The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-01

cinity OF Santiago and having in your
possession q dispatch from the navy
department dated washington, May 25.
1898, which directed the Harvard to pro-
ceed at once and inform you and also
the senior officer present off Santiago:
All departments information indicates
Spanish division is still at Santiago
whether you did not with this dispatch
in your possession from the department
signal: Destination Key West without
consulting the commanding officers OF
the several vessels composing your
squadron"
Il did not get that dispatch until the
9th Of May, although dated the 25th az
Washington and did hoist the signal
afterward for the reason, as stated a
little while ago. that the information
Ia possession at that time from Captain
Sigsbee-the positive assertion that The
Spanish squadron was not there-sup-
ported by the testimony of NuneZ that
they could not get in on account of cer-
tain difficulties of draught and narrow
ness of channel, 1 considered then that
l was on my own responsibility. l did
not call the commanding officers on
board, for, as l stated in my direct tes-
timony, l was always ready to assume
the responsibility for any movement
that might involve censure rather than
throwing myself back upon anybody
for this action"
The admiral said that he had in his
possession the departments commune
cation of May 25th on May 9th when
he had again signaled indicating a pur-
pose to go to Key West.
In reply to questions as to why he did
not coal the Brooklyn on May 27th,
Admiral Schley said that it was on ac-
count of the motion of the ship, adding
that she did not need coal at that time.
He said in reply to a question as to
why he had telegraphed that Admiral
Sampson would relieve him when he
went to coal, that he did not want TO
leave Santiago unblockaded. He also
stated that his reason for not having
Wise and Jewell come on board the
Brooklyn was that Sigsbee had sup
posedly given all the information they
possessed. He also said that he had
practically blockaded Santiago for the
first time on the evening of May 2Sth
and that in view of the information he
received he considered this q compli-
ance with the departments order Of
May 23Fd.
After discussion of dispatches receiv-
ed during the first few days after the
arrival of the flying squadron off San
tiago, in the course of which Captain
Lemly asked Admiral Schley if it had
not been his intention to remain in that
vicinity if he had not found the Spanish
fleet there, Captain Lemly said: You
have stated that off Cienfuegos the for
nation during the day was such as 10
feign disorder as an invitation TO the
Spaniards to come out
Yes replied the admiral, ''I meant
we were not in column Steaming.
Did you pursue this same plan after
arriving at Santiago and after learning
that. the Spanish fleet was there?'
80 he day time, yes. While we re-
taineo a semplance of formation we
were always very close to each other.
1 mean we We're not steaming in front OF
the harbor as we did at night"
Then you did adopt the same ruse?,
Yes, generally"
Did you discuss with any of your
CO ptains your plan of battle as outlined
| in your evidence in chief and the man.
| ner of changing from column to line OF
| battle?"
Il do not really remember the full ex-
tent of the discussion, but it was gen
eral explanation of the plan: If we
were in column or line Of battle before
| the harbor and the enemy should ap-
pear a wheel would bring us directly
| for them and another wheel would bring
| US east or west if they turned east or
west. That occurred to me as very
facile and mobile movement"
At this point Admiral Schley COM
| planned of SenSitiVeneSS in his throaI
and the court adjourned.