Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-03

ships should theS come out. =
MIR. Hanna "Prior to that confer
enoe on May Goth, had you at any time
received definite instructions respecting
the order Of battle or the mode OF pro-
oeduro which the fleet should follow In
case the Spanish vessels should sud
denly appear"
II do not remember"
Ibid you have any further conversa-
tion with Commodore Schleyf"
II had O conversation with him IN
his cabin after the battle of Santiago,
about July 9TH, in Guantanamo Bay,
/ went on BOARD making an otfloih call
to ray my respects, and during the visit
Commodore Schley read me what | IN
derstood to be q part of his otnoial re-
mort of the battle. After he had
finished he said; Commodore, you
remember that after the battle OF Lake
Erie there was an unfortunate oonto-
versy and hope that there will be
none after the battle OF Santiago, be-
cause there was glory enough for every
body.
A most important explanation of what
has hitherto been mystery came out IN
Saturday q proceedings in the Schley
Court Of Inquiry. Capt. MoOalla, with
directness OF statement and uharac-
tel istic magnanimity. took upon him
self blame for an inadyertent failure to
comply with orders which prevented
Admiral Schley from knowing the code
of signals arranged with the Cuban
land forces at Cienfuegos. He had heen
told to leave the Eagle there on picket
duty, and to communicate with Schley
when he left Cienfuegos the 10th Of
May to go, to Key West. This he did
not do. because he was afraid that the
| Eagle might be drawn into oul de sac
by the combined attack Of Spanish
gunboats known to be In the harbor
| and the shore batteries. some of which
were in place and others under con-
struotion.
Had he left the Eagle there, with IN.
struotions to rapport all information ob-
tained to admiral Schley, much Of the
misunderstanding which followed would
have been obviated. On the way to
Key West McCalla's ship. the Marble
head, met the Flying Squadron, and
the Eagle was detailed TO communicate
the code OF signals This was accom-
plished by means Of a megaphone mes
age to the scorpion, a torpedoboat at
tached to the Flying Squadron:
At this point n grievous failure must
have occurred in the transmission Of a
megnphone message by Lieut. Souther-
land OF the Eagle 10 the officers of the
Scorpion. Switzerland testified with
great miputeness as 10 the substances
OF his megaphone message, and claimed
that he explained the signals of the in
. surgents. The loR of the Scorpion
, shows that the meRaphone message was
, taken down as communicated, and was
1 -. AAa Ina. mi tat ION
, maj ks. Not hint of the code oil
signals or. anything about the insur'
} gents appears IN the log 1t was appar
. emit from Capt. McCallas manner thai
he fully realized the responsibility
Q | which he was taking upon himself
{ and he proved as courageous morally II
Q acknow Lodging blame for the failure il
0 communicating the code OF signals t.
. Schley as he has always shown himsel
T to be when on duty 10 the presence o
Q an enemy.
q Lieut.. Switzerland followed Capt
Q McCalla on the witness stand. He dis
a played remarkable retentiyeness o
@ memory In regard to conversations tina
y took place three years ago. and exposes
o himself fatally ia his description Of tn
q megaphone message from the Eagle T.
ia the Scorpion. The promptness AM
v deadly accuracy nj the counsel for tn
II defence in confronting his statement
r with the official record, which contra
/. dicted him, lessened the force OF hi
o testimony.
Ie Washington, Sept. 80. The hrigh
i. sunshine and fresh air had the effect q
b bringing all the members OF the Sohle
ID Court OF Inquiry aud the attendant
l. upon it to ths court building Garlic
II than usual this morning. Admirr
ar Dewey was one OF the first to put in a
% appearance, hut early as was his al
to rival. be found Judge Advocate LeInl
and bic assistant, Mr.. Hanna, thei
IN in advance Of himself
in Capt. Lemly and Mr.. Hanna WEI
to engaged from the early morning in PR
to pairing the programme Of the day. The
d. began the days proceedings aucordin
it to custom, 10y recalling the witness,
he of previous days. Capt. Lemly's pr,
he gramIne provided that these should /
RS followed by Commander Miller, WI
ly commanded the collier Merrimac Ia Il
lis early part of the Santiago campaign
,e- Capt, Jewell. who commanded the scot
at Minneapolis; lieutenant Command
ad Sharp, who had charge of the mucl
to talked of ship Vixen, and Lieut., j.
sTt liUylb VI buo bEuohlybsnuN ~ Wun III
en- contemplated to call Rear A dmir
nd Evans, who Was captain of the low
ny Much interest was manifested IN ii
d. prospect OF seeing Capt. Miller, who,
,re will be remembered, surrendered wi
es- great reluctance the command of Il
or Merrimao to Lieut.. Hobson, who afts
u wards sank the collier In the mouth
re- Santiago harbor.
While Commander Switzerland "
1t. on the stand, he was asked by I
M court whether II the fleet OF Cerve
lty had been in the harbor at CieEfuegos
rn- could have been seen by the vess
hat blockading the port.
the He replied 80 cannot definitely SO
not unless they had anchored in I
e." lower harbor just inside of the entrar
ere 10 the deep water where the schooner
any which | referred before was anchor,
ON | do not believe they would hs
Dor anchored in that spot.
ave The first witness OF the day was Co
~" mander James NJ. Miller, who was
1893 command OF the collier Merrimao wn
ain that vessel was part OF Adlni
re. Schley's Flying Squadron.
Commander Miller said that he
at | assumed command of the Merlin
was April 18th at Norfolk. He had tai
Iau- on board at Lamhert's Point soon aft
ward about 5000 tons of coal His '
nge sci had, hs said, been capable at e
of making between nine and 10 knr
but after ward be had trouble with
srve pressure machinery, SO that by y
23d and oath he would have hesita
in trying to secure eEesd of more ii