Evening star., 1901-10-24

Major Paul St. Clair Murphy,
Fleet Marine Officer Of Flying Squadron Brook
lyn.
she had changed pher course in the same
way feared she would collide with us, and
1 put my helm tos starbOard and l saw no
more of her. so
Q. Was she firing? A. I cannot recall it.
OF course she was firing, but I do not re-
call anything of that.
@. By Mr.. Hanna.) Recite as correctly
as you can just what Spanish ships came
out of the harbor and how they headed. A.
They seemed to come out at a very high
rate Of speed and to turn very sharply to
the westward. From our position We were
three miles from the leading ship, ana the
Spanish ships seemed to be very close to
the shore.
c. In obedience to what orders did you
close in during the early part of the en-
gagement? A. We had standing order In
the squadron to- attack the enemy at once
IL they appeared and to keep the heads OF
the ships always toward the enemy. How
ever, my first action was not Immediately
in obedience to that, but as soon as we
started 1 remembered that we had the
order. knew there was such an order.
Capt Clark said that at one time the
ranges on the Oregon were changing so
rapidly that he ordered the men to fire on
their own judgment and as far as possible
to watch the fall of shot to guide them.
Then, after few other questions, the
court took a recess until o'clock.
At 2 o'clock Captain Clark was again on
the stand. Mr.. Rayner asked whether the
battle of July was concluded In accord
ance with any squadron order previously
issued and he replied that it was not. He
said his course varied a little from that
of the Brooklyn, which he followed during
the battle in a. general way. He said he
attempted to get in the rear of the Spanish
ships. In reply to questions of the court
he said he did not see any of the enemys
ships attempt to ram the Brooklyn. He
had bod mo 0rIn r1nt IN
to the fire of shore batteries.
Admiral schIey Takes the Stand.
At five minutes after o'clock Admiral
Schley was called to the stand.
AS Admiral Schley arose to take the oath
administered by Admiral Dewey there was
no applause, special effort having been
made to prevent such a demonstration. He
was asked his name, rank and other ques-
tions put to all witnesses at the beginning
of their testimony. = He was then requested
by Mr. Rayner TOT make a statement re-
garding his connection with the Spanish
war He was askedif he desired a copy of
the precept -ander which the inquiry is
being made, and, replying in the affirma-
tive, 1t was given to him.
He proceeded deliberately to tell of his
connection with the Spanish war from the
time he was put in command of the flying
squadron. He toldsof his effort to put the
squadron on war basis in Hampton Roads.
He spoke especially of target practice that
had not been established.
The general result of this practice, he
said, was we'll demonstrated six weeks or
two months later.
He also took every precautfon to see that
at night the lights of the squadron should
be marked In such a way that they could
not be seen away from the squadron. He re-
ferred to his orders to proceed to Charles
ton, where he was to get further orders.
Then he was ordered to Key West.
From Charleston to Key West he made
his speed twelve knots the best under
the circumstances. At Key West he was
told by a Cuban captain that the province
in which Cienfuegos was situated was fill
ed with Spanish troops and was urged to
be very careful IN attempting to make a
beat landing there. He saw Admiral Samp-
son at Key West.
THE admiral was very much worn," he
said, referring to Admiral Sampson. land
naturally so because his responsibility was
very great and to me he seemed to have a
good deal of anxiety, which l will appre-
ciate." He spoke of his conversation with
Admiral Sampson.
81 told him." he said, that 1 should be
absolutely all to the cause we both repre-
sented. Captain Chadwick was present, and
said, OF course, commodore, anyone who
has known you and your character, would
know that 1t would be impossible for you
to be other than loyal"
Admiral Schley told of an order received
by Admiral Sampson by which the latter
was given the choice of commands, so far
as the part of Cuba they were to go to
was concerned. and Sampson decided to go
to Havana.
AS he proceeded Admiral SchIey MAIN
tanned the same composure of manner with
which he had begun his testimony. He
spoke deliberately. and while not employ
ing very loud tone his enunciation was
SO perfect that he was heard by most of
those present. At this time not only were
all seats occupied, but people In the rear
of the room were standing on the window
sills In order to get a view of the portion
of the room occupied by members of the
court and the witness. Perfect quiet was
maintained while he spoke.
Plan Of Campaign.
Referring to his taking command Of the
flying squadron at Hampton Roads he said
there ''the general plan of campaign was
thrashed out" He said that the captains
of his squadron had diversified views, and
he resolved to take the helm himself.
The question of torpedoes in the fleet was
early discussed and he decided the manner
In which they should be cared for. Con-
tinuing, he said: Il put the squadron i'm
mediately upon war footing, established
the matter of pickets and patrols and also
the masking Of lights, which were under
inspection on Several occasions, to ascer-
tain how effective and complete it was
"At first there was some fault found
Later, 1 am glad to say, the masking was
complete. so that II was impossible. when
the ships were, under way in the column or
line of battle, to distinguish any one at
more than ordinary distance from IT,
He had, he said, explained it would be
impossible to arrange general plan OF
battle, but he had explained to his COM
idea 'to attack the head and leading ship
of the enemy attacking and concentrate