The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-10-23
SCHLEY INQUIRYS STATUS
The Evidence Presented by the Wit
nesses of the Judge Advocate.
A Number of Facts Have Beon Estab-
llshed, But Some of the Charges
Have Failed of Proof.

Washington, D. C.-The eviderce
which has been offered by the Judge
Advocate in the Schley Court Of In
quiry has established a number Of
facts, and the state Of the case is now
about as follows:
1. 1t is charged against Schley that
when he was sent to look for the
Spanish feet he delayed unnecessari-
ly at Cienfuegos in spite OF orders to
20 to Santiago. 1t has been proved
that he spent about three days there,
and that he received dispatches from
Admiral Sampson, some or
which told him to so to Santiago, and
others to remain Ut Clenfuegos.
It is also proved that q secret code
Of communication with the Cubans,
arranged by Captain McCalla, which
was known to Rear-Admiral Sampson,
was not communicated to Schley, and
that If he had known this code he
could have ascertained in few hours
that the Spaniards were not there and
have gone on to Santiago. =
2. It Is charged that when he did
20 to Santiago his progress was slow.
It has been proved that his larger
ships did not make the speed they
might have made. It has also been
proved that the smaller vessels could
not 60 any faster than they did, and
that Schley accommodated the speed
of the squadron to these rather than
abandon them. 1t Is now a question of
the court whether Schley was right
in this, or whether he should have left
his small ships to the mercies Of the
Spaniards.
8. 1t is charged that off Santiago he
turned back on the pretense that he
could not coal at sea, when it was
quite possible to do so. On this point
there has been q conflict Of testimony
among the Judge Advocates WITT
nesses. It has been shown that a few
hours after he turned back the wealth
er moderated, and he then returned to
Santiago and coaled.
4. 1t is claimed that the three
scout ships which were detailed to
stay at Santiago and find out If the
Spaniards were there met Schley as he
was coming to Santiago and told him
that the Spaniards were undoubtedly
there, but that Notwithstanding this
he made the "retrograde movement"
mentioned. This charge has not been
proved by the Judge Advocates wit
pesses. :. I'll
5. 1t is charged that Schley's bonn
bardment of the Colon was ineffective,
and that he was out Of range when he
fred at her. The witnesses have tes-
titled that Schley was out Of range Of
the Colon, but within range Of the
shore batteries. Schley claims that
his real object was to ascertain the
strength of the shore batteries by fir
ing at the Colon, at the same time
complying as far as possible with the
orders given him not to risk his ships
under the fire Of the shore batteries
until the Spanish fleet mad been de-
stroyed. It has been proved that the
shots Of the shore batteries passed
over and near Schley's ships, and some
Of the witnesses have testified that
they gained information Of value by
the reconnaissance, while others say
that not much was. learned.
6. 1t is charged that when Schley
blockaded Santiago he was In the
habit Of withdrawing his ships q dis
tance Of twenty-five miles at night.
This charge has been completely dis
proved. The testimony against 1t is
unanimous. Some Of the witnesses
have testified that the blockade was
a little further out at night, but the
preponderance Of testimony was that
it was further in at night. Testimony
about the actual distance Of the
blockade from shore differs widely,
and hardly any two Of the witnesses
agree. 1t has been proved that he
kept picket vessels nearer in shore
than the rest of the feet by two miles.
Z. It is charged that during the
battle Of Santiago Schley made
loop" which endangered the Texas.
1t has been proved that Captain Phil
lip thought the Texas was In dam
ger and stopped his engines. 1t has
not been established that she was
really In danger, and the witnesses
differ about the distance between the
Brooklyn and the Texas when the
latter stopped her engines. The Judge
Advocate has not offered any testi-
mony to show that the loop" was un.
necessary or bad manoeuvre, but
only that it endangered the Texas.
s. 1t Is charged that Schley gave no
orders except to his own ship during
the battle. 1t has been proved that he
gave orders to the Oregon at least,
and that the Oregon obeyed him.