Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-10-25
HeCoutinued Recital Of the Events
in the Santiago Naval Cam
paign.
.ASTRAIGHTFORV ARD STORY
He Tells Of the Events Of That Memo
rable July 8 in Which BE Took Such
Prominent Part. An Invitation to
Be the Guest of Honor of the
Hamilton Club.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 25.-Admiral
Schley today continued the recital OF
his narrative regarding his conduct IN
the Spanish war, which he had begun
yesterday. When court adjourned yes
terday he had covered most of the
points of the campaign previous to the
beginning of the Santiago blockade,
leaving that blockade, the reconnois-
sance on May 81, the battle off Santia-
go and the famous loop of the Brook
lyn yet to be told of. The court room
was crowded. Schley was thoroughly
self-possessed and spoke distinctly, so
that his words were heard throughout
the hall.
Regarding the McCalla memoran-
dunn, Schley said he received but one
COPY. If there had been another, he
said it should be in the papers return
ed to the navy department in January
or February 1899. He said he had not
bombarded the earthworks at Cienfue-
gos because he was convinced such
bombardment would be unavailing.
he thought, bore out this opinion.
Schley was proceeding to say that
dispatch No. 10, concerning which
Lieutenant Marsh testified (the dis
patch containing positive information
that the Spanish fleet was in Santiago)
was not received by him until June 10.
Judge Advocate Lemly objected to
this testimony, saying: II understand
from the court itself that it wants
facts.'
Admiral Schley (sotto voce): well
these are facts.' After some sparring,
the members Of the court held con-
sultation, and Admiral Dewey an
nounced the decision as follows.
"The court is of the opinion that it is
eminently proper for the witness
to make statement concerning the
dispatch that was dated May 27, and
not received until June 10, then drop
it, just giving the facts"
Schley responded that this was all
he intended to do. Thirteen days had
elapsed before he received the dis
patol.
Schley testified that he sent Nunez,
the pilot, westward to communicate
with the insurgents. Nunez landed
near Ascerederos, Is or 16 miles west
of Santiago, and, joining some Cuban
insurgents, went into the interior lie
returned June / or with detailed in
formation of the location of the Span
ish ships in the harbor II sent him,
added Schley "to the commander-in-
chief with that information"
Schley said he watched the coaling
conditions carefully, and gave reasons
for the retrogade movement west from
Santiago. He said in that connection,
that he regarded the orders of the
department concerning the probable
presence of the Spanish fleet at San
tiago more of suggestion than a
mandatory order. He considered 1t
would take only little while to get
back, in any event. Also, the proper
military maneuver would be to pro-
ceed westward toward the bases at
Havana and Key West.
He arrived with the squadron OIL
Santiago about o'clock p. M, May
%. The next day he discovered the
presence Of the Colon, also other OF
the enemy's war vessels. When ne
told Captain Sigsbee, that officer ex-
pressed surprise. 1t was at this period
that he sent his dispatch to the de-
partment giving absolute Information
of the presence Of the Spaniards, ano
Sigsbee carried this message to Mole
st. Nicholas. Schley testified that ne
called the captains of his ships aboar6
and explained his idea Of the blockade
to them. also his general plan of at
tack. His plan was to attack the heae
column first and confuse and cripple
each in turn. The ships were to main
tain steam so as to be capable OF Il
knots. The fleet steamed back ant
forth before the entrance of the har
bor. MORO Castle, he thought, was
no time more than five miles away
In concluding his description OF TN
blockade, the admiral said; "That !
was sufficient is shown by the rae
that during its existence no vessel en-
tered or escaped from the harbor."
Coming to the reconnaissance OF Ma
31.schley said that while the Brooklyn
Marblehead and Texas were coaline
he transferred his flag to the Massa
chusetts and determined to go IN an
develop the defenses and incidentaii
get a shot at the Colon If ne could.
II was not excited nor nervous, for
need not have undertaken the recon
noissance If had not desired to q
so.''
Said Schley: Commander Potts
4 entirely in error in saying that too
advantage or cover. was not cor
cerned about myself. The strength
the batteries being established,
would have been military folly to hay
risked battleship further to the n
from these shore batteries. I thougi
It better policy to save the ships +
wider and better use and supsequei
events justified the decision" !.
Witness abruptly turned from y
bombardment of the Colon to q al
cussion Of the coaling question.
said his instructions had been to co
on every possible occasion.
Admiral Schley this afternoon deni
that he ever used the words on u