Evening journal., 1901-09-26
SAYS NCHLRY
IGNORED ORDER
Rear Admiral Cotton GiVeS
Testimony Before Court
AImiral Vas NOrried Over Fleets
Coal Supp'V-Then OrduOd 1t
10 Kew Nest

at Hillary cruiser HdlNdlh, anu Odptalh
Wise. who commanded the auxiliary
cruiser Yale during the Spanish war.
pcth these vessels were used as scouts
and both came up with the flying
squadron off Santiago on the 27th OF
lay. before the retrogradc movement
to Key West was begun.
Admiral Cotton testified that he had
gone aboard Admiral Schleys flagship,
the Brooklyn, on that date TO take dis
patches to him and he said at first that
he gave him four or five dispatches
addressed 20 the commander Of the
squadron. He afterwards modified this
statement saying that probably all but
two Of these dispatches were addressed
TO himself (Aomiral Cotton), but that
they contained information which he
thought should be in Admiral Schleys
possession. Ono of these was a copy OF
n dispatch from Admiral Sampson,
which had not been printed in the Of
flcial records, stating that the Spanish
feet was at Santiago. He also said
that coal could have been taken from
the Merrimac on the 27th Of May, the
day en- which the retrograde movement
TO Key West was begun for the pur-
pose Of coaling.
schley Anxious About Fleet.
admiral schley told me he was
very anxious for the fleet" said Ad
miral Cotton. 1.-THE coal supply was
getting very short, the weather had
been bad and threatened to grow
worse. If these conditions continued
or grew worse, he saw but one alter
native. and that was to return to Key
West He was very apprehensive OF the
Texas. He feared she did not have
enough coal to reach Key West. Dur
ing my visit general signal was made
to the ships of the feet directing them
TO report whether they had sufficient
coal to reach Key West. In answer
he received the report that all the
ships. including the Texas. had enough.
Commodore Schley seemed to be much
relieved He then gave a preparatory
signal to return to Key West. It was
after he read the dispatches delivered
by me that Commodore Schley asked
the ships as to the state Of their coal
supply"
Changing sehley's Dispatch.
Admiral Cotton identified a copy OF
the original dispatch given him by
Schley 20 be forwarded 10 the depart
ment. II is this dispatch upon which
specifications. FIVE of the precepts, dis
obedience of orders, is based. Captain
Lemly then read the original dispatch
10 the court When he had concluded
Mr.. Rayner Indignantly called atten-
tion to the fact that the dispatch as
read differed in many important partic-
ulars from the copies of It printed In
the records and submitted to congress.
The most important difference was in
the sentence in which Schley said the
departments order to remain of San
tiago could not be carried out. In the
original Schley said: 1T is to be re-
gretted that the departments orders
cannot be obeyed, much as we have
striyen to that end"
In the printed records that matter
appears as follows Much to be re-
Fretted. cannot obey orders of depart
nent Have striven earnestly"
Mr.. Bayner said that the difference
was Of great importance and that the
order as printed did great injustice TO
Schley. Mr., Hanna said the changes
occurred in translating the messages
from code and they were of no i'm
Iortance.
Dewey Rebukes Parker.
Captain Lemly read the order Of the
department. strongly advising Schley
20 proceed from Cienfuegos to San.
tiago, in view OF the information that
the Spanish feet was in the latter port
He also read the letter from Sampson
TO Schley urging him to hold his
squadron off Cienfuegos He said thai
the information that the fleet was IN
Santiago was Of doubtful value.
Captain Parker. of Sehley's counsel
sarcastically remarked that Simpsons
letter telling schley TO remain at Glen
fuegos had not been printed in the
records.
Mr.. Eanna strongly objected to th'
criticisms OF the department made b.
Parker in many side remarks.
IL agree that the remarks are en-
Ircly Improper, sdiu AumlIdl dewey
Did Not See Spanish Fleet.
Admiral Cotton was excused an
Captain William c. Wise. who was Il
commend Of the auxiliary cruiser Yale
was called 20 the witness stand. H
tcld OF his ieconnoitering about SAINT
AGO harbor on May p previous to tn
arrival CT the flying squadron. He sal
lie had not been able to see anythin
Of the Spanish feet.
Captein Wise said that when on Ma
c7 he approached the flying squadro
q miles of Santiago. the fleet ha
started upon its retrogade movemen
lie ca1re up with the Texas and e,
ohFn7ed signals with Captain Phili
telling i.m that he believed the Spa
ish ecladron to be inside the harbl
there.
Mr. Rayner objected to this test
mony o5 g conversation between Ca
t7ing Wise and Philip affecting A
lnifei Schley. The court sustained N
Rayners objection
There VIII be but one session tod