The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-28

board, making an official call to pay my
respects and during the visit Commodore
Schley read me what I understand to
be part of his official report of the
battle After he had finished said:
Commodore, you remember that after
the battle of Lake Erie there was an
unfortunate controversy and 1 hope
that there viii be none after the battle
of Santiago because there was glory
enough for everybody.
Captain McCalla said that when the
flying squadron encountered the scout
ships to the south of Santiago on May
26, they were east of a direct line south.
If they had continued as they were
then going could they have arrived at
Santiago2' he was asked and replied.
Certainly not"
Where would they have arrived?''
IF they had continued as they were
going they would have struck the coast
of Hayti.''
Relating the particulars of the block
ade of Santiago before June 1, Captain
A1cCalla said the MarbIehead and the
Vixen had at night occupied positions
inside the large ships about two miles
from the shore line and that that line
was easily discernible.
On cross examination by Mr.. Rayner
the witness said he had failed to exc
cute an order from Admiral Remey de-
HVered While he was in command off
Cienfuegos and directing that all except
the smallest vessels be withdrawn He
had, he said, failed to leave the small
vessels there.
did you do that on your own re-
spOnsibility?"
ON my own responsibility.
ON HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY.
Referring to the fact that he had in
formed Captain Chadwick. Admiral
SIMPSONS chief of staff of the code of
signals arranged for communicating
with the insurgent Cubans he said that
ne did not in any way communicate
with the COMMUNICATIVE chief.
Mr. Rayner then asked:
According to customs and regula-
tions. observed in cases of that sort,
was it not your purpose that this COM
municatiOn should go to the command
er-in-chief through his chief of staff?''
Certainly was the reply.
The witness said further that he
thought it had been common knowI-
edge at Key West after his arrival
there on May 19, that the Cuban in
surgents were on the coast near Glen
fuegos, but that no information was
given concerning the secret code. He
had, he said, failed to give the code to
Commodore Schiey when he passed
him, when the commodore was on his
way to Cienfuegos. He said: Il would
have gone alongside and given him my
information
He had ordered the Eagle to give
Commodore Schley information con-
had not given the secret code to the
commander of that vessel. He would
have done SO if he had known the des-
tination of the squadron.
Replying to q question Captain Nc
Gala said that Commodore Schley's
fleet while off Santiago had never to
his knowledge been withdrawn to any
distance from the harbor of Santiago.
Then - id Captain Parker, that
story, by gnomsoever told, is absolute
" false
II object" shouted Captain Lemley,
in voice as sharp as pistol shot.
1.-The objection is sustained. said
Admiral Dewey. ''The question is high
ly improper
On redirect examination Mr.. Hanna
asked:
IF Commodore Schley had signalled
you to come on the Brooklyn and had
stated to you that his destination was
Cienfuegos, would you or not have
communicated to him the secret signal
to which you have referred ?"
Il would have given him the code, of
course answered the witness.