The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-22
WITNESSES ON THE STAND YES.
TERDAY RATHER AGAINST
THE APPLICANT
ACTION WITH THE COLON
Commander Schroeder Says That
Attacking Ships Might
Have Gone Closer
SLOW TIME TO SANTIAGO

new witness was introduced today to the
naval court which is investigating the
conduct of Admiral Schley during the
Spanish american war. This witness
was Commander Seaton Schroeder, VINO
was executive officer of the battleshtp
Massachusetts during the war and is
now governor of the island of Guam.
His testimony dealt with the cruise OF
the flying squadron" from Cienfuego5
to Santiago and the bombardment of the
Spanish ship Cristobal Colon as she lay
in the mouth of the harbor at Santiago
on May 81. The commander said that the
cruise was not as expeditions as it
should have been. He also said that in
the bombardment of the Colon the fleet
had not acted as deliberately as the
commander-in-chief had announced it to-
be his purpose to have it act.
While Commander Schroeder was giv-
ing his testimony Judge Wilson, counsel
for Admiral Schley, sought to have him
make comparison of the distance Of
the fleet from the shore under Admiral
Schley with the distance under Admiral
Sampson after the latter officer arrived
end took command, but the judge ad-
vocate objected and Mr.. Wilson withdrew
the question, saying, however, that he
did SO only temporarily and that he
would raise the point at a later stage il
the investigation.
AAAC AOISHOOu SlIIluS Was ucNOISu uldlII-
ly to the cross-examination Of Command
er Harber and Admiral Higginson, the
latter having been recalled.
Admiral Hfgginson corrected his state
ment made yesterday concerning the dis
tance from shore maintained by the fleet
during the blockade of Santiago. He
said that early in the blockade the fleet
was five or six miles out to sea, NOV
ing up closer later.
Admiral Dewey observed hiQ liaIIa1 rl1Ia
OF promptness in calling the Schley court
of inquiry to order at IL o'clock today.
All the members Of the court were pres
ent on the minute and Admiral SchIeY
sat with his counsel at the table set
apart for them on the left of the wit
ness seat. The attendance of the public
was somewhat larger than yesterday.
THE FIRST WITNESS
called was Capt. Harber, the executive
officer of the Texas during the Spanish
war, who was on the stand when court
adjourned yesterday.
The judge advocate asked no question
of him and he was Immediately turned
over to Mr. Rayner of counsel for Ad-
miral Schley, who questioned him COR
corning his statement yesterday to the
effect that he did not recall that there
was any picket line established inside
the line of blockade at Cienfuegos. 4
report by Admiral Schley was read to
the effect that picket line had been
maintained, but the witness declined to
change his statement.
Asked if the Brooklyn had not, on Nav
"a, signalled the Texas to go alongside
the collier and coal, he said he did not
recall anything of the kind. Mr. Ray
ner read the signal message as follows:
go alongside the collier and coal as
rapidly as possible, but no amount of
49,
that he remembered the incident He
had, he said, had very little to do with
the signaling. The same replies practt-
cally were made in response to questions
regarding their signals. 4hr. Rayner
quoted several of these. One trans
mitted from the Texas to the Brooklyn,
read: "On afterthought, the captain
thinks it unsafe to put a collier between
battleshps. Another from the Texas
read: do not think it safe to collier.
The two ships will surely crush her.
Capt. Harder replied that he remember
ed there was some talk of the collier,
but he could not recall what it was.
Speaking of the signals observed off
Cienfuegos, he said his supposition as
was that of the other officers, was that
they were between the Spanish forces.
Capt. Harber was also questioned close
ly concerning the rate of speed of the
fleet on the sail from Cienfuegos to San
tiago on May 25.
He said the weather was fresh and the
sea moderate; that it was hard for small
vessels, but it was nothing much He
thought the Texas could have made from
ten to twelve knots. Mr.. Rayner had
the witness reading logs of the Massa-
chusetts, the Iowa, the Brooklyn and
other vessels concerning the weather at
that time. Mr.. Rayner read a report
from Capt Higginson, saying that the
weather had been 'roughs and squaIly''
on the 25th. Capt. Harber stated that
the report of Capt. Higginson was not
borne out by the log book of his ship.
"It does not correspond with the log"
he said, and he added that having given
his best recollection concerning the
weather, he thought Mr.. Rayner had an
Interior motive in his questions Mr..
Rayner declared that he had no such
end in view
"Then,' said the witness, ST have given
you my best recollection concerning the
weather"
THAT is what I want" responded the
attorney.
THAT is what have given you," re-
peated the witness
Capt. Lemly objected to the examina-
ton of Capt. Harder on the record of a
ship with which he had no part in pre-
pairing.
H..
After an absence of ten minutes, the
court returned, sustaining the objection
that the witness could not be examined
on the log of the Massachusetts,.
Continuing his testimony, Capt Har-
ber insisted that the weather on May 25
was not rough
WITNESS is wRATHY.
He also maintained that it was his rec
aollection as stated yesterday that the
leet was farther out at nig..t than in the
daytime When his attention was called
to q contrary statement by Admiral
Higginson, the witness said that it was
not material to him what any other man
had said; that he had given his estimate
and was not concerned about the state
ments of others.
"Then you object to having your menu
ory refreshedT' said Mr. Rayner.
'I said nothing of the kind" replied
the witness. "I am here TO give my testi-
mony, and I object to being spoken to IN
the way you speak to me-"
He also objected to Mr.. Rayner shak-
ing his finger at him, saying he con-
strued 1t as a menace.
Mr.. Rayner insisted that he meant to
be entirely respectful, and not to menace
the witness.
Counsel questioned the witness concern