The Grit-advocate., 1901-10-18

of testimony for the government and
the first Of Admiral Schley's witnesses
was introduced. Captain Francis \.
Cook, who commanded Schley's flag
ship, the Brooklyn, during the Santi-
ago campaign, and who acted, though
unotticially, in the capacity of chief of
staff for the commodore, was on the
witness stand the greater part of the
day.
He was followed by Lieutenant
Commander William F. Hullam. who
was senior watch officer on the New
Orleans during the Spanish war, and
Former Lieutenant Joseph Beale. who,
as an officer on the Harvard, trans
lated the cipher dispatches between
Commodore Schley and the Navy De-
partment carried by that vessel.
Among those dispatches was that sent
by Commodore Schley, May 2Sth. ex-
pressing regret at not having been able
TO obey the orders of the department
and explaining the reason why he
could not do so. There are some ver-
bal discrepancies between the original
draft of this dispatch and the official
print of it, and these Mr.. Beale eX-
planned.
Lieutenant Beale was the last of the
government witnesses, although Cap
tam Lemly explained that he would re-
serve the right to call others if occas-
ion should demand. He had no sooner
retired than the first witness for Ad-
miral Schley was called. This proved
10 be the Cuban pilot Eduardo Nunez,
who told Schley May 26, 1898, that he
did not believe the Spanish feet under
Cervera was in the harbor at Santiago.
Captain Cooks testimony was a re-
view of the entire campaign after Ger
vera's fleet, beginning with the depart
ure of the flying squadron from Key
West May 10Th and concluding with
the battle off Santiago July Sd. He
said that at first it had been believed
ly both Sampson and Schley that the
Spanish fleet was In the harbOr of Glen
fucgos and that no information to the
contrary had been conveyed to Commo-
dore Schley until the arrival of Captain
McCalla May 24th; that it was COmmo-
dore Schley's expectations to meet the
Spaniards in the open sea, and his con-
slant care was to have coal enough for
such an emergency. He gave particu-
lars concerning the retrograde move
n:ent, and explained the Brooklyn's
loop in connection with graphic ac-
count of the engagement of July 3D.
Asked for an opinion as to Admiral
Schley's bearing as commanding Off
Ger, he said:
II always regarded him as an en-
Enthusiastically brave and patriotic otii-
Ger"
| Replying to questions concerning the
blockade of Santiago Captain Cook
said Comodore Schley's constant idea
was that the vessels should be kept
well supplied with coal and kept mov-
ing constantly, as his theory was that
| the Spanish fleet would come out of the
| harbOr.
why was the circular blockade not
adopted!' Mr., Hanna asked
There are many forms of blockade
and l have nothing but praise for the
circular blockade" replied the witness.
but, the idea was to get the Spaniards
to come out and to have our ships NOV
ing and ready for action"
What were your orders of battle
from May 10Th to June 1st?'
I'VE did not have any. The fleet was
always in condition for action.''
DO you call that battle order?"
1T Is possible to have an order for
battle If you know just what condition
you are going to meet The idea with
us was to be able to fight the Spanish
f, fleet whenever we should meet it.
think that was understood by all. so
understood it."
IF the fleet had come out of the har-
Dor previous to June list, what would
You have done :"
I'VE would have obeyed the orders of
the commanding officer"
Were the fighting ships always IN
| order for battleT,