The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-09-28
sufficient coal to return to Kew West

- .,
directed signal to be made prepare
tory for the ships to return to Key
west. The order was given in a gen
erai way. | can not give the words Of
the order, but what l have stated was
their purport. While | was still there
ne received report to the effect that
the signals were read. Before | left
the ship he ordered signals to be
made for ships to form preparatory
1or steaming to Key West.
10 go back bit had informed
Commodore Schley that it was utter
~ impossible for the Harvard to get
anywhere except to Kingston. had
not sui'icient coal to get to Key West,
and he verbally authorized me to pro-
coed at once to Kingston to receive
such amount of coal as | could get
there sufficient to enable me. to re-
turn to the nearest United States
port. left the Brooklyn about noon,
possibly a few minutes before. In
mediately after my departure the
Brooklyn commenced steaming ahead
and | noticed that many of the ships
at the moment under Commodore
Schley's command were in motion,
presumably preparatory to taking
their stations in steaming order to
return to Key West. As soon as re-
turned to my own ship, after my
boat was hoisted | steered to the
southwest for Kingston
Did you state in specific terms that
you agreed with Commodore Schley
as to the difficulty in coaling?"
The question was not discussed
and expressed no opinion"
did this conversation occur before
or after the dispatches which you
took aboard had been read by the
mmander-in-chief?
after"
In response to further questions,
Admiral Cotton said that he had the
original TRANSACTIONS of the cipher dis
patches addressed to the Harvard.
The dispatch of May 2j was then read
to him as follows:
Washington, May 25, 1893.
Harvard, st. Nicholas Mole, Haiti.
proceed at once andinform Schley,
and also the senior officer present Off
Santiago as follows:
"All departments information indi-
Gates Spanish division is still at San
tiago. The department looks to you
to ascertain facts, and that the enc
my, IL therein, does not leave with
out decisive action. Cubans familiar
with Santiago say that there are land
ing places five or six nautical miles
west from the mouth Of harbor, and
that there insurgents probably will
be found and not the Spanish. From
the surrounding heights can see every
vessel in port. As soon ascertained,
notify the department whether enemy
is there. Could not squadran and also
the Harvard coal from Merrimac lee
ward of Cape Cruz, Gonaiycs channel
or Mole, Haiti? The department will
send coal imediately to Mole. Report
without delay situation at Santiago,
Cuba
[Signed.l LONG
Mr.. Rayner called attention TO the
fact that there were some material
changes in the dispatches as printed
in the official reports by the navy de-
partmcnt,
Admiral Schley's reply to these dis
patches, dated May 30, in which he
said he could not obey the orders OF
the department, was then read, and
Mr.. Rayner pointed out various
changes in the language Of the dis.
patch as printed in the official re-
port. lie addressed the court briefly
concerning these changes, He said
that Admiral Schley had spoken Of
the weather as "boisterous," and that
that word had been omitted from the
printed copy Of the dispatch. He also
stated that whereas the admiral had
said that $500 tons Of coal would be
necessary, the printed copy made 1t
10000. II was also stated in the orig
inal that the Harvard was going to
Port Royal, whereas Kingston had
been inserted in the printed copy,
There also were other changes.
Admiral Cotton then related con
yersntion he had had with Admiral
Schlcy concerning proposition OF
Lieut.. Bcall, OF the Harvard, TO go
ashore and put himself In commune
cation with the Cuban insurgents lie
could not, he said, recall the exact
words OF the conversation, but at all
events, Mr., Beall had not been or
dcrcd ashore.
Judge Advocate Lemly then asked
after you delivered the order ana
prior 10 the dispatch which he deliv'
cred to You TO be sent to Kingston
what efforts did he make to locate
Cervera's fleet to your knowledgeV'
"None TO my knowledge
"Dld he, with his squadron, at that
time approach Santiago"
"IIc did not, will qualify that 70
this extent. The vessels, OF course
were not at anchor; they were NOV
inc nbout, and there were directions
FOR movement toward the horbor OF
Santiago a.,
"RcfcrrIng to that phrase In the
dIspntch, the department looks 70
YOU TO ascertain the facts That the
enemy, II therein, does not leave
wl,hou, decisive action" what with
in your knowledge, did Commodore
schley do In obedience to those IN
struciions"
~ have no knowledge ON the SUP
jeci," a., o,,,.
"on the departure of the hylng
squadron, suppo.Ing they departed on
a., d,v ma indicated by the signal