Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-29
MAKES GOOD DEFENSE
Lemly Unable to Corner Schley
in His Statements at
Inquiry.
The Whole Ground Gone Over in
the Cross Examination
Again Today.
Plain and Plausible Answers to
All Suggestions Of the
Advocate.

Washington, Oct. 29-Judge Advocate
Lemly lost no time in beginning his in
|terrogatIon of Schley after the court of
inquiry convened today. When court
adjourned yesterday he was still ques-
ltioning the witness with reference to
| the cruise from Cienfuegos to Santiago,
and he resumed today where he had left
off yesterday, asking a number of ques-
tions relating to the condition of the
weather on May 25 and 26. the dates of
the voyage. He also reverted to de-
taching the Eagle from the flying
squadron and brought witness to the
consideration of several other minor de-
tails of that movement, coming to the
meeting with the Schley boats south of
Santiago on the evening of May 26th.
when the retrograde movement toward
Key West in search of coal was begun.
The intention was to go into this retro
grade movement later in the day, and
also to consider in minute detail the
reconnaissance of May 81, the coaling
question and the famous loop of the
Brooklyn.
Lemly was hopeful Of completing the
questioning today, but admitted the
outlook in that direction was not alto-
gether promising.
Reverting to the blockade of Cienfue-
gos, Lemly asked Schley how he esti-
mated the distance of the blockading
fleet to be between three and four miles
from the shore
I'm the day time I took a bow and
beam bearing. This. together with the
surf and land, seemed to confirm the
distance as correct"
Schley said he kept close watch at
night while awake, and had seen no
auxiliary cruiser or gunboat near the
entrance to the harbor as testified to
by Lieut.. Griffin. Witness had an in
distinct recollection of having seen the
mast or perhaps the top of the pipe
over the hills. He saw nothing larger
coming near the mouth of the harbor
than an ordinary steam launch. Ex-
tracts from the Brooklyn's log We're read
twith a view to showing the admfral's 8
memory. had been at fault when he had
stated the fleet was closer in at night
than during the day. The log showed
at various times the squadron had
steamed in as well as out. Lemly asked
him whether these entries in the log
did not show the ships steamed both in
and out?
yes, but as the entries do not show
| the speed 1t is impossible to tell the dis
tance.''
| Had Cervera's fleet appeared during
the nights you were at Cienfuegos,
either coming out or in from seaward
what. under your instructions, would
your fleet have done?"
"Knocked them out"
Referring to the blockade of Santiago
Lemly asked the witness Why he had
sent dispatch to Sampson that "On
account of short coal supply can not
blockade Spaniards in Santiago?"
II meant If we could not have coaled
off Santiago we could not have stayed
there. I think all vessels We're more
or less short of their complement of
coal and considering the fact that they
ought to be fit for any service we ought
to be more than half or quarters
full"
Lemly asked the admiral to point
out the signals of the Massachusetts
and Texas, showing solicitude about
coal, also to include Iowa. In re-
Spouse Schley said when the Iowa ar
rived at Cienfuegos she only had about
half her coal supply aboard almost her
first request was for coal from the coll
lier. She took on about $50 tons.
Did you, on May "a, before Nc
Gala reported the fleet was not in
Cienfuegos, contemplate sending one
or two of your larger vessels back to
Key West for coal"
II think 1 contemplated sending some
ships back, ii we should be unable to
coal within a week"
When you left Cienfuegos. where did
you think the Spanish squadron was?"
II did not, of course, know exactly
where it was. If had / would have
gone straight for it. According to In
formation which came to me supposed
if it was NOT at Santiago it was some-
where in the neighborhood, but my inn
preston was it had come out, as this
information from the admiral had indi-
Gated, but just where 1t was I could
not decide"
Did you give any special Instructions
to your captains While making this pas
sage from Cienfuegos to Santiago in re-
gard to looking out for the Spanish
fleet?"
II did not give any special instruc-
tions. They had their general instruc-i
tions."
Further on Lemley asked:
In your testimony you say you did
not dlsobey orders when you started
westward, because you returned to your
station without further direction. Am
right?"
Yes
Upon receipt in instructions did you
not nevertheless leave your station?'
Yes, did for three reasons: First,
because sigsbee, the scout placed in
front of Santiago harbor, informed me
he did not believe the Spanish fleet were
there. Second, because Nunez, pilot,
told me he did not believe the enemy's
fleet could enter the harbor Third, Or
der No. Z, with accompanying memor-
andum, in which Sampson mlninized
Importance of this squadron being there
and and the fact that the departments
telegram which reached me May q was
ambiguous in its terms. 1t authorized
me to coal at Gonavez. Hayti, or at
Cape Cruz. Ganayez being to the east
ward and knowing Sampson was at
kap ErancaiS, in Bahama channel u