The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-09-27
7 He SCHLEY
INQUIRY.

uuCoklVu W We USessSN - w
Commodore Schley was in possession
I Of the Navy Departments intorma.
tion th at Ccrvera 8 fleet in San
ttapo harbor when he began his
retropr ade movement toward Key
West on May IT, The testimony
sot Rear Admiral Cotton and Cap.
tain Wise is to the effect that he
was, while Rear Admiral Schley
in q report to the Senate Committee
on Naval Affairs, states that he
was not.
There was a flat contradiction
to-day OF Rear Admiral Schley's
abatement to the Senate committee
by Captain Wise, who was in COM
mand of the scout ship Yale during
the Santiago campaign 1t may
bring up the question OF verac'ty
between the two officers. Schley
declared in his statement that alter
having been informed by Captains
Sigsbee, Jewell and Wise, who had
been at Santiago for week, that
they had seen nothing of the Span
ish squadron, he proceeded toward
Key West. This statement was
read to Captain Wise this morning
and he was asked If he ever gave
such information to Commodore
Schley.
'M did not" was. his emphatic
answer.
In the proceedings to-day, there
was an effort on the part OF Mr..
Rayner. Schley's leading counsel,
TO make it appear that Captain
!. Wise had the opportunity to COM
municate to Schley the contents OF
the despatch he had from the Navy
Department which located the
Spauiards in Santiago harbor..
Captain Wise persisted in his deni-
al that he ever came within hall OF
Echley's flag ship. the Brooklyn,
until late on the night the westward
movement was made. In explana-
lion Of his failure 20 communicate
10 Commodore Sch.ey this important
information from the Navy Depart
meut, the Captain said. on being
intercepted by an order iron Sch!ey
conveyed by the Vixen, TO take the
crippled Mcrrlmac in tow, he gave
10 Captain Slgsbee. OF the 81. Paul.
all the information he had especi-
ally the NAVY Department despatch
regarding the whereabouts OF the
Spanish squadron, as Captain sigs-
bee was going aboardthe Brooklyn
10 report to Commodore Schley. He
did not regard 1t necessary TO sig
nal the Brooklyn, as Captain Sigs-
bee would carry all the information
he Captain Wise) had that would
be Of use 10 Commodore Schley.
This explana alton did not seem to
be altogether satisfactory to the
court, as Admiral Dewey, through
the Judge Advocate asked this
question:
"Did you, or not, direct Captain
sigsbee to give to Commodore schley
this information you had received
from the Navy Department in re-
gard to the whereabouts OF the
Spanish squadron
To this Captain Wise replied, 81
did not ;"
The inquiry with regard to
Schley's retrograde movement has
now reached point where the tes.
iimony of Captain Sigsbee is of vi
tai Importance. Should he testify
that he delivered to Colnmodo re
Schley dispatches conveying the
Navy Departments Information
regarding the presence of the Span
ish squadron in Santiago harbor
before the Flying Squadron left OH
its retrograde movement TO the
westward on May u, the critical
point Of the case against Schley
will be reached.
The only utterance on this point
from Rear Admir- al SchIey SO far,
is his report to the Senate commit
z tee. IN which he says he had no in.
formation Of the presence Of the
Epaniards before he began his
movement 10 the westward, with
Key West as his destination. lu
this connection, he will have to
produce evidence that he did not
receive the Navy Department des-
patch given to Captain Sigsbee by
Captain Wise.
lie will also have 10 produce evi-
dence to show that the supply Of
coal in his squadron was such and
the inpossibillty Of coaling at sea
so apparent, as to compel his going
to the nearest United States coal
supply. The court has been very
particular in its inquiries regard
ing the coal supply. On those
points is expected the most import.
ant and interesting testimony from
Rear Admiral Schley and his wit
nesses.
. There was hint in to.day's 8 pro-
ceedings that Commodore Schley's
delay at Clenfuegos will be dis
cussed and analyzed most thor
oughly. II has been maintained
that he remained there because he
was not informed OF code Of zig
mails having been arranged with the
Cuban insurgents BY which the
presence or abssnce Of the Spanish
vessels could at once be dscertained.
Lieutenant Spencer S. Wood who
Aecmm ded the fast torpedo boat
Dupont in this campaign, was put
ION the stand today and testified
thathe carried TO Commodore Sehley
at Cieufuegos. from Rear Admir- al
Sampson at Key West, duplicates
OF dispatches sent by Captain
Evans OF the Iowa.
The court adjourned before Me
character OF these dispatches was