The Washington times., 1901-10-12

aue SO l-lr as indN piShst posiN NdhS Soii
cerned. He said she was three miles of
shore and could not have seen the Span
fish fleet escaping at night unless the ves-
sells had turned to the westward, where
the Marblehead was stationed.
Captain LcmIy's Policy.
Much Of the effort of the judge advo-
cate has of late been directed toward an
attempt to prove that the affair of May
81 was not a reconnaissance, but that
Schley went in for the purpose of de
stroyirg the Colon and failed to do so.
Contrary TO expectation the Govern
ment's side" will not conclude today, al
though Captain Lemly anticipates having
all his evidence in by Monday night or
Tuesday morning. The attendance at the
Court yesterday was quite large and there
were. as usual, many ladies' in the audi
enCe.
At the opening of the Court the judge
advocate corrected the official report OF
his statement Thursday in relation 10 the
cable grams TO the megaphone message
Of May 10 from the Eagle to the scorpion
and Brooklyn. He said he dld not queS
ton the accuracy OF the report WhhCh
made him say that he would not oiIer the
cablegrams in evidence because thcy Were
not sworn testimony. but he woi!d hke
his statement to appear that, althOuSh
the drDositions were sworn, they were
not in the share of such ex parte sworn
evidence as is usually admitted before
courts of enquiry, but that taking them
at their fun value there was no objection
TO them on his part.
Rear Admiral Henry G Taylor, the
Indiana's commander in the war with
Spain, was recalled to correct his testi-
mOny, and while he was on the stand he
was questioned on an important and in
teresting point Admiral Schley's coun-
sci have endeavored unsuccessfully to
introduce as evidence signals between Ad-
miral Sampson and Admiral (then cap
tain) Taylor on the morning of July ).
Il desire to ask the admiral one ques-
tion before he leaves the stand" said the
judge advocate after Admiral Taylor had
certified TO the report of his evidence
Did you have from any source infor-
nation that the Spanish fleet was going
TO make sortie on the Sd Of July?
None whatever" answered Admiral
Taylor.
Then Mr. Rayner asked a question: "Ad
miral, you didn't get message from the
Vixen as to any smoke arising from the
harbor?
None" was the response.
Captain Parker. Admiral Schleys junior
counsel fresh from a days visit to his
home in Perth Amboy, N j., concluded
TO take hand in the questioning.
You didn't get message from admiral
Sampson or Admiral Schley?' he asked
None" repeated the witness.
While waiting for the next witness Cap
tain Lemly put in evidence Re port from
Captain tnow Rear AdmiraD Merrill MI
Ter of the cruiser Raleigh in regard TO
the accuracy OF the stadlmeter Tor meas
uring distances. Captain Icnly present
cd Captain AIiller's report which showed
that the sta6imeter was accurate up to
500 yards. but that at l,Goj yarCs an error
OF 20l yards was found 10 exist.
Lieut.. AdelbeTt AlthoEse, l. ;. n, sta-
toned on the Constellation at Newport,
was sworn and examined by the judge
QNDescrihe what the Flying Ssusdr7n
did OF Cisnfuegos In the nature Of block
aiding that port by day and by night.
A.-DlriHg the 22d Of May the ships re
mained six or seven miles out until about
O'Clock when they steamed in passing
east opposite the entrance distance of
between 2.(09 and 300 yards at very slow
speed. Then they beaded out again about
o'clock and steamed to the south for
while. and then to the southwark ana
eastward They stepped about G:31. and
during the night they held positions in
column lying almost dead in the water.
Q.-What effort. IL any, was made to
communicate with the insurgents Off
CienfuegCS2
A.-There was no effort whatever that
] saw.
Q.-Describe what you saw of that af-
fair Of May 81. (The firing on the Colonl
A-Ne commenced to steam in about !
o'clock from the westward. The speed
was ordered for ten knots. l had com
mand OF the two after S-inch turrets,
starboard and port
Firing on the Colon.
Q.-Had you any instructions from the
commander-in-chicf in regard to the fir
ing?
A--After We started in received a mes
sage by an orderly that the commodore
wished to see the tIrret officers. do not
recolleet talking with the commodore. He
was present. Captain Hisginson instruct
ed me that We were to steam by the en-
trance at 1850 yards range and at ten
knots speed. ! asked the captain If the
speed should be so fast He said shat was
the order 1 returned to my turret. AS
we steamed past my port battery was en-
gagged and / stood in the port turret and
gave my cadet the range at 1899 yards
That was the first time that We passed
the entrance. We fired two shots at that
range.
Q.-why did you not fire more?
Ave were not able on account of
tine. We were not able to discharge and
load the gun in time.
By the Court:
Q.-Did you take cross bearings or use
any other means to determine the position
of the Mass achusetts at daylight on the
morning Of the 18th, 18Th, 5Jth, and Slst
OF May
Al did not
Q.-Were you directed TO direct the fire
OF your division at the Colon or at the
batteries?
All the Colon
Captain Lemly took occasion in the
interim between the departure of Lieuten-
ant Althouse and the next witness to in
trodUce in evidence the telegraphic report
and the mailed report OF Commodore
May 81, when the Massachusetts, the
Iowa. and the New Orleans fired at the
Cristobal Colon. The reconnOissa nee, he
said, was made at 1859 yards Tor the pur-
pose of destroying the Colon. The first
despatch also stated that the guns at the
east and west of the entrance were OF
large calibre and Of long range. The Sec
oud despatch was to the same effect, but
in greater detail This despatch also
stated that the fortitcations were pro-
vided with long range guns OF large cali
bre.'
Lieut.. Theodore G. Dewey. a nephew OF
Admiral Dewey. now serving on the Ala
bama, was called and described the char
actcr of Schiey's blockade on Santiago
while he was attached TO the MaSsachu-
setts. The distance Of the American
shins from the harbor entrance was from
five TO eight miles. In steaming past the
harbor entrance at night the ships went
three or four miles on each side of it.
The day blockade was maintained at
about the same distance as the night
blockade He did not recall that the
squadron maintained any particular
forIna ton in the daytime. He knew of
no orders for the squadron TO follow in
the event that the enemy came out
BY Captain Lemly:
Odd you have any conversation with
the commanding officer Of the Flying
Squadron or with anyone in his presence
on the 3lst Of May in regard to firing on
the COl0n2 What were your instructions
from him or from anyone In his presenCc2
A--Shortly before we started I'm to the
entrance was told that the commodore
wished TO see the turret officers in the
pilot house. and the commodore stated
that he intended 70 go in Few minutes
to have a try at the Colon and that we
would sink her. / asked what speed we
we're to make and was told about ten
knots 7 remarked that / thought that
was giving US very little chance at the