The San Francisco call., 1901-10-26

better use. and subsequent events confirmed the
decision
bombardment of the Colon to discussion OF
the coaling question. He said that his instruc-
tions had been to coal on every possible occa-
sion. He then quoted and put IN as evidence a
number of dispatches giving the instructions
of the department on this question He re-
lated in this connection the receipt OF num-
ber of dispatches from the department which
had. he said been brought by Captain Cot,
not have been received before May 81.
When he received these dispatches the ad-
miral, in answer to questions by Raynor tes-
titled that he had already discovered the Span
ish fleet. He had also surmOunted the difficult
ties about coaling and had so informed II the ne
department In this connection he went back
and narrated the incident of the capture by
the st. Paul of the Restormel the English col,
reported that the collier had been captured
May rs off Santiago. Sigsbee's letter mention
ed the fact that the Restormei RAD iouche9
at Porto Rico and Curacao and that he had
sent her to Key West, adding; mere IS
absolutely no news of the Spanish fleet here"
On the 31st he received, he thought, py way
of press tug from Port Antonio the dispatch
of Admiral Sampson congratulating him upon
the location of the Spanish feet. In reply to
a question by his counsel Admiral Schley
planned that Cape Cruz was an exposed place
los miles from Santiago and he did not regard it
as an available place for coaling. Some OF
the smaller ships might have been sent there.
but with a squadron such as he had. practi-
had never considered the question of separating
ships of his fleet. He regarded it as OF prime
importance IndL Ine UeeL De kept lOSSlHei.
His attention was called to Lieutenant Har-
bers testimony likening the situation south
ships had coaled The admiral said that the
two places were not comparable. The sea to
the south of Cuba was exposed for hundreds
of miles Dry Tortugas was surrounded by
reefs in which 2 could rarely enter, From
information he received from Captain Cot
ton he thought he received the impression that
only small ships could be coaied at Mole st.
Nicholas or Gonaives channel.
Avoided International Trouble.
The witness stated that he had not gone into
foreign waters for coal because he wanted to
avoid international complications and espe-
cially wanted to avoid the charge of taking
advantage of weaker nations like Hayti and
others.
After this depression the admiral returned to
the reconnaissance of May 81. That some of
the younger officers who testified regarding that
occurrence were mistaken, he said, was proved
by the fact that there to-day the deck
of the Indiana a plate showing where an g.
inch shell from the land Notifications entered
June and wrecked her wardroom The off,
GERS referred to had testified that there we're
no guns Of ever 6-inch caliber in the Santiago
land batteries. The admiral said the she'll
which wrecked the wardroom of the Indiana
might possibly have been fired from a NOR
tar, of which there were several. but that the
as they went in for the reconnaissance was
evident, not from the fact that there were one
or two shells which went over the American
ships. There were, he said, many more, per-
haps fifty.
Again leaving the question of the reconnois-
sance the witness related the particulars of
the arrival of the New Orleans on May 30
with Captain Folger in command and convoy
ing the collier Sterling. Captain Folger had,
the admiral said, brought instructions to sink
the collier in the channel at Santiago the de-
tails to be left to Admiral Schley's discretion
II did not understand that this passage was
to be biockaded except in case should be
compelled to abandon the port. in which event
that expedient to be resorted to-
He then proceeded to detail his conversation
with Captain Folger concerning which Captain
Folger also testified a witness for the de-
partment. While satisfied that Captain Folger
had not meant to do any injustice to him (the
witness) he felt that the captain had failed to
give all the details of the conversation
He did not want to explain to this court
just what the conversation had been for
ade and had advocated the form which 1 had
established being mobile and more
facile for small feet, such as ours was in
case of attack by the enemy as more easIy
manipulated and handled under signal The
captain spoke of advising to keep in
closer" continued Admiral Schley, whereas
On tfS, next day he sgnaled that the enemy
would fire on us at the then range. We had
not changed our position"
Admiral Schey also took occasion to speak
of the instructions to him to examine Guanta-
said not practicable. as at least 1000 marines
would have been necessary to guard that point
and these could not be spared
''If had gone there we should have in
vted attack he said. These" he added
were among the matters I had to consider -
This brought Admiral Schley to the time of
the arrival Of Admiral Sampson commander