The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-15
Circulation Statement.
indicated bv His Enemies

When yesterdays proceedings in the
Court Of Enquiry neared their close.
Captain Lemly. prosecutor for the
Navy Department and Admiral Samp-
son. stiI had list of twenty or thirty
witnesses whom he had intended to
place upon the stand in support Of his
effort 10 make a case against Admiral
SChley. Mostly, they were understood
10 De knowledseable young men of the
Bristol type who. from the vantage
ground of the steerage, as developed on
rehearsal. believed that they knew more
about The West Indian campaign and
the Santiago sea fight than their cap
tains or their commander-in-chief pos
sibly could. But the testimony given
by others of their class last week evil
IDENTIFY had impressed the Court 50 I'M
tavOrably that, after the cyclone Of
Captain Cooks evidence had swept over
the scene, the judge advocate consid-
cred ii better not to call them, threw
up his hands. and rested the most pitt
able apology for a case that can be
found in the pages Of history.
IN the brief time Captain Cook was
under examination he shattered the
charges Of the Navy Department. and
left the conspiracy against the Victor
OF Santiago in an utterly exploded CON
dition. He showed that the Comman-
der-in-Chief Of the Flying Squadron
started on May 10, 1898, from Key West
for Cicnfuegos. in the belief, then shar-
ed by Admiral Sampson, that he would
intercept the Spaniards at that point;
that Commodore Schley had no knowI-
edge Of any signal arrangement with
the insurgents on shore until the arri-
Val Of Captain McCaIla off CienfueEos
on May p. when that officer expressed
his surprise that the code had not been
communicated to the commodore. He
might well do SO, since he had reason
TO know that it had been given To the
commanding officers of all the ships in
the squadron, those on board the flag
ship Brooklyn alone excepted McCaIIa
was at once ordered ashore to commu-
nicate with the Cubans and on his re-
turn with definite information that Ger
vera was not at ClelfUegos, Commodore
Schley started with his vessels for San
tagO IN an hour. Schley's orders did
not direct him 10 leave CIenfuegos until
he should be sure that the enemy was
not there II has been developed in
testimony other than that of Captain
Cook that Admiral Sampson positively
knew the Spanish ships were at San
uago, but only allowed Commodore
Schiey to understand that there was
such a probability.
The country is familiar with the al
legged "reprehensible conduct Of Com
modOre Schley in starting for Key West
for coal This conduct is the basis
Of one Of the most serious charges con-
tanned in the amazing precept for which
the Navy Department will have reason
TO feel ashamed for the next century.
Captain Cook disposed Of this accusa-
ton briefly and effectuaIly- He demon
strated the necessity felt by the com
mander-in-chief for an ample supply OF
coal, since he fully expected TO meet
Admiral CeTvera ia the open, and that
the engagement with him would be in
the nature Of a long chase. Conditions
OF coast wind, and sea had rendered
il impracticable to coal from the col
liers at the time the signal was given
70 start for Key West; but they i'm
proved just afterward, the Merrimac
had been repaired-it VS. possible TO
Nef-A a. sNtA- 4 A-N 444DAAl-.4-L lA-AL L4AL DC
came apparent, back went the squad
ron 10 Santiago destined for victory and
glory.
The story Of the second great naval
battle Of the war was told by Captain
Cook in terse. simple language which
fastened the attention Of the Court and
Spectators TO every word Of the narra-
tive. He related how he had given the
order 20 put the helm of the Brooklyn
hard aport in order TO make the ia
nous loop before Commodore Schiey
knew anything about the movement.
Three or the Spanish ships were head
ing for the interval between the flag
ship and the Texas The evolution was
necessary 10 head them of It cid not
take the Brooklyn out Of action for a
minute. At no time during the fight
did the flagship blanket the fire OF any
other ship Of the squadron, but Il led
the chase and for some time was en-
gagged with three Of tn euemy's vessels
Unaided. until the Oregon came up and
took a hand At all times during the
engagement. and whenever in other cir
cumstaTces he had seen Commodore
SchleT under fire. Captain Cook decIar-
ed that the conduct Of the former was
that of AN enthusiastic, a brave. and
patriotic officer"
Captain Cook was not cross-examin-
ed ana al the conclusion Of his direct
testimony was excused. The prosecu-
ton rested. but the sensations Of the
day were not at an end. Admiral
Schlcy's counsel called Eunez, the Gu
ban pilot 20 the stand. Their object
was 10 disprOve the contention Of the
Department, supported by the oaths Of
several ensiEns and HeUten7nts appar-
entity anxious 10 stand well with
Crowuinshield. that prior 10 the arrival
Of Admiral Sampson off Santiago Com
m0fore Schley had made no attempt 70
ascertain whether Cervera was OF was
not IN the harbOr. Nunez testified that
he boarded the Brooklyn from an En-
glish steamer or Santiago. Immediate
~ Commodore Schley gave him Instruc-
lions and sent him ashore some miles
10 the eastward. There he found a Gu
ban general officer who gave him the
names Of the Spanish ships then ia
port. comprising the whole Of Cervera's
squadron. That news was at once
taken 10 the COmmander-in-chief, who
transmitted II as soon rs possible 70
Admiral Sampson.
~ ,-ra..,..vsgg.r 60 a. q