Evening star., 1901-09-28

Sapt. bo"Ian hcSHilA
ing was feasible off Santiago at the time
Schey began his retrograde movement.
Captain McCala had first come into con-
tact with the flying squadron May 10, 1S3S
when he was proceeding from the south
| coast of Cuba to Key West. He met the
squadron on its way to Cuba. Witness said
he had not been asked to go aboard the
Brooklyn for the purpose of making a
report on conditions in Cuba. but had made
a full report to Captain Chadwick, Ad-
miral SIMPSONS chief of staff, when he ar
rived at Key West. On this point he said:
McCalIa's Code of Signals.
I'm addition to written reports on dis
patches which 1 carried, 1 explained to the
chief of staff the secret code which l had
established with the Cubans near Glen
fuegos. That was not done until l heard
that Commodore Schley was proceeding to
Cienfuegos."
.. What was that secret code, briefy?"
A. "On the 10Th and 10Th of May, 1893,
had been in communication with three
Cuban officers and two privates on the
Marblehead and had arranged with Lieu
tenant Lavarez, who spoke English very
well, a system of signals in case they
wished to communicate with the Marble
head my force. There were to be three
horizontal lights at night and three horses
in line on the beach by day"
Q. ITO whom, according to the best of
your recollection. did you communicate
that secret code of signals?"
A. Only to Capt Chadwick, chief of
staff" .jy
Q. Did you make any written report re-
specting those signals?''
A. "Never. 1t a secret code ar
ranged by myself, and l did not wish any
publicity to be given this code, because
the Cubans might be betrayed by any pub
licity which would reach the Spanish gov
ernment in Havana
O. Did you have any fear of betrayal of
our own force in like manner
A. Il thought that was possible, of
course; that was in my mind at the time"
Q. How long after you reached Key
West before you made that communca-
tion to the chief of staff?'
A. $50 soon as 1 reached the flagship and
found that the flying squadron had been
directed to Cienfuegos'
Capt. McCalla next told of his return
to Cienfuegos the oath of May with
dispatches for Admiral Schley. He said:
1T had been reported authoritatively in
Key West on the 10Th of May and when l
sailed on the afternoon of the 21st of May
that the Spanish squadron was at San
tiago."
O. "And you communicated that infor-
nation to Commodore schley verbally"
A. Commodore Schley told he
thought the Spanish squadron was in Glen
fuegos; that he had received newspapers
from the steamer Adula some days pre-
vious; that one of the newspapers con-
tanned a cable dispatch from Santiago,
and from that he gathered that the Span
ish force under Admiral Cervera might
have sailed from Santiago in time to reach
Cienfuegos just before the arrival of the
force under his command. l said that 1
had brought arms, ammunition and dyna-
mite for the Cuban camp to the westward.
and that If he would let me go 1 would
find out at once whether they were in
Cienfuegos. He Immediately assented. I
asked him If he had seen any lights on
the beach. He said he had. I asked if
he saw three. He said he had 1 then
said the lights were from Cubans trying
to communicate. l may have asked him
If he saw three horses in line on the beach
by day."
McCnlIa's Discovery.
Capt. McCalla then related how he had
gone ashore near Cienfuegos and found the
Cubans drawn up in line. He gave them
food and ammunition I'VE found" he
added that Cervera was not inside the
| harbor and that. in fact, the situation in
| Cienfuegos was exactly as it was when I
| left it on the 10th of the same month"
| Capt McCalla said he sent the informa-
| tion obtained to Admiral Schley by the
| Eagle, signaling that vessel to proceed at
| full speed and report to the Brooklyn that
| Cervera was not in Cienfuegos. At that
| time witness was steaming with only two
boilers, and the Eagle could steam faster
| than the Marblehead.
Q. Did you consider that information
| as of urgent Importance then?
A. II considered 1t Of great Importance. ;"
.. 'Then Whdt QlQ you 90!
A. eve followed with the Marblehead,
reaching the Brooklyn between and 4
| o'clock, somewhat behind the Eagle
Q. Ibid you go on board the Brooklyn
Discussing Instructions.
A. II steamed under the quarter Of the
Brooklyn, and after some conversation
with Commodore Schley I asked If he
would like me to go on board. He said
that he would. 1 went board and Of
| course confirmed the fact that Admiral Ger
vera's fleet was not in Cienfuegos. I saw
| then for the first time the set of instruc-
| tions for Commodore Schley. During the
| conversation the commodore asked me to
| them he asked me what l thought he had
| better do Previous to this he had said
| that he could not coal off Santiago; that
the English had demonstrated that ships
could not coal at sea. He also said that If
| he returned to Key West he would be
| urt-martialed. 1t was after this that he
| handed me the orders which / read. After
you must return to Santiago even if you
| do not stay there"
@. Where were you when Commodore
Schley said that If he returned to Key
West he would be court-martialed.'
| A. 81 was in the cabin Of the Brooklyn
The interview lasted perhaps half an hour
Captain Cook either came In frequently or
| remained the whole time. Lieutenant Sears
/ came In once"
@. Il assume you do not recollect wheth-
er any of those gentlemen were present
when that remark was nader
| A. THAT cannot say
/ Q. did you hear any reports or remarks
conversational or otherwise?''
/ A. while was there the flag lieuter,-
ant. think came In twice to report s,x.