The St. Louis Republic., 1901-09-22
DISTANCE OF THE FLEET
FROM SANTIAGO HARBOR.

| questioned especially concerning his state.
ment of yesterday that the fleet was only
two or three miles out from Santiago Har.
bor. He modified his statement by saying
that during the first portion of the block.
ade the fleet stood out farther. probably
five miles by day and four miles by night.
He confessed. however. that after three
years his memory was indistinct.
In reply to question by Captain Parker.
the witness said that with $50 tons Of coal
aboard the Massachusetts could have
steamed 2,5O0 miles or could have remained
on blockade duty for about twelve days.
By Captain Parker: '"Then after twelve
days out you would not have been able to
get anywhere?"
No; we would not"
did the fleet after the 18th of May ever
go of distance Of twenty-five miles?'
II don't remember that it ever did,
Then the story to that effect. by whom
soever told. could not be true?'
Il don't remember such an excursion and
If made. the logbook should show the facts. %
Have you any memory that the fleet ever
withdrew after that date distance Of more
than six miles?"
II have not"
which the blockade was maintained at night
could you have seen any vessel attempting
to leave Santiago under ordinary conditions
Of weather.
Admiral Higginson: IT think It would
have been difficult on account Of the high
land and the shadows under the land.''
Admiral Higginson was then excused and
the court. at O'Clock, took recess for
luncheon.
sCHLEY HAD SAID
'sLET.s GET OUT OF THIS"
The first witness called after the noon
recess was Commander seaton Schroeder,
now Governor Of the island Of Guam who
during the Spanish war was executive Of
ficer of the battleship Massachusetts,.
Commander Schroeder was questioned as
to the details of the entire campaign. He
knew, he said, OF no efforts to communf-
cate with the shore while the flying
squadron lay off Cienfuegos. He could
give no details concerning the voyage from
cienfuegos to Santiago. having been on the
sick list.
On the first arrival OF Santiago the feet
had, the witness said, been twenty miles
to the south of the port. He did not know
of his own knowledge why a westward
movement had been undertaken after ar
riving at Santiago. nor did he know how far
the fleet had travelled in that direction. He
stated that upon the return to Santiago on
May s. he had sighted the Spanish ship
Colon, and that 1t lay LOO or 1890 feet In
side the harbor, the American fleet being
six or seven miles out.
Referring to the bombardment of the
Colon. May 81. Commander Schroeder said
he did not observe that there was any fir-
ing from the Spanish shore batteries.
Asked to state in detail any conversation
on the part of Commodore SchieY 1uring
the engagement, the witness said that at
the end OF the run TO the eastward he had
gone to the coming tower and found Conn
modore schley talking with Captain Hig-
gfnson. The Captain had then directed him
tn. rnnr hnt m nyHH -
der) had suggested that in case this order
should be observed the Iowa would blank
the fire of the Massachusetts.
He was proceeding with this statement
when counsel for Admiral Schley raised an
objection, because the witness could not say
whether the Commodore had overheard the
conversation.
The court withdrew to decide the pofnt at
issue. and. upon returning, announced that
the objection had been sustained. The wit
ness then stated that the COMMANDMENTS
Chief had addressed him later, telling him
to Starboard the helm" adding: "And let
let us get out Of this" But he found when
he started to give the order that It was
already being executed. from which he had
inferred that the order had already been
given by the Captain Of the ship:
Commander Schroeder said that ,ha had
not known OF the order to Schley to proceed
from Cienfuegos to Santiago II satisfied
that the enemy. was not at the former
place.
On redirect examination. Mr.. Hanna asked
if. in accordance with the terms of this
order, the feet had proceeded with all dis
patch" to Santiago. The witness renlied
that It had not. He thought that the speed
was nothing like as great as It might have
been. The battleships. he said, should not
have held upon account Of the collier: n
could have been depended upon to come mn
later .l;s,si-
In reply to a question by the court, Com
Spanish batteries had not been heavy
enough to seriously endanger the Ameri-
can feet. Commander Schroeder was re-
quested to report again Monday morning.
At a;4o; p. m. the court adJourned hntiI
Monday. -