New-York tribune., 1901-09-29
POINTS FOR SCHLEY.
CAPT. WCALLA',S EVIDENCE
STARTLING.
COMMANDER OF THE MARBLEHEAD AD-
MTTS THAT HE HIMSELF DELIB-
ERATELY DISOBEYED A NAVY
DEPARTMENT ORDER
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. I

ding The elaborate precept prepared by the
Navy Department was ruthessly treated by
the principal witness under skiful cross exami-
nation, and with the Judge advocates case al
most completed there were evidences of total
collapse along several of the lines upon which
Schleys alleged reprehensibiIity was to have
been demonstrated and the impropriety of the
retrograde movement is apparently the only one
of the ten specifications the judge advocate
with any confidence relies upon estab-
fishing.
Captain McCalla under the examination Of
Schley's counsel at the morning session Gre
ated profound sensation by statements which
practically exonerate Schley from dereliction of
duty at Cienfuegos and from ineffective block
ade at Santiago. and he contributed most i'm
pressvely 10 the Schley contention that failure
10 execute indiscreet orders was not disobe-
dience-
Captain McCalla denied most positively and
minutely the assertion. made by Rear Admiral
Sampson and reiterated by many officers that
the Flying Squadron retired twenty-five miles
off the harbor of Santiago every night. He was
on picket duty within two miles of the entrance
each night and the larger ships never over
miles beyond him. The blockade was closer
by night than by day. This confirmed Rear
Admiral Higginson's testimony. and denied that
OF Commander Harber. of the Texas Captain
fcially to Rear Admiral SIMPSONS chief of
staff. and therefore constructively to Samp-
son himself. the code arranged with the insur-
gents at Cienfuegos. and this within few hours
after the Flying Squadron left Key West; yet
Sampson in his frequent dispatches to Schley,
sent nearly every day thereafter, did not men
ton this important matter, though few weeks
later he held Schley to account for not COM
municating with the insurgents immediately on
ns,, ~ gfa o4rnt+
ted that he week in opening COM
nunication with shore at Cienfuegos
MCALLA's BOLD ADMISSION.
The greatest point yet scored by Schley's coun-
sci from any of the Judge-Advocate's own wit
nesses related to the failure Of McCalla himself
to inform Schley of the conditions at Cienfuegos.
when he met the squadron its way to the
south coast Of Cuba, to take the place of his own
little fleet He explained how he ordered the
Eagle TO do this and Lieutenant Commander
Switzerland. commander Of the Eagle took the
stand to corroborate his immediate superior.
The outcome of his testimony this point was
surprising TO himself well disheartening to
the Judge Advocate. After he had related with
minute Details which indicated a marvellous
memory his report through a megaphone to
the commander OF the Scorpion. a scout of the
Flying Squadron. the log of the Scorpion was
produced and every statement of the witness
was verified except the essential one about COM
muncating with the insurgents The impeach
ment Of the reliability of the witnesses memory,
as to his communication, seemed to be complete
and was evidently regarded by the members
Of the court. The remainder of Lieutenant
Southeriands testimony was not regarded of
sufficient Importance TO merit cross-examination.
Captain McCalla to-day continued his express
sons of lack of confidence in Schley, which
the feature of yesterday exhibiting the highest
confidence in his ability to coal at sea at all
time, and in several particulars acknowledging,
in reply to questions his technical superiority to
The comuander-in-chief of the Flying Squadron.
He also said that he gave Commodore Schley
the expression There's glory enough for every
body" Captain McCalla frankly admitted on
cross-examination that he disobeyed the orders
Of the Navy Department in failing to leave a
small fast vessel behind at Cienfuegos to watch
the port when his f1otilla hurriedly with
drawn TO save il from possible destruction ny
Cerveras feet. and ii never occurred 10 him
that SchIey hurried to the south coast 10
take his place with the heavier ships of the
Flying Squadron. II afterward appeared that If
he had left the Scout watch, Schley would
have learned instantly, on reaching Cienfuegos.
that the enemy was not there. and one of the
most exasperating uncertainties of the cam
paign would have thus been easily obviated.
Another significant fact secured from
Captain McCalla as to conference OF captains
on the Brooklyn at the commencement of the
Santiago blockade. to the effect that Schley ar
ranged for d division of fire from his ships on
the Spanish cruisers if they tried to come out,
but the details of the programme and the incon
spicuous part OF it assigned 10 the Marblehead,
were not. brought out.
VARIATIONS IN TRANSLATION.
Al the close of to-day's session the JudgeAd
vocate showed by Lieutenant Barnes, of the
Navigation Bureau. that Commodore Schley's
cable dispatch regretting his inability to remain
off Santiago printed in the official record
Of the Navy Department just received by the
department This translation varies in a num-
ber Of respects from the original delivered by
Schley to Captain Cotton, Of the Harvard TO
be put IN cipher and sent from Jamaica The
cipher as il reached Washington, also tailed
with Captain Cotton's letter book. and it is now
question between Schley and Cotton who
changed the message. The original message
has not been found at the Navy Department
The Judge-Advocste of the court said to-day
that he thought he would he able call his last
witness about the middle of next week His re-
manning witnesses are Captains Evans, Chad |
wick Folger. Sigsbee and Jewell and Leuten-
ant Sharp The first and last alone are ex-
pected to consume much time There is practi |
eally no doubt that the applicant will begin the
presentation OF his case on Thursday Friday |
and that all the testimony will he before the |
court in two weeks. The arguments may take |
another week
Mr.. Stayton did not press again to-day his |
request TO be allowed to appear counsel for !
coin G z Al.