The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-05
AND POINTS OUT ALLEGED SHORT
COMINGs OF THE ADMIRAL.
Talks for Two Hours and Covers Only
Half of the Ground Involved
i'm the Controversy.


bearing upon different phases of the in
quiry. Admiral Schley did not make any
material additions to his previous state
ments, but devoted himself largely to the
clearing up of ambi guous points in his evil
dence. An effort was made to introduce
two new witnesses, who were expected to
give testimony in Admiral Schley's behalf
concerning the controversy as to what in
formation Captain Sigsbee communicated
TO Admiral Schley when he arrived off
Santiago in May, 1895. One Of these wit
nesses was Frank 3. Richards and the
other George Lynch. both Of New York
and both newspaper correspondents, who
were on duty in Cuba and in Cuban
waters during the war with Spain. Mr.
Lynch was on the press boat Somers n.
Smith, and Mr.. Richards on the Premier.
They were to have testified concerning the
meeting of these vessels with the st. Paul,
of which Captain Sigsbee was in COM
pand. The court, however, decided not to
hear them
The opening speech of the argument was
n ade in behalf of the government by q. +.
Hanna, assistant to the judge advocate.
he began his presentation of the case few
minutes after the court convened at 2
o'clock, and wnen the court adjourned,
two hours later, he had not covered more
than half of the ground involved in the
controversy.
While Captain Sigsbee was on the stand
to-day Mr.. Rayner asked him If he had
megaphOned or otherwise communicating to
the pressDOat Premier, while of Santiago,
the fact that the Spanish fleet was not IN
Santiago. The witness replied that he had
not done so, although he would have been
justified in saying SO, if he had thought it
proper under the circumstances of war.
TESTIMONY BARRED.
When Captain Sigsbee was excused Capt.
Lemly announced that he had no more wit
nesses to call. Frank B. Richards was then
sworn. Mr.. Richards said that he was on
the dispatch boat Premier during the San
tiago campaign and that the boat was
hailed by Captain Sigsbee on the night Of
May q or 2S. At this point Captain Lemy
objected to this line of evidence, on the
ground that Commodore Schley was not
present during the conversation; also, that
it was not material to the issue.
After argument the court ruled that 'as
the testimony of this witness is not consid-
cred by the court as material to the case,
the objection is sustained, in accordance
with the courts previous ruling.
Mr.. Richards, therefore, could not testify,
and Admiral Schley took the stand for the
purpose of correcting his testimony. He
was suffering from a cold and his voice was
quite hOarse. He began his corrections at
the very first of his testimony. Most of
these corrections were of typographical err
rors, or the change of words to make sem
fences read more smoothly. Referring TO
the order from Admiral Sampson, dated
Key West May - instructing the COM
mander of the flying squadron to establish
a blockade of CienfuegOS with the least
possible delay. the witness read a sentence
from IL as follows; After L have the situ-
alton more in hand l will write you to give
you any more information as suggests
itself" The word more should be omitted.
said Admiral Schley and the sentence
read as follows: After l have the situation
more in hand l will write you and give you
any information that suggests ITSELF
In referring to his testimony regarding
the arrival of the Harvard on Nav "a, wit
a dispatch from the secretary of the navy,
informing him that "all of the department $
information indicated the presence of the
Spanish squadron at Santiago" which dis
patch, he had declared. had never reached
him and, therefore, he had never seen it or
heard of 1t until recently. Admiral Schley
corrected this portion of his testimony by
stating that neither his flag lieutenant nor
his secretary had ever seen the dispatch
nor remembered it. He had previously in
cluded his first lieutenant in this state
ment.
Referring to his testimony regarding the
reconnaissance of May 81, the admiral
changed his statement that fifty, if not
more shells, passed over the fleet" to read
that "a number of shells passed over the
fleet" He also changed his evidence con-
corning suspicious movements in the har-
Dor of Santiago July 10 read that be
fore dark 1 noticed in the harbOr a good
deal of smoke coming up" The official rec
ord, he said. made him say that he saw
the smoke after drak.
ATTEMPT TO RAM.
Coming to his answer to a question in
reference to his order sent below during
the early part of the battle to "stand by
to RAM" Admiral Schley emphasized his
former testimony. by stating that there
was a distinct attempt to ram on the part
Of the Maria Teresa, Admiral Cervera' s
flagship, and the Viscaya'
He also reiterated his confidence in the
Brooklyn's speed by stating that with one
engine and all the boiler power" she could
have got up ali the speed that was needed.
As TO the passing of the flying squadron
by the Eagle on the morning of May 10,
and the latter's conveying the information
that there was mo news, Admiral Schley
corrected his testimony wherein he said
that he was not mistaken as 10 this, by
stating that he might have been mistaken.
Admiral Schley also corrected his state
ment regarding his visit 10 the flagship
New York, when he had made his pre-
liminary report of the battle of July TO
Admiral Sampson The record, he said, did
not make the matter quite clear.
THE admiral said to me-" continued the
witness, that l had omitted very i'm
pOrtant detail which was TO state that the
New York was present"
The witness corrected but one Of his an
swerS to the questions of the court. This
answer was to the effect that as he was
ordered to so to Cienfuegos to establish a
blockade. was il not his duty, under the cir
cumstances to communicate direct, either
by signal or otherwise with the senior Of
icer Of the vessels returning from Cienfue-
COS and obtain from him all information
regarding the situation at or near that
port. The answer, as corrected, reads: 1.-The
communication which he made 10 me
through the Eagle indicated that Captain
McCalla knew l was bound for Cienfuegos,
and l. OF course took IL for granted If he
had had anything important he would
have notified me Of the fact without any
inquiry"
At this point Admiral Schley announced
that he had no more corrections TO make.
Captain Parker called the admirais atten-
ton TO the evidence OF Captain Sigsbee in
which he had said that when he went on
board the Brooklyn the whole question, so
far as he could remember, was coal, and
nothing but coal and that Commodore
Schley already had made up his mind 10 90
10 Key West.
WHAT WAS SAID TO SIGSBEE.
THAT was not the first question Sigsbee
asked me at ALL" replied Admiral Schley
Il did not say to Captain Sigsbee that we
were going 10 Key West. as the signal will
show. Sigsbee was talking the subject OF
coal. and since he mentions liz / recall the