The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-26
SCHLEY MAY q
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moment under Commodore Schleys COM
mand were in action, presumably prepar-
atory to take their position in steaming
order to return to Key West. AS soon
as I returned to my own ship, after my
boat was hoisted, I steered to the south
west for Kingston"
Did you state in specific terms that
you agreed with Commodore Schley as
to the difficulty in coaling?'
''The question was not discussed and
1 expressed no opinion"
did this conversation occur before
or after the dispatches which you took
aboard had been read by the commander
in-chief?"
After"
In response to further questions, Ad-
miral Cotton said that he had the original
translations of the cipher dispatches adj
dressed to the Harvard. The dispatch
of May Is was then read to him as fol-
lows:
LONGS ORDER TO sCHLEY.
Washington, May 25, 1SeS.-Harvard.
st. Nicholas Mole, Haiti: Proceed at
once and inform Schley and also the
follows: "All department information
indicates the Spanish division is still at
Santiago. The department looks to you
to ascertain facts and that the enemy,
if therein, dooes not leave without a
decisive action. Cubans familiar with
Santiago say that there are landing
places five or six nautical miles west
from the mouth of harbor, and there in
surgents probably will be found, and not
the Spanish. From the surrounding
heights can be seen every vessel in
port. AS soon as ascertained notify the
department whether enemy is there.
Could not the squadron, and also the
Harvard, coal from the Merrimac lee
ward of Cape Cruz, Gonaives channel,
send coal Immediately to Mole. Report
without delay situation at Santiago.
Cuba. Long
Mr.. Raymer called attention to the
fact that there were some material
changes in the dispatches as printed in
the official reports by the navy depart
ment.
Admiral Schley's reply to these dis
patches, dated May 49, in which he said
he could not obey the orders of the de-
partment, was then read, and Mr. Ray
ner pointed out various changes In the
language of the dispatch as printed in
the official report. He addressed the
court briefly concerning these changes.
Following is the text of the original
dispatch sent to the navy department:
SCHLEYs RESPONSE.
Received dispatch Of May 20. by Har-
ward, off Santiago de Cuba. Merrimac's
engine is disabled and she is helpless;
am obliged to have her towed to Key
West. Have been absolutely unable to
coal the Texas, Marblehead, Vixen and
Brooklyn from collier owing to very
rough seas and boisterous weather since
leaving Key West. Brooklyn is the only
one in the squadron having more than
possible to remain off Santiago in pres
ent state Of COAL account of the squad
ron. Not possible to coal to leeward of
west winds. Harvard just reports to
me she has only; coal enough to reach
Jamaica, and she will proceed to Port
Royal; also reports. only small vessels
Minneapolis has only coal enough to
reach Key West, and same of Yale,
which will tow Merrimac. 1t is to be
regretted that the departments orders
all striven to that end. I am forced
to return to Key West, via Yucatan
channel, for coal Can ascertain moth
ing concerning enemy. Was obliged. to
yesterday, as she had only twenty-seven
tons of coal on board. Will leave st.
Paul here. Will require $500 tons of
He said that Admiral Schley had
spoken of the weather as 'tboisterous,"
and that that word had been omitted
from the printed copy of the dispatch.
He also stated that whereas the admiral
had said that $500 tons of coal would be
necessary, the printed copy made 1t
10000 tons. 1t was also stated in the
original that the Harvard was going to
Port Royal, whereas Kingston had been
inserted in the printed copy. There also
were other changes.
Admiral Cotton then related a CONVEX
sation he had had with Admiral Schley
concerning a proposition of Lieut. Beall,
| of the Harvard to go ashore and put
himself in communication with the Gu
ban insurgents. He could not, he
said, recall the exact words of the con-
versation, but at all events Mr.. Beall
had not been ordered ashore.
SCHLEY DID NOTHING.
Judge advocate Lemiy then asked
"After you had delivered and prior to
| the dispatch he had delivered to you to
| be sent to Kingston, what efforts did he
make to locate Cervera's fleet to your
| knowledge?" i
None to- my Knowledge
did he with his squadron at that time
| approach Santiago?"
He did not I will qualify that to this
extent The vessels. of course, were not
| at anchor; they were moving about, and
there were directions for movement to-
ward the harbor Of Santiago
Referring to that phrase in the dis
| patch, the department looks to you to
| ascertain the facts and that the enemy,
| Therein, does not leave without a de-
| cisive action what within your knowl-
| edge did Commodore Schley do in obedi-
| ence to these Instructions
Nothing to my knowledge
ION the departure of the flying squad
ron, supposing they departed on that day
as indicated by the signal for Key West,
and the leaving of your own vessel for
| Kingston, what of the American forces
was left off Santiago to prevent the exit
| of Cervera's fleet from that harbor?''
II have no personal knowledge Of that
1 subject
Judge Advocate Lemiy started to