Evening star., 1901-09-28
ON THE CUBAN COAST
Capt. MeCalla Resumes His Testi-
mony Before Schley Court.
OFF CIENFUEG0S And SANTIAGO
Commander Switzerland Relates
Experience on the Eagle.
PUBLIC MORE INTERESTED

quiry began as usual at IL o'clock with the
recall of yesterdays witnesses for the pur-
pose of correcting mistakes in their testi-
mOny and allowing other questions to be
asked them when necessary to make clear
any point which had not hitherto been
sufficiently elucidated by them. Capt. Nc
Gala, who had commanded the Marbehead
during the Spanish war, then continued his
testimony, which had begun yesterday.
Public Interest Increases.
The attendance of spectators at the open
ing of the session was in excess of the av
erage and an exceptionally large number
of people had arrived before the usual
time with a view of securing the best
available seats evidently under the i'm
preston that the proceedings are of grow
ing interest Indeed, the public interest is
manifestly increasing in the proceedings,
and not diminishing, had been expected
ii would. None of the chairs set apart for
the pubic is any longer left vacant and
many persons stand through the sessions
to listen to the testimony and observe the
members of the court. Great interest is
always manifested in Admiral Dewey and
Rear Admiral Schley and their smallest
motions observed and their slightest
words noted by those present.
The counsel for Admiral Schley have
reached agreement with the counsel for
the Navy Department to the parts of
the logs of the various vessels engaged in
the Santiago campaign which are to be
ord of the courts proceedings. 1t was
found impracticable to print 9 the entire
logs, not only because to do would have
been confusing, but because of the delay it
would have occasioned in getting out such
volume of material as they would have
made The counsel have eliminated all
parts of the logs which do not bear upon
the inquiry. and such as will be printed is
expected to be very useful TO the court as
well as to the counsel
MIR. Hanna Explains.
Mr.. Hanna made a brief explanation of
his of the term accused" in yester-
days proceedings as applied to Admiral
Schley. He said: Il should like to say a
word in explanation of one word which 1
understand appears in the record. 1 learn
to my surprise from an examination of
the record that l used the word accused
in referring to the distinguished officer
who has asked for the court of inquiry.
l wish to state, with respect to that, that
i was not aware that | had used that eX-
preston until this morning. 1t was used
In the rapidity of debate and simply for
the reason that in the of long years
Of experience it is the word generally en-
ployed in such cases. Before this court Of
inquiry began, the judge advocate and my
self considered what we should call the
gentleman who had requested it, and de-
string TO extend TO him the utmost courtesy
in the matter We selected a term which is
not often employed, the term of 'appli-
cant. and l believe l have used that term
many times in the course of these pro-
ceedings. l wish to add only my sincere
and earnest and most cordial expressions
of regret that by inadvertency or acci-
dent l should have employed word that
would imply any such reflection"
The Santiago Batteries.
When Captain McCalla took the witness
stand this morning, Mr.. Hanna asked
him: Were any ships assigned to the
duty Of engaging the batteries on the
morning of May 81, 1898, or during that
.la J,,t,- So RIal; hot
teries?'
The reply was: None that 1 know Of
Mr. Hanna then asked: Were there any
shoals or other obstacles of any kind to
prevent the battle ships from approaching
the mouth of the harbor of Santiago suf-
ficiently close to have been within easy
range of the Colon?'
Captain Parker objected to the question,
but the court refused to sustain the OBJ
lection and the question was repeated.
Captain McCalla replied: None that 1
know of. The only shOal l knew of was
the shoal on the west side of the channel
opposite the MOrrO-"
"Did the battle ships go within range Of
the ColOn?"
Not from my observation"
Were you so situated as to observe the
fall of shots from the fieet?"
II was.
where did they falI?''
II think saw every shot fired. They all
fell short that l saw One very nearly
reached the Colon"
The witness said that the American ships
engaged in the Colon bombardment steamed
in distance of about two miles.
Captain McCalla testified at some length
concerning the weather and the sea on May
26 and % He said there was no difficulty
In coaling on the 9th the sea was
smooth.
Conference the BROOKLYN.
The witness said that he had been present
during a conference of commanding officers
on the Brooklyn while the fleet was off
Santiago May -
Describing what took place. ne said: The
commanding officers were ordered on board
the Brooklyn on May -. 1t was with re-
gard To the work of blockade. 1 can only
remember specific thing which took
place at the close. and that was that Cap
tain Evans asked Commodore Schley If the
Spanish ships came out If he was going In
for them. He said. Certainly and then
arranged for a subdivision of fire from the
ships under his command on the Spanish
ships should they come OUT
Mr.. Hanna-"Prior to that conference on
Nay 20 had you at any time received def
mite Instructions respecting the order of
battle or the mode of procedure which the
fleet should follow In case the Spanish YES
sells should suddenly appear?
Il do not remember"
did you have any further conversation
with Commodore Schley?'
Il had conversation with him in his
cabin after the battle of Santiago about
July 3, in Guantanamo bay. 1 went on
board. making official call to pay my
respects, and during the visit Commodore
Schley read me what l understood to be a
part of his official report of the battle
After he had finished / said: Commodore
you remember that after the battle of Lake
Erie there was an unfortunate controversy
and l hope there will be none after the
battle of Santiago, because there was glory
enough for everybody"
Capt McCalla said that when the hving
squadron encountered the scout ships to
the south OF Santiago May 26 they were
east OF direct line south.
IF they had continued they were then
going. could they have arrived at Santi-
ago?" he was asked, and replied. Certain
ly not"
Where would they have arrived?"
If they had continued they were go
Ing they would have struck the coast of
HaytL"
Relating the particulars of the blockade
of Santiago before June l. Capt McCalla
said the Marblehead and the Vixen had a.
night occupied positions inside the large