New-York tribune., 1901-11-08

c.+d N Commodore schley there There is little
doubt however added, that II the oolhii'ouofe
had upon meeting the Marbehead, directed COM
raander McCalla to report on board the lagsnip ne
would have been fully informed as to Tie signals
notwithstanding the Commanders declared purpose
to preserve them with much secrecy as practica-
e for the protection Of the insurgents themselves
But independently of any signals. was II not IN
c1Ir1f,ent ,Ipon the Commodore himself TO MAKE
effort? Was justified in this and in other similar
matters notably later off Santiago in relying solely
on the efforts Of others?
The fact however is clear he said that the ap-
-l,can+ did receive a copy of the McCalla memo
randum at Cienfuegos at least by SID O'Clock on the
morning Nav %; and although, by reason o1
Commander McCaila's caution, the signals "iich
he did not wish to place in writing, were not en-
bodied in this memorandum. such full Information
was contained therein showed that the IN
snrgents in vicinity of CienfUegos were accessi
ble to communication, and that they had perlec'
knowledge of what was going on within the CITY
He also said the evidence was full as 10 'Ie
condition of the weather and sea off Cienfuesos
and that the logbooks of the vessels whhe ,heie
from May % "a inclusive do not record oao con-
ditions, hut Indicate on the contrary, th&t theS
We're good 49,
c,or+a,r IenIv said that as arrival of the
Adua was purely accidental little stress shoulo DC
laid upon the misplaced confidence with "h'h II
,,as assumed that that vessel being allowed to go
in would be permitted by the Spanish authorltes
to return with Information as to whether Auintia
Cervera's squadron was or was not locateo within
the harbor: this particularly in view OF Tue IA
that a hostile feet was outside. The episode OF
the dove sent out from the arm WAS N'' iNe
with success he said.
THE VOYAGE TO SANTIAGO
Considering the voyage from oieniues''' ~'
tain Lemly said:
The Commodores orders directed jhat ne pro
ceed with all dispatch. but cagtopsy' r to SAM ca3
deT ionslv' did not weaken the force of the words
t.alI dispatch" The great military necessE a.. a.
oh. l.
caution was needed. lest II might pass u1uetecleu
h Cienfuesos or lest IT ebr mis' carrted lights For
these reasons the greatest caution Ielaioe az Snfi M
@ i;tai to the Utmost such chances Certainly
the Flying Squadron did not leaIe WIN ui9l tba
fact with regard the latter condition that ,,rs sne
using the Ardos system OF SH1aas lol fbat
after getting under way l. "4ua 3nart,re for the
there was little TO prevent It's de2aTou&[ & RI due 'Cl course
eastward from being discovered ana ia u"' S
communicated to Santiago
He admitted that the weather on the voyage was
bad for the smaller vessels particularly the hase'
and said that the speed of the squadron was
slowed in order that they might keep up ne ar
sorted however that If that vessel was to be sent
av.av she should have been so sent at the time
when she was causing the delay. and not when the
VOYAGE was practically completed ana the "ed'hei
improving He suggested that all the slower Fes-
saIs IN view of the urgency of reaching Santiago
might have been dropped with rendezvous. TO be
io,nad ster bv the fighting vessels IF Il drummer
bov stubs his toe" asked, does the army
halt?'
THE RETROGRADE MOVEMENT
Having brought the squadron to the southwark
Of Santiago May % the Judge Advocate
took up the coaling question. quoting Lieutenant
Dvson's figures on the question OF coal supply IN
como detail Then he considered the retrograde
movement. This step. he said. had been uhder-
taken without sufficient or decisive steps belhs
taken to ascertain whether the Spanish fleet was
actually in the harbor OF Santiago, leaving the
atrh hed
n escape with the possibility OF his making
descent upon our coast-the moral, "a say nothing
OF the material OF which 1t is Impossible to
overestimate." Continuing he said
Nunez told Commodore schley. II Nunez eH-
hibited then no greater acumen than when peiore t
fhs ms eeHFl sy1 nj ttI weight Whatever opinion they
may have given the Commodore as TO th Pds..,,
and believe that the captain never said that tht
Spanish fleet Was not therein1 1ns raXoneft II
was duty ascertain 20 "a certainty "Jtt,ei "fte
lion which no negative information OF Captain
Sissbee's could remove or even monty Hhu /. -
nconcaj,ab. that 4 positive statement as 70 the
nonJants Of a harbor Of the well known conforma-
ton Of Santiago could have been made by 9'ss'ee'
The details Of the retrograde movement were re
hea-sed as were those concerning the delivery OF
dispatches by the Harvard and the offer OF Lieu
tenant Beae to go ashore and communicate with
the Cuban Insurgents Captain L"Inly coh'enoed
that the dispatch conveying posittv" Information o'
rba ,res
uvered to Commodore Schley. Notwithstanding MS
denial because he considered It 'inconceiVabie
that having It, Captain Cotton should not have
corn,ounicat ted it's contents the Commodore
Here Captain IemIy quoted in fun Commodore
Schlev's cannot obey orders" dispatch TO the de
partment Of May o. and commented on 1t. saying:
Whether the departments Instructions, den
r{teIy directed positive terms. that the squad
ron remain off Santiago or whether It's desire that
mis- should be done was simply indicated. appears
10 me- under all the circumstances to be @ @lInna-
terial Disobedience of orders may be an impeTa-
five and glorious duty. but If II be not juSte by
Inc facfs n cannot be condOned by termlng II an
error of iudg This was not an error or
Judgment; IT was an error of conduct
THE COLON AFFAIR.
Bringing the squadron back to Santiago the
J,dge Advocate said that nothing was done toward
attacking the enemy until May 81. when the recon
noissance or bombardment was made. the total
time of all firing then being seven minutes aud
thirty-fve seconds. lie added:
The Colon was not destroyed or disabled: ana.
with the possible exception of one Shot, an iell
short only three vessels of the force aValla bic
he Massachusetts, the Iowa and the Nt"-ofiesthS
we're employed in this affair the others being
engaged in coaling. The applicant cannot now sue
essfIlllv plead that did not know how close his
during the bombar ardment he wigwagged to the
Iowa at 205 D. m. DO not go in any closer
II has been claimed that the object OF TINS afalr
nf Nav develop the enemy : bat tterleS, ana