Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-11-07

Washington, Oct. A.--With pile Of
tyrewIitten questions an inch or two
deep before him, Judge Advocate Lemly
yesterday afternoon suddenly stopped
Cross examining Admiral SehleY, ana
announced, that he was through with
the witness. The audience was small
one, and the day. had been ore of little
interest The long physical ordeal,
which had lasted five days, had begun
to tell somewhat on Admiral Schley.
who, when asked by Admiral Dewey il
he. did not want to take a rest and con !,
tinue today, replied it was tue be was
tired. hut be was willing TO keep on as
long as it was necessary 10 continue the
Cross examination. There was a sigh
OF relief throughout the big room when
the rustic around the judges table
announced that the court had adjourned
Mt half.past 3, half an hour earlier than
usual. Capt Thomas S. Borden and
Admiral Barker, who were to be called
by the defence, were not present, and
none OF the is witnesses that the Judge
advocate will call in rebuttal we're
within call. Today the proceedings
will go on with these witnesses.
Ihe most surprising development Of
the day was preceded by a long argu-
inent over the admissibility of letter
written by Schley to Admiral Sampson
after he bad submitted his preliminary
report Of the battle of July Sd. The
Judge advocate had been asking about
the reasons for the ''loop, and read
from report of Schley's, and asked il
1t we're correct The statement made
mention of the New York as IN the
battle. There was loug wrangIe about
letting In this paper, which proved to
be a supplementary report of the hattie.
IL has been sent to Sampson, and rot
forwarded to the department, hut re-
turned to Schley The court finally
decided that the. witness might read
the supplementary report or letter to
refresh bis memory. The Judge advocate
declined to pursue the line of inquiry
further, and announced that he would
take up an entirely different course OF
Questioning. Mr.. Rasner insisted that
after all the argument that had taken
place, the question could be put and
the witness should be permitted to
make answer.
Then Admiral Schley explained that
he went on board the New York and
placed his report in Admiral Sampson g
hands, after which he returned to his
own ship. Later We was signalled TO
return 10 the New York, and did so.
other person was present. Sampson
told him that he was commander IN
chief Of the Heet, and that the report
omitted an important fact about the
battle. t did not mention the presence
OF the New York. To comply with this
request, said Admiral Schley, and
berause he thought there was glory
enough for all, he made the change
desired, and put the New York in his
report of the battle, as he was satisfied
that had she been present she youlo
have fought nobly.
The questions by the court were few
but penetrating. Admiral Benbam
asked for the motive Of the retrograd,
movement, and said he was not clear in
his own mind about it, Admiral Ram
say shared the doubt. Admiral Sohle,
SAID he went to the westward to find i
place TO coal. 1t was in line with the
uepartment's instructions to go to Capt
that the rendezvous % miles south a
Santiago was for the purpose of inter
cepting the Spanish fleet If it had pop,
that way, and to give the Flying
Squadron q larger field for operating
Admiral Ramsay vert somewhat GU
OF the scope of che inquiry and asked
why the Brooklyn left Key West Ma,
18TH short of coal. Admiral Scble;
said it was due to the orders of m,
commander in-chief to- start for Glen
fuegos that day.
AS on previous days, admiral Schle,
was apt and ready with his answers
and 1t would be no easy matter to sa,
that any answer fell short of salts
factory explanation of the matter
under investigation. The retrograd
movement which has always beel
regarded as the weakest phase of hi
case, was perhaps as effectively ex
planned as 1T was possible to do. Whe
the judge advocate, alluding to III
several reasons given for the "loop.
asked which one was in the Admiral
mind when he wrote his report of tn
battle, he replied, ''All OF those aDt
probably some naore.'' This answer /
the judge advocate from the multitud
OF doubts that beset the importan
strategic movements of the oampaiR
would apply 20 the motive for the retro
grade movement as we'll as the .'loop,
1t may be said that as the great tr'' a
nears the close it seems tn be apnaren
that the controversy is not to b
quenched by the facts that have bee
brought out There are many we'll ia
formed on the whole train of events VIII
declare confidently that Congress wi
order an investigation, and that til
whole weary length Of testimony wi
be again gone over. By some it is pre-
dicted that the court will oharaoteriz
the retrograde movement as censurabl,
hut will give the honor Of the vict3r
to Sohley. However, from the demeanc
OF the judges in the court room and til
nature OF their questions, it in nj
reasonable to predicate any expectatio
as to the verdict they will render.
Washington Oct 81. - When III
Schley, Court of Inquiry opened todal
Capt. 4. S. Borden was called as I'll
first witness of the day and the last wi
ness who was to TESTIFY in Admir-,
Schley's behalf. 1t had been expec te
that Admiral Barker would bs oallet
but it had latterly been decided tn,
his testimony, II given, would not /
material, and it was expected tn
morning that he would not testi
Capt. Borden is an officer in the Marit
Corps, and served on the Broukly
during the Cuban campaign. His test
mpny was, therefore. largely CORRIDORS
tive Of the evidence which has heret
fore been. given by Others who were c
the Brooklyn.
At the conclusion of Capt. Borden
testimony, counsel for Admiral SchI,
announced that they had closed the
case. s-4a
Washington, Nov. 1.-There was mo-
intareNr and fewer snantatnra attand;,