The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-02
EVANS INCONSISTENT
MR. RAYNER MAKES COMPARISONS
TO PROVE THIS.
MEMORY SEEMS BAD ALSO
DENIES SAYING SEVERAL THINGS
CREDITED TO HIM.

Had Any Plan of Battle at Santia-
xO-CorrespOndent Dieuaide Tells
of What He Saw and Heard on the
Texas, but Has Bad Memory, Too.
sigsbee Testifies in SchIey's Favor.
Reported to Him That He Knew
Nothing Positively OF Spanish
Fleet.
Washington, Oct. 1.-The Schly court
of inquiry made good headway again
o-day, concluding with Rear Admiral
Evans and hearing three new wit
nesses, although the testimony ef one
of them was not concluded when the
court adjourned for the day.
The new witnesses were Capt. Sigs-
bee, who commanded the scout st. Paul
during the Santiago campaign; Thom-
as M. Dieuaide, a newspaper corre-
spondent who was on the Texas dur
ing the battle of July 3, and Chief
Yeoman Gustave E. Becker. who was
a clerk to Rear Admiral Sampson dur
ing the war.
General sympathy was expressed on
the part of members of the court and
those in attendance with Judge Advo-
cate Lemly because of the death of his
sister, which occurred yesterday. Capt.
Lemly was present when the court
convened, but Immediately withdrew.
Rear Admiral Evans, recalled, said
that when Capt. Chadwick communi-
Gated the secret code of signals to him
he did not instruct him to give the in
formation to Commodore Schley.
Mr.. Rayner asked:
Says He Never Said 1t.
did you have a conversation with
Commodore Schley on July in the
course of which you used language as
follows:
"'Did you know that Jack Philip
started to run away at the beginning
of the battle?' and to which Commo-
dCre Schley replied, You are mistaken
about that, Evans, l saw nothing of
the kind. The Brooklyn made turn
ard you must see the tactical situa-
ton that made it necessary.
"On thinking over last night, what
did occur with reference to the Texas
l think Commodore Schley and I dis
cussed the position of the Texas when
the fight began. 1 cannot be sure of it,
but that l ever intimated that Capt
Philip attempted to run away with the
Texas is preposterous on the face of
it."
Were not the commanding officers
called on board the flagship Brooklyn
by signal on the morning of May 29,
after the Colon was discovered?"
They We're"
What took place at the conference
of the commanding officers at that
time?"
There was a general talk about the
Spanish fleet having been located at
Loot IL - Ill OF
any special conference. l remember
having a conversation with Commo-
dore Schley about the effect of the
fighting batteries on the ships, in
which I told him of the experience we
had had at San Juan and expressed
the opinion to him that it was not
worth while to risk ships fighting
shore batteries alone. Commodore
Schley remarked before we left that he
felt that the country held him respon-
slble;l that the ships should not be
risked under the fire of the shore bat
teries until the Spanish fleet was de-
stroyed.'
No Plan of Battle, Says Evans.
Il want to call your attention to
the report of Capt. McCaila Of the
Marblehead on page 426 of the appen-
dix, which says:
Commodore Schley explained to
the commanding officers that in case
the Spanish ships came out he wished
TO concentrate the batteries of all
our ships on portion of those of the
enemy. During the time the COM
handing officers were on board the
flagship Capt. Evans asked Con1mo-
dore Schley If 1t were his intention to
steam at the enemys ships in case
they should start to come out Commo-
dore Schley answered Certainly and
added words indicative of his inten-
tion to attack them as they came out
of the narrow defile.'"
Il recollect it perfectly"
80 there was a plan of battle ar
ranged by Commodore Schley, was
there not?"
There is nothing there to indicate it
from what you have read"
Was not that the same order that
was afterward given by the command
er-in-chief, substantially: Close in
toward harbor entrance and attack
them"
You have not read anything about
indicating any plan of battle
Evans Not Consistent.
Mr.. Rayner asked number of ques-
uons intended to show that the ad-
miraps official reports and his present
statements as to speed were not con-
sistent. Admiral Evans was also ques-
toned as to his statements concerning
We're out at night. He said yesterday
mat the vessels of the blockading
squadron were farther out at night
than during the day, and Mr.. Rayner
read previous statement from him
10 the effect that "at daylight we
ciosed in" This the witness said was
the exact fact. that after being out
larther at night the vessels came in
closer at daylight.
while before Cienfuegos or on the
way to Santiago did you have any or
0eiS ..S, Tor battle?" asked Mr.. Hanna.
no. We steamed in columns with
"dnkers on each side"
mad you any instructions as to
mhat TO do in case the enemy should
we had not"
Newspaper Man Testides.
hear Admiral Evans was then excus-
ana Thomas M. Dieuaide, a news
ytSper correspondent who was on board
na 1 IeNas during the Santiago cam
tbsh' was called. Mr.. Dieuaide said
baS When the battle off Santiago began
hn.ad gone on the bridge with Capt.
90 Up lie had at the time made notes
.He battle and these he read
NJ Mr. Hanna: Did you see the
ba'ooNiyn at any time after the battle
a., saw the Brooklyn about ten OF
axt1nl minutes after the battle began. 4"
ber mere mere was she when you first saw
WIN respect 10 the Texas7"