The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-07
SAMPSON DENIED.
Continued from First Page.J

record of which has been given above
and which by reason of it's unsteadiness
| in purpose and in push and in failure
to obey orders did not meet the approx.
al of the president and the department
was yet not permitted to stand in the
way of his nomination for promotion to
higher grade for the part he took IN
the final triumph"
Capt. Lemly said that the voluminous
evidence had been SO fully treated in all
it's bearings, that it was not his purpose
to enter upon a detailed discussion of
it. Beginning with the passage of the
flying squadron from Key West to Glen
fuegos in search of the Spanish fleet
under Admiral Cervera, he said that
while the speed set by the applicant
from Key West and Cienfuegos was
but ten knots, although under the then
existing conditions of wind and weather
greater speed might have been MAIN
tanned. Other relays of this voyage
were also referred to. It should, he
thought be remembered that Commo-
dore Schley's orders required that the
blockade of that port be established
with the least possible delay.
No reference was made to the inter
view with Capt Chester of the Cincin-
natl on this trip and Capt Lemly said:
Already, as appeared from their con-
versation, Commodore Schley though
bled in his own mind over coal condi-
lions and the problem of coaling at
sea, demonstrating that at the very out
set he was borrowing trouble
Referring to the McCalla signals, he
said it was clear that the Marblehead
had not arrived at Key West when the
flying squadron sailed, and therefore
that these signals could not have been
communicated mic, to Commodore schley,
there. There is little doubt, however,
he added, that If the commodore had
upon meeting the Marblehead directed
Commander McCalla to report on board
fI1<1 He.rr ~ 1,a ELL
informed as to the signals, notwith-
standing the commanders declared
purpose to preserve them with as much
secrecy as practicable for the prOtec-
ton of the insurgents themselves. But
Independently of any signals, it not
incumbent upon the commodore him
self to make effort? Was he justified
in this and in other similar matters,
notably later off Santiago, in relying
solely upon the efforts of others?'
The fact, however, is clear, he said,
that the applicant did receive copy
of the McCalla memorandum at Glen
fuegos, at least by Sis o'clock on the
morning of May %, and although by
reason of Commander McCalla'S eau
ton, the signals, which he did not wish
to place in writing, were embodied in
this memorandum. Such full informa-
ton was contained therein as showed
that the insurgents in the vicinity of
Cienfuegos were accessible to comnu-
nicatiOn, and that they had perfect
knowledge of what was going on within
the city. He also said that the evil
dence is full as to the condition of the
weather and sea off Cienfuegos, and
that the log books of the vessels while
there from the 22d to the oath of May,
inclusive, do not record bad condi-
lions in these particulars, but indicate
on the contrary that they were good.
Capt. Lemly said that as the arrival
of the Adula was purely accidental, lit
tie stress should be laid upon the mis-
placed confidence with which it was
assumed that the vessel, being allowed
to go in, would be permitted by the
Spanish authorities to return with in
forma ton as to whether Admiral Ger
vera's squadron was or was not located
within the harbor, this particularly IN
view of the fact that hostile fleet
was outside. 1.-The episode of the dove
sent out from the ark was not repeated
with success" he said.
Considering the voyage from Glen
fuegos, Capt. Lemly said: 1.-The COM
modore's orders directed that he pro-
coed with all dispatch but cautiously to
Santiago. He certainly proceeded
slowly. But cautiously did not weaken
the force of the words all dispatch
The great military necessity at this
time was to find and check the enemy's
fleet. Caution was needed lest it might
pass undetected to Cienfuegos, or lest
it might be stumbled upon without
preparation, if neither carried lights.
For these reasons the greatest caution
demanded all dispatch, because the
the utmost such chances Certainly
the flying squadron did not leave with
dispatch nor with caution, as shown
particularly by the fact with regard
to the latter condition that she WAS
using the Ardois system of signals for
hours after getting under way. 1t
would appear that there was little TO
prevent its departure for the eastward
from being discovered and in due course
communicated to Santiago"
He admitted that the weather on the
voyage was bad for the smaller YES
sells, particularly the Eagle, and said
the speed of the fleet was slowed IN
order that she might keep up. He said
that if that vssel was to be sent away
she should be sent when she was caus-
ing the delay, and not when the voyage
was practically completed and the
weather improving In this connection
he suggested that all the slower vessels,
in view of the urgency of reaching
Santiago, might have been dropped
with a rendezvous to be Joined later by
the fighting vessels. eff drummer boy
stubs his toe" he said docs the
army halt?"
Having brought the squadron to the
southwark of Santiago on May %, the
judge advocate took up the coaling
question, quoting Lieut. Dyson's figures
on the question of coal supply in some
detail. Then he considered the retro
grade movement. This step, he said, had
been undertaken without sufficient or
decisive steps being taken to ascertain
whether the Spanish fleet was actually
in the harbor of Santiago, leaving the
mouth of the harbor unmatched and
Cervera free to escape with the POSSIBLE
ity of his making descent upon our
coast-the moral, to say nothing of the
material effect of which it Is impossible
to overeStimate-''
Continuing in this connection, he said:
ut matters not what Capt. Sigsbee or
Pilot Nunez told Commodore Schley. If
Nunez exhibited then no greater acumen
than when before this court, the infor-
nation he supplied should have been
given little weight. Whatever opinion
they may have given the commodore as
to the presence of the Spanish Squa dron
in the harbor of Santiago (and L believe
the captain never said that the Spanish