The San Francisco call., 1901-10-29
HERO OF THE NAVAL BATTLE OFF SANTIAGO
COMPLETES THE NARRATIVE OF HIS CAMPAIGN
e 0bust Occurs Court Inquiry When hIys Counsel Objects Advocates
Questioning the Alleged
Bueh With the Declaration That Sampson Was


Hood had boarded the Adula-at any rate he
had not given him (the admiraD any MEM
orandum on that subject
did you really believe that If Cervera was
in the harbor he would allow the Adula to
come out?" asked Captain Lemly.
Il thought that would depend upon the
ertfon that might be put forth in her behalf
Dy the captains Consul
did you make any effort to communicate
With the insurgents on May % or May "a be-
fore the arrival of the MarbleheadT'
NO; l sent the Marbiehead into the harbor-
/. REGARDED that as the best method for ascer-
When did the Marblehead arrive?''
About a. m. May "a
Ihe judge advocate then asked series of
questions to develop the state of the weather
on May "a. Various officers had testified that
witness testified that there was heavy
When Captain McCalla gave you the in
FORMATION with regard to the Spanish fleet not
being in Cienfuegos did you determine to leave
for Santiago that day?''
remember to have sent dispatch in which I
said that might leave IN the morning. 1 had
In view at that time the sending of the Scor-
pion which I had sent east feeling that she
might bring me some necessary information
Here Is your letter of May "a. in which you
say: I have ascertained from the insurgents
that the Spanish fleet is not in this port. AS it
is not found practicable to coal the Texas here.
embarrassed by the Texas short coal supply
and our inability to coal in the open sea- That
is correct is 1t not?
Yes: said that
In a dispatch that you sent to Commodore
Remey, dated May a. you said: I shall move
eastward tomorrow. is indicated in a tele-
gram to Commodore Remey, for the Secretary
Of the Navy. so you will know my where
That's right. I recollect that"
Anticipates Difficulty.
In reply to a question, Admiral Schley said
he felt that there would be greater difficulty in
ccoaling off Santiago than there was at Glen
> You anticipated difficulty then. in .coaling
"Undoubtedly. In June we coaled consider
ably there, but occasion we cast off
after coaling for an hour or So AS our ex-
Furthermore, the later colliers were better
arranged than the former
There some difficulties about coaling at
sea generally, there not?''
There are. and 1 think we met them
coaling the 26th?'
II did not preferred to act upon my own
judgment"
WAS there any time after your arrival at
Cienfuegos, except May 25th and 18th. when
ION the 9th and 2Sth some vessels coaled.
also on the 31st, but do not recall about the
29th and 90th.''
Santiago than you had expected to have?
II don't know but had, on account of the
limited supply of the scout boats found
there"
''The scout ships were self-supporting in the
matter of COAL were they not?"
II don't know what you mean, unless 1t Is
that they could have made it longer
4 mean to cruise around from point to point
and get 1t. Did they rely at any time upon the
coliers of the squadron to supply them with
coal?''
I'm view of the idea you had Of preserving
the squadron as unit, why did you detach
the Eagle?"
''simply because she was an impeachment I
did not think it possible to coal her in that
sta state Of the weather used s to consider my.
otherwise" Gaughter)
you testified that you received signal from
Lieutenant Switzerland that the Eagle was
dangerously short Of coal"
II think the message was by negapnone-''
Il do mot noa'r remember. mem @ southerland and was very
solicitous:, A days coal, probably. perhaps
why did you not tow the Eagle?"
because it would have been for an indefinite
''But you were approaching santiago?"
yes
How far away was santiago?"
perhaps fifty sixty miles"
The judge advocate then read from the log
of the Eagle to show that on May 2e (the day
Of coal aboard
why did you not take the Eagle, Vixen ard
Merrimac in tow ana push on to Santiago?"
Because in my opinion at ten knots, the
auxiIiaries would have gone under
Why not abandon them land and push on with
rendezvous for the other vessels?"
Because in my opinion that woud have
TO abandon auxiliaries where they might have
| been picked up by the enemy. Such course
would have been censurable.
To Intercept the Enemy.
Asked why. if he believed the enemy's yes
sells had left Santiago before he left Cienfuegos
he had not dispersed his vessels more widely
in order to intercept them, the admiral said
that that was a military disposition about
which there might be reasonable difference of
opinion Such disposition would have rem
dered the smaller vessels more liable to at
tack.
''Why did you not steam in line?''
"That would have been the weakest possible
formation. My plan was to keep the ships
constantly in order of battle
did you. in your western movement in