Milford chronicle., 1901-11-01
SCHLEYS TESTIMONY
Closely Interrogated by Judge Adj
vocate Lemly.
THE START FOR SANTIAGO

: "''N what Is Known AS the "RetrS
grade Movement"
Washington, Oct. SO.-The crosse,
animation of Admiral Schley was cor
unued throughout the session of tb,
court OF inquiry yesterday. The pro
sress made was exceedingly slow
Practically the whole day was con
sumed in Questioning the adnlira
ABOUT the cruise from Cienfuegos I,
santiago and the motives and inAu
ehces that governed him in turnins
back after his squadron had arrived
IN the vicinity of the latter mort Tbi.
Iatter branch of the cross-examinatior
had net been concluded when thu
court adjourned. The blockade al
santiago, the reconnaissance on NAV
81 and the battle of July 5 still re-
main to be covered. It is hardIv
probable that the judge advocate car
conclude before adjournment TODAY
After he finishes, quite a number ot
questions prepared by the members
OF the court will be submitted. The
Judge advocate, in conducting the
cross-eXamination, used a carefully
prepared typewriter liet Of cues.
tions.
Inc main points to which the cross
examination was directed yesterday
We're the ability of the ships to coal
of Cienfuegos and the reason for what
Is known as the "retrograde move.
ment"
The latter point was dwelt upen
with much emphasis and detail and
mad not been disposed of fully when
the court adjourned. The admiral
gave three reasons for turning back.
first, the statement of Captain sigs.
bee, who commanded the scout shin
St Paul, that the enemy was not in
Santiago; second, the opinion of
NuneZ the pilot. that the entrance was
TOO narrow and shallow for the Span.
ism ships to enter and third, the am
Dlgulty OF the departments telegram.
coaling Taken Up.
why did you, on the day the Iowa
coaled from the Merrimac, May 2S,
inform Admiral Sampson that coal.
ing off Cienfuegos was very uncer.
tain?" asked Captain Lemly.
Simply on account of the weather
You coaled one of the battle.
ships?"
Eyes"
did you in the same dispatch in.
form Admiral Sampson that one of
the battleships had been coaled on
that day?"
Il reported that fact to him on
May 80"
Referring to the blockade of San.
tlago. Captain Lemly asked the wit.
ness why he had sent a dispatch tn
Admiral Sampson that "on account
OF short coal supply cannot blockade
them (the Spaniards) in Santiago"
Il meant that if we could not have
coaled off Santiago we could not have
stayed there"
Did you state that condition?"
No, | did not state that condition.
That was the impression in my own
mind"
What did you mean by the report
I shall not be able to remain off that
port CSantiago) on account of general
Short coal supply?'"
1 think all the vessels were more
or less short of their complement. and
considering the fact that they ought
to be fit for any service and for every
service, that in arriving off the port
we ought to be more than half or
three-quarters full"
How about the Brooklyn? She had
plenty Of coal did she not?"
1 do not think there was en-, ~
question about the Brooklyn" *.
How about the Massachusetts?
THE Massachusetts and the Texas
were constantly solicitous about coal.
The Start For Santiago.
AT what time did you learn def.
nltely that the Spanish fleet was not
in Cienfuegos?"
Upon Captain McCalla's return
about 4 p. m, May a."
What time did you sail for San. {
.iago?"
My impression is that we formed
column between 5 and D. m. and
stood off on a course south BY east I;
ina then stopped, leaving the Castine
a front OF the harbor. By Z or 8
''clock we got under way, laying our {
course southwest by south. l
When his attention was called n {
he fact that he had in a report said |
hat the departure was timed at 515 r
lie said that not having the data be- q
ore MIN when he made that ate.
nent, he had taken the Information
rom Captain McCalla's report THAT !,
statement" he said, referred to the {
ime OF the formation of column. as I
egarded that as a preliminary stem
o getting Off"
Were there any signals?"
There were"
7ay?" o i
don't remember entirely, but it {
aust be borne in mind that dark a
ONES earlier in that latitude in Nav {
han in this. It was, however. darI /;
nough to read the ardois signals. I {
ant say just what the hour was. =
ut the signals were used up to 9.25 y
M" '
Dispatch Ambiguous. W
Schiey again spoke Of the dispatch o
the department indicating that the b
parish fleet was still at Santiago as v
and said that the informa- n
on that there were Cubans five or six
lies west Of Santiago was erroneous.
n the Cuban DilOt NunaZ had IT. VI