The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-26

Mr.. Rayner called attention to the
fact that there were some immaterial
changes in the dispatches as printed in
the official reports of the navy depart
ment.
Admiral Schley's reply to these dis
patches dated May 20. in which he said
he could not obey the orders of the
department, was then read, and Mr..
Rayner pointed out various changes in
the language of the dispatch as printed
in the official report. He addressed the
court briefly concerning these changes.
He said that Admiral Schley had spok-
en- of the weather as "boisterous," and
that that word had been omitted from
the printed copy of the dispatch. He
also stated that whereas the Admiral
had said that $500 tons of coal would
be necessary, the printed copy made
1t 10000 TONS 1t was also stated in the
original that the Harvard was going
to Port Royal, whereas Kingston had
been inserted in the printed copy. There
also were other changes.
Following is the text of the original
dispatch sent to the navy department:
Could Not obey Orders.
Received dispatch of May 26 by
Harvard off Santiago de Cuba. Merri-
macs engine is disabled, and she is
helpless; am obliged to have her towed
to Key West Have been absolutely
unable to coal the Texas, Marblehead
Vixen and Brooklyn from collier owing
to very rough seas and boisterous
weather since leaving Key West. I'M
possible to remain off Santiago in pres
ent state of coal account of the squad
ron. Not possible to coal to leeward
of Cape Cruz in summer owing to
southwest winds. Harvard just reports
to me she has only coal enough to
reach Jamaica, and she will proceed to
Port Royal; also reports only small
vessels could coal at Gonaives or Mole
Haiti. Minneapolis has only coal
enough to reach Key West, and same
of Yale, which will tow Merrimac. 1t
is to be regretted that the department. s
orders cannot be obeyed. earnestly As
we have all striven to that end. I am
forced to return to- Key West via Yu-
catan channel for coal. Can aScer-
tain nothing concerning enemy. Was
obliged to send Eagle to Port Antonio,
Jamaica, yesterday, as she had only
twenty-seven tons of coal on board.
Will leave ST. Paul here. viii require
$500 tons Of coal at Key West"
No Effort TO Locate Enemy.
Admiral Cotton then related a con-
versation he had had with Admiral
Schley concerning a proposition of
Lieut.. Beall of the Harvard to go
ashore and put himself in communica-
ton with the Cuban insurgents. He
could not, he said, recall the exact
words of the conversation. but at all
events Mr.. Beall had not been ordered
ashore.
Judge Advocate Lemly then asked :
After you delivered the order and
prior to the dispatch which he deliver
ed to you to be sent to Kingston, what
efforts did he make to locate Cervera' s
fleet. TO your knowledge"
None to my knowledge"
did he with his squadron at that
time approach Santiago?
HE did not. / will qualify that to
this extent. The vessels of course were
not at anchor; they were moving about
and there were no directions for move
ment toward the harbor of Santiago"
referring to that phrase in the die
patch, the department looks to you TO
ascertain the facts that the enemy If
therein does not leave without a decis-
i've action what within your knowl-
edge did Commodore Schley do In ODE
dience 70 these instructions2"
Nothing 10 my knowledge"
Judge Advocate Leuly then started
10 read dispatches received by Admiral
Cotton from Admiral Schley, deliver
ed by the Scorpion.
Mr.. Rayner objected TO the reading
CONTINUED on Fifth PsgsJ