Evening star., 1901-09-28

mails. One was regarding the amount OF
| coal on each of the ships. The other was
a report to the effect that the Merrimac
| had $500 tons of COAL st1ff,r7
Q. WAS anything further said on subject
| of going to Santiago?"
| A. Il do not remember that anything
was said then in reply to my suggestion.
| Shortly afterward the admiral said. This
| Is matter l shall have to decide myself,
| and you may return to your Ship
q. did the commodore say anything to
| you at that time to indicate whether it was
| his intention to go on that evening or on
| the next day?"
| A Nothing"
| In reply to further questions, Captain Nc
| Gala said that no effort had been made
while he was with the flying squadron off
Cienfuegos to prevent the Spaniards from
continuing the construction of earthworks.
| which he had been ordered to do. He said
the Marbehead could have gone within
range of those works, and that he had been
deep under the bluffs. Captain McCalla
also testified that the squadron had not
proceeded with ''all dispatch to Santiago"
The Coalins Question.
After telling of the cruise from Cienfue-
gos to Santiago, of the arrival off that
city and of the retrograde movement to-
ward Key West, the witness was asked If
the Marblehead could have coaled on the
| afternoon and the evening of May %. when
the flying squadron arrived off Santiago.
He replied in the affirmative but said that
he had not considered the vessel in need
Of coal.
He also said In reply to questions that he
had not been at any time anxious or ap-
prehensive concerning the coal supply of
the Marblehead. He had, he said, coaled
on the night of the 9th, at first by boats
with bags. but after daylight on the 2Sth
his vessel had gone alongside the collier.
The reason why this had not been done in
the beginning he said was that he had
been apprehensive of injuring the guns Of
the Marblehead In the dark the weather
conditions having nothing to do with the
precaution. Captain McCalla said he had
| told Admiral Schley that he could coal
without difficulty at Cape Haytien
In reply to an explicit question, the wit
ness said that with collier present he
would not have anticipated any difficulty in
remaining off Santiago for a considerable
| time.
| In response to questions he next related
| briefly the bombardment of the CrstobaI
| Colon on May 81. When asked what had
| been left undone to accomplish the destruc-
| tion of that vessel. he replied that Admiral
| Schley had failed to use his entire force In
| Mr.. Hanna inquired If this was an i'm
| portant omission.
Captain Parker. on behalf of Admiral
Schley, objected The objection was sus-
| tained, Admiral Dewey remarking that
| such questions should not be asked under
the ruling of the court
Captain. PARKER was about to proceed
with further remarks, whereupon Admiral
Dewey asked him to desist. saying, I'VE
will adjourn now; we can take all day to-
| morrow for that" Accordingly, at pm,
| the court adjourned.
Not q Party to the Case.
| Before the court adjourned the following
| formal reply to Admiral SIMPSONS letter,
asking that Messrs. stayton & Campbell be
| allowed to represent him before the court.
was read and a copy of it handed to MIR.
| Stayton:,.
COURT OF INQUIRY, NAVY YARD.
| WASHINGTON. September q, 1901.
| Admiral: I am today in receipt. through
| Mr.. w. H. Stayton, Of your letter of the
Och instant. requesting that Messrs. Stay
| ton & Campbell be permitted to appear be-
| fore the court Of inquiry as your counsel
| to represent your interests. In reply, you
| are advised that the court does not at this
| time regard you as party to the case now
| before It, and. therefore, is unable to COM
| ply with your request. Very respectfully,
GEORGE DEWEY,
| Admiral, u. s. Navy. President of the Court
| Rear Admiral William T. Sampson.
u. 8. Navy.