know
Did you have any communication with
! Commodore Schlcy2"
| only by signals replied Admiral Hig
ginson.
The witness said that there had been
| no attempt made TO coal on either the
| 18th or 25th Of May. On retiring Of the
! harbor of Santiago Admiral Higginson
said that ne could make out the Spanish
| warship Colon on the 18th OF 18th. Admi-
raj Higgiuson described the movements
Of the American fleet up TO the arrival
Of Admiral Sampson on June / The
feet had curved IN the form Of an eIipse
during the blockade.
Admiral SchIey. the witness said. came
aboard the Massachusetts and said he
wished to fire upon the Colon. His plan
was to go in at about 100 yards dis
tance. When the Massachusetts began %
fire they steamed about ten knots at
range OF 1850 yards.
Purpose of the Bombardment.
This was on the 3ist Of May. the day be-
fore the artitai Of admiral Sampson. All
the shots fen short Of the Colon. The
I witness thought it would be better to
turn on the starboard helm, while Ad-
miral Schley advocated the port helm.
Admiral Higginson said that the Colon
returned the fire Of the Massachusetts,
He did not know whether any other Span
ish ships also fired When asked the
purpose Of the bOmbarding on the part
OF the American fleet at that time Admi-
raj Higgiuson said that il drew the fire Of
the shore batteries and exposed the posi-
tlOn Of the enemy The DombarIrneut
lasted FOR eight minutes. He said ne was
under Admiral Schley's command. Al
miraI Schley was in the coming tower
with him part of the time.
What impression did YOU get Of Com
mod0re Schley2' asked Captain LemIy.
His manner was that Of a command
er-in-chief," replied the witness.
Judge Wilson objected, and Captain
Lemly withdrew the question.
| Captain Lemly asked The same question
again in a different form. IN a few min
utes and Judge RayueT and Judge WI
son both objected once more. saying that
| the only impression which could have
been gained was that Of commandment
| chief
This is a very unpleasant thing" said
Captain Lemly again, but the point az
issue is "a very important one. feel com
PEELED 10 as it,
He then read from the precept. and
said that certain parts. which he pointed
out argued that certain OF the para
craps covered this point
..I want 10 say" said Judge RayHer.
that we don't object TO any general
question about the bearing or manner Of
Admiral Schley.'
a halt In the proceedings occurred, re-
suIting i'm a ItrIe embarrassment until
Captain Lomly again said that he would
lOt press the question further.
! Admiral HiEEius0n. Tesumiug mis- tcsti-
nouy. said the reason the Massachusetts,
did not on May 81 go into action and de-
/ str0y the Colon was because she was not
ordered 10 DO so.
while the fleet was bIockading of San
Iuaeo." asked Captain Lemly. what We're
your instructions relative TO engaging in
battle"
| Admiral HiEGinsOn replied that he had
| 20 the best Of his recollection. no specific
instructions either written or verbal. Re
| ver.fng in reply 20 examination, Admiral
Higginson said that on May % he had
about 500 tons II coal on the Massachu-
sets.
! Captain LCmlcy produced several type
written sheets which he stated was
copy Of report Of Admiral Higgiusou as
captain Of the Massachusetts dealing with
the movements Of that vessel from the
time Of leaving Key West until Admiral
| Sampson arrived on June T.
Admiral Higginson looked 1t over. de-
clared il correct, and Captain LemIy sub
nitted Il as evidence.
The Duty of SchIey.
! WAS every effort incumbent on the
! commanding officer Of a feet under such
| circumstances made by Commodore
! SChley to capture OF destroy tho Spanish
] cruiser Colon as she lay az anchor i'm the
harbor AT Santiago Nav q 20 81 iucu-
! sive2-' asked Captain LemIy.
No I don't think there was" replied
Admiral HigEinsou.
| Judge Eayuer was on HIS feet an instant
later to object. He founded his objection
on the ground that the court should not
base its opinion on The opinion OF Ad-
miraI HiggiusOn. Judge Wilson put in an
objection based on practically The same
| ground.