Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-10-12
WOULD NOT LEAVE FLEET
Sampson Invited Captain Taylor to
Accompany Him 10 Siboney.
POTTS OPINION OF SCHLEy
Secretary Long Order % Sampson, Admoush-
ing Against She Exposure Of American
Vessels 10 Fire Of Fortified Posts
Bought in As Evidence.

Bought in AS Evidence.
Washington. Oct. 10.--ln the Sch!ey
court OF inquiry yesterday Lieutenant
Mark l.. Bristol completed his testi-
mony. begun Tuesday, and three new
witnesses were introduced. They
were Rear Admiral Henry G. Taylor.
who as captain commanded the battle.
ship Indiana during the war with
Spain; Lieutenant Commander Tenn
plin Potts. who as navigator Of the
battleship Massachusetts during that
period, and Lieutenant Edward #. Lei
during the war. the last-named being
still on the stand when the court ad-
journed for the day.
Admiral Taylor related incidents OF
the battle off Santiago on July 3. in
Guiding the Brooklyn's famous turn.
He said that none Of the Spanish ships
had made any effort to ram the Ameri-
can vessels when they came out of the
harbor at Santiago.
When the judge advocate had con-
Guided his interrogations Of Admiral
Taylor Mr.. Rayner began his cross
examination with an effort to intro
duce signals which had passed between
the Indiana and Admiral SIMPSONS
flagship, the New York, In the early
morning OF July 3, 1898. Captain Lem
ly made immediate objection, and Mr.
Rayner presented an earnest plea to
be allowed to read the sinals. He was
not permitted at that time to do so,
but 1t is understood that the signals
which he desired to introduce as hav-
ing been sent from the New York to
the Indiana were dated at S.l5 q. m.
Of that day. and we're an invitation
from the flagship to accompany her
to Siboney, while the response was a
declination to do So The Admirals
invitation was wigwagged by Captain
Chadwick, and was as follows:
"The Admiral wishes to know II you
will join him this morning in going
to see General Shafter?"
To this Captain Taylor replied at
8.37: Work aboard ship previously
BOiuS vi picNSht5 ahC lioui Gums with
you today"
Mr.. Rayner contended that the sig
nails were among the most import
ant occurrences Of the day prior to the
time that the command of the fleet
devolved upon Commodore Schley.
Captain Lemly replied that under
previous rulings of the court the read
ing of the signals was clearly inadmis-
sible. He, however agreed that he
would consult with Mr. Rayner and
that, If after this consultation the ques-
ton including the reading OF the sig
nails should appear proper, Admiral
Taylor could be recalled and the ques-
tion asked. To this Mr.. Raynor con-
sented
Commander Potts testimony dealt
especially with the bombardment Of
the Colon. Answering question from
Judge Advocate Lemly as to the con-
duct of Commodore Schley during that
engagement, he said 1t was that of
man laboring under great mental ex-
citement, and of man who was anx-
a disagreeable duty.
MIR. Rayner asked the witness:
Suppose you were made aware OF
the fact that when he entered into
that engagement he was under the
regulations of the navy not to engage
shore batteries il there was any danger
OF the shore batteries crippling the
ships, would you say, II you knew OF
that. that he was still laboring under
great mental excitement
Il cannot answer that. replied Potts.
Lieutenant Leiper expressed the
opinion that the Spanish shore batter
les at Santiago had not been at any
time formidable.
During Commander Potts eyamina-
ton Mr. Rayner secured permission
from the court to introduce as evi,
dence the order OF Secretary Long to
Admiral Sampson, dated April 6, In
which he was admonished against the
exposure of the American vessels to
the fire of strongly fortified ports. The
in that order which he es
pecially wished to have considered
reads as follows:
"The department does not wish the
vessels OF your squadron to be ex-
posed to the fire of the batteries at
Havana, Santiago De Cuba or other
strongly fortified ports in Cuba, unless
the more formidable Spanish vessels
should take refuge within those har
bors. Ever in this case the depart
ment would suggest that rigid block
ade and employment Of our torpedo
boats might accomplish the desired
object, viz: the destruction Of the
enemy's vesseIs, without subjecss.ng