The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-26

The fact that this blockade off Glen
fuegcs and also off Santiago was suf-
ficient is borne out by the fact that no
vessel entered or escaped during that
time"
Reconnaissance of Harbor.
Coming to the reconnaissance of Nay
81, Admiral Schley said; -On the 31st,
while the Brooklyn and the Marblehead
anG the Texas were coaling, I trans
ferred my flag to the Massachusetts
and determined I would develop the
fortified tons because of information
which we had from the photographic
office-the impression now is that it
was rather undetermined. I think one
stated that the batteries were told and
another stated that Krupps were
mounted.
1.-The general belief, however, was
that all of the southern places We're
very heavily fortified. In fact, we
knew very little about the effect of
higher-powered artillery either on
shore or on board ship, and feeling that
ought to know something about the
fortifications which defended that place
determined to go in and take advan-
tage of what 1 believed to be the long
est range of our guns and develop fully
what these defenses were, and incl
dentally, if we could get shot into
the Colon, that was lying exposed
somewhat, to do it.
81 think we were lying in a position
perhaps four TO five miles to the west
ward. The steaming in was at slow
speed. I transferred my flag, named
1000 yards and went on board the
Massachusetts,. When boarded her
it was near the dinner hour, and Cap
tain Higginson suggested that we
postpone until 1 o'clock the going into
to develop these batteries. I assented
to that.
After the meal we went to quar-
=. H.
head-on. There was not much oppor-
tunity for anybody to seek cover be-
hind turret unless he got behind the
protecting plate which was a guard
, the entrance to the rear.
White Clothes Worn.
Some weight has been laid upon
the fact that we wore white clothes.
would like to invite attention to the
act that that was a matter which 1
controlled entirely for my squadron,
d it was the only suitable dress for
that region"
Giving the names of the persons who
accompanied him when he went on
board the Massachusetts, the admiral
said they were Lieutenants Sears
and Wells and Mr.. George E. Graham.
the Associated Press correspondent,
who, he said. had insisted upon &C
companying him, Notwithstanding his
protests Once on board he had, he
said, engaged in a converse ton with
Captain (now admira) Hisginson.
Il was not excited" he went on,
nor nervous, for l need not have I'M
dertaken the reconnaissance if I had
not desired to do SO. 1 had some re-
gard for those standing on the tur-
rets, thinking they were exposing
themselves to danger from shock
which was unnecessary to them.
though was differently circum-
stanced and 1 so expressed myself
Commander Potts is entirely in error
in saying I took advantage of cover.
That l did not do. for 1 was not con-
cerned about myself"
Drew Shore Batteries.
Speaking of the range of 1000 yards.
the admiral said that Commander
Potts had himself suggested that
range, and he (the witness) had not
known for several days that the range
had been altered.
The moment we began firing" he
went OH, the shore batteries re-
sponded, some of them using smoke
IS powder. There was quite a stream
OF projectiles, and L was impressed
with the idea that they must be from
IS of or S-inch caliber. The shot
from the Zocopa battery evidently
reached the fleet. Some went over our
ships, and one went beyond and over
the Vixen, which was half a mile dis
tant.
The strength of the batteries being
established it would have been milf
tary folly to have risked the battle
ship to further fire from these shore
batteries under my instructions If we
mad lost one or two of our six or
seven vessels the loss would have been
a very great disadvantage. and if
might have invited attack with de-
structive results I thought it better
policy to save the ships for wider and
better use, and subsequent events JUS
titled the decision
Discusses CoaIing Question.
Here the witness abruptly turned
from the bOmbardment of the Colon
20 discussion of the coaling question.
He said that his instructions had been
10 coal on every possible occasion He
then quoted and put in as evidence a
number of dispatches giving the in
structions of the department on this
question He related in this connec-
ton the receipt of a number of dis
patches from the department which
had, he said, been brought by Captain
Cotton. He was sure that the dis
patches could not have been received
before May 81
When he received these dispatches
/ the admiral. in answer to questions by
Mr. Raynor, testified that he had al
ready discovered the Spanish fleet He
AAAu dASO SuTuOunIGQ the difficulties
about coaling and had so Informed tbe
department. In this connection he
went back and narrated the incident
of the capture by the ST Paul of the
Restormel, the English collier bound
Tor Santiago Captain Sigsbee had re-
ported that the collier had been can
tured May 26 off Santiago. Siesbee's
letter mentioned the fact that the
Kestormel had touched at Porto Rico
and Curacao and that he had sent her
70 Key West, adding; Il have seen
absolutely nothing fthe Spanish feet
here
Congratulations From Sampson.
On the 31st ne received. he thouob+
oy way of press tug from Port An
tonic, the dispatch of Admiral Samp-
son, congratuiating him upon the To-
cation of the Spanish fleet.
In reply, by his counsel. Admiral
| Schley explained that Cape Cruz was
an exposed place, 100 miles from sam
tlago, and he did not regard IT as an
available place for coaIina. some Of
the smaller ships might have been left
there. but with a squadron such as he
had, practically of the same size as the
Spanish fleet, he had never considered
tne question of separating ships of his
! heet- He regarded it as of prime i'm
portance that the fleet be kept together
His attention was called to IieUten-
an Harber's testimony Iikening the
situation south of Cuba with that at
Dry Tortugas, where ships had coaled
I