The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-10-10
COMMANDER or IOWA CLEARS
UP SEVERAL DOUBTFUL
POINTS.
Captain Mocana Gives Important
Enthusiastically Ex0nerates
sehIey From Charge of oereIiesion
of Duty at Santiago.

WASHINGTON, Sept 2S.-The devei-
opments in the Schley court of inquiry
today were startling The elaborate pre-
cept prepared by the Navy Department
was ruthlessly treated by the prineinaI
witness under skillful cross-examination.
and with the judge advocates case almost
completed there were evidences of total
collapse along several of the lines upop
which Schley's alleged reprehensibiiitv
was TO have been proven, and the impro-
priety of the retrograde movement is an
parentiy the only one of the ten specifi-
cations the judge advocate now with any
confidence relies upon establishing.
Captain McCalla, under examination OF
Schiey's counsel at the morning session,
created profound sensation by state
ments which practically exonerate SchIeT
/ from dereliction at Cienfuegos. and from
the charges that he maintained an inef-
feetive blockade at Santiago, and he con-
tributed most impressively to the Schley
contention that failure to execute inCiis-
Greet orders was not disobedience.
Captain McCalla denied most positively
and minutely the assertion made by Samp-
son and reiterated by many officers, that
the flying squadron retired TWENTY-FIVE
miles on the harhor of Santiago everv
night. He was on picket duty within two
miles of the entrance each night, and the
larger ships were never over.-two miles
Closer
night than by day. This confirmed Rear
ADMIRAL Higginson's testimony and denied
that of Commander Harber of the Texas
Captain McCalla also showed that he
communicated officially to SIMPSONS chief
OF STAFF, an5 therefore eonstractively 20
Sampson hsslSefE Shc CODE ARRANGED WITH
the insurgents at Cienfuegos. and this IN
few hours after the flying squadron left
Key West; vet Sampson IN his frequent
dispatches to Schley. sent nearly every
day thereafter. did not mention this i'm
portant matter. but few weeks later be
held Schley to account for not communi-
eating with the insurgents on reaching
Cienfuegos.
The greatest point yet scored by coun-
sci for Schley from sue judge advocates
own witnesses related to the failure of
| McCalla himself TO inform Schley of the
conditions at Cienfuegos, when he met tts
| squadron on its way to the south coast &c
Cuba to take the place of his own little
| feet. BE explained how he ordered the
| Eagle TO do this. and Lieutenant Com
| uander Sutherland. commander of the
Eagle, took the stand to corroborate his
immediate superior. The outcome of his
! testimony on this point was surprising to
/ himself as well as disheartening to the
| judge advocate
After he related with minute detail,
which indicated a marvellous memory, his
| report through the megaphone to the COM
/ mander of the Scorpion. scout OF the fiy-
| ing squadron. the log Of the Scorpion was
produced and every statement of the wit
ness was verified. except the essential one
1 about communicating with the insurgents
| The Impeachment of the reliability of the
witness memory as TO his communication
seemed TO be complete, and was evidently
/ so regarded BY the members of the court
McCalla frankly admitted that he dis
4 ~ H.. - L..
ment in failing to leave small fast YES
sci behind at Cienfuegos TO watch the port
when his hotilla was hurriedly withdrawn
70 save it from possible destruction by
Cervera's feet and it never occurred to
him that Schiey was hurried to the south
eosst 10 take his place with the heavier
ships of the fiying squadron.
1t afterward appeared that If be had
left 8 scout on watch Schley would have
learned instantly on reaching Cienfuegos
that the enemy was not there. and one OF
the most exasperating uncertainties OF the
campaign would thus have been easily OBJ
waited.
Another significant fact was secured
| from Captain McCalla as to the confer
ence of captains on hoard the BROOKLYN at
/ the commencement of the Santiago block
ade. TO the effect that Schley arranged for
= division Of the FIRE from bis ships on the
| Spanish cruisers II they tried 60 come out
The Judge advocate showed by Lieuten-
ant Barnes of the Navigation Burean that
Schley's cable dispatch regretting his In
ability TO remain of Santiago was printed
in the official record Of the Navy Depart
ment Just as Il was received BY his de-
psrtment This translation varies in 4
number of particulars from the original
delivered by Sehley 70 Captain Cotton OF
The Harvard 70 be put in eiuher and sent
from Jamaica. The cipher. as Il reached
WASHINGTON. also tailed with Captain
Cotton's letter hook. and ii IS now Ques-
tion between Schley and Cotton as to who
changed the message The original mes
saee has not been found af the Navy De
partment