The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-10
SCHLEY WAS
 UNDER STRAIN Testimony of Lieutenant Commander Potts. THE INQUIRY PROCEEDS Rear Admiral Taylor One of
 the Witnesses. He Declared That None of the Span ish Ships Made Any Effort
 to Ram an American

Washington, Oct 9.-In the Schley naval court of inquiry today, Lieutenant M. L. Bristol completed his testimony and three new witnesses were introduced. They were Rear Admiral Henry C. Tay- Tor, who> as captain, commanded the bat tIeship Indiana during the war with Spain; Lieutenant Commander Templin M. Potts, who was navigator of the bat tleship Massachusetts during that period, and Lieutenant Edward L. Leiper. who was on the New Orleans during the war, the last named being still on the stand when the court adjourned for the day.
 Admiral Taylor related incidents of the battle off Santiago July 3, including the Brooklyn's famous turn. He said that none of the Spanish ships made any effort to ram the American vessels when they came out of the harbor at Santiago.
 Commander Potts's testimony dealt especially with the bombardment Of the Colon Answering a question from Judge Advocate Lemly as to the conduct or Commodore Schley during that engage ment, he said it was that of man
  and of a man who was anxious to dis charge as soon as possible a disagreeable duty.
 Lieutenant Leiper expressed the opinion that the Spanish shore batteries at San- tiago had not been at any time formida- ble.
 During Commander Potts's examina- ton, MT. Raynor secured permission From the court to introduce as evidence the af Admiral Sampson, dated April S. in which he was admonished against the exposure of the American vessels to the fire of strongly fortified ports. The paragraph in that order which he especially wished to have considered read as follows:
 "The department does not wish the vessels of your squadron to be exposed to the fire of the batteries at Havana, Santiago de Cuba, or other strongly for tified ports in Cuba. unless the more for midable Spanish vessels should take refuge within those harbors Even in this case, the department would suggest that a rigid blockade and employment of our torpedo boats accomplished the de- sired object, viz: The destruction of the enemy's vessels, without subjecting un- necessarily our own men of war to the fire of the land batteries"
 The dispatch also contains the follow ing order: "The department further de- sires that in case of war you will main- tain a strict blockade of Cuba, particular ly at the ports of Havana, Mantanzas, and if possible, of Santiago de Cuba, Manzanillo and Cienfuegos
 schhley on Retired List.
 Notwithstanding today marks an inn portant turning point in the career of Rear Admiral Schley. being nothing less than the date of his transfer from the list n he was in his accustomed seat within the railing of the Schley court of inquiry, and gave his usual attention to the pro- ceedings of the court. The retirement of Admiral Schley is in accordance with law, he having reached the age Of & years. It was generally remarked that he did not look his age.
 The formal proceedings of the day be- gan with the introduction of Lieutenant M. L. Bristol, formerly watch officer on the Texas, as a witness. He was under cross-examination when the court adjourned last night. and MT. Raynor continued his questions today.
 Other witnesses on the list for the day Included Lieutenant Commander Templn M Potts, who was navigator on the Massachusetts during the war with Spain; Lieutenant A. w. Grant, who was also on the Massachusetts; Rear Admiral H. C. Taylor, who, as Captain, commanded the battleship Indiana; Commander Will liam H. SchuetZe, who was navigator on the Iowa, and Lieutenant Jones H. Hol- den. who, as an officer on the Scorpion, made the log record of the communica- ton of Commander Southerland to Com nodore Schley concerning the conditions off Santiago.
 It was not expected that all these would be heard today; if not. they will be call ed tomorrow.
 Mir. Raynor began his examination of Lieutenant Bristol with questions con- cerning the accuracy of the stadimeter for the measurement of distances at sea He asked if he would rather trust his own visual observation for a 40OO range than the instrument. The witness stated that the stadimeter was more accurate for distances below 4.0O0 yards than above that distance. At that distance he would make several observation for confirmation of visual observation. ''rhe error," he says, becomes greater the greater the distance"
 Could you give me-" asked Mir. Ray nor, "a point from which it Is entirely reliable?"
 Yes" was the reply. At zero 1t is absolutely accurate"
 The witness considered the sextant much more reliable in measuring the distance between ships. He had, he said. taken several observations with the stadi- meter just before the Spanish fleet came out of the harbor, and had checked these with the sextant. He found the distance from Morro to be 5,1O0 yards.
 Lieutenant Bristol also was questioned by Mir. Raynor concerning the distance out of the blockading ships at Cienfuegos. but he declined to change his estimate of yesterday, that it was from eight to ten miles distant from the harbor.
 As to the Blockade.
 MT. Raynor said: 'I will read you Commodore Schley's report as to the blockade at Cienfuegos. He says: A line of blockade was established about four miles off shore and at night an in- shore line was maintained, consisting variously of the Scorpion, Dupont and | Castine. The last named vessel arrived | on the 25d conveying the Merrimac.' If | you are right the Commodore has stated | what has not occurred when he says: A