The sun., 1901-11-07
ARGUMENT FOR SCHLEY
Parker and Rayner Address Court In
His Behalf.
WHY HE ACTED AS HE DID.
Rayner Pleads For Consideration of
Questions From what Was Mt
That Time the Admiral's
Point of View.

Washington, Nov. 6-The entire time
of the Schley court of inquiry was de-
voted to argument in Admiral Schley's
behalf. Immediately after the court
convened Captain Parker proceeded
with his address, and he was followed
without the loss of time by Hon. ISL
dor Rayner, Admiral Schley's chief
counsel.
Captain Parker considered in turn the
reconnaissance of May 81. the coaling
question and the battle of July 8, in
Guiding the loop Of the Brooklyn.
Captain Parker talked for twenty-five
minutes and was followed by Mr.. Ray.
ner, who began by paying compliment
TO Judge Advocate I.emly and his as
sistant, Mr.. Hanna, for the '.inost jul
dlcial impartiality with which they
have managed this case"
Mr. Rayner made plea for the con-
sideration of questions from what was
at that time Commodore Schley's point
of view. Let MS" he said, put our
selves in his place and see what the
circumstances We're. We all know now
what it would have been wise to do"
Discussing dispatch No. I, known as
the Dear Schley" letter, Mr.. Rayner
contended that the order conveyed in
that message made il incumbent upon
Commodore Schley TO remain at Glen
fllegos He declared that this was the
key to the whole ease. and that it did
not admit of any other construction
than that Commodore Schlcy should
remain ut Cienfuegos.
The Orders TO Sampson.
Mr.. Rayner, in support of this con
tention, read the departments orders
10 Admiral Sampson directing him ia
notify Commodore Schley by the Iowa
to proceed off Santiago. Admiral
sampson, instead of transmitting that
order and reinforcing it. had transmit
ted it with directions to Schley TO re.
main off Cienfuegos OH the ground that
the holding of that port would Offer
the best chance of capturing and de.
stroying the Spanish fleet. This modi
tication of the departments orders by
Admiral Sampson had been followed
by order No. :, directing him IF salts
fled that the fleet was not in Cienfue
gos TO proceed, but cautiously. to San
lingo"
In this connection Mr.. Rayner dis
cusScd the McCalla memorandum
which. he said, had never been intend
Ell for Commodore Schley, but for thu
commander in chief at Key West. The
memorandum contained not WORD
about the means Of communicating
with the insurgents. Order No s. upoi
which the counsel on the other side hat
laid so much stress. he said. did no
permit Commodore Schcy 10 leave I'm
til satisfied that the SpanarCls wer,
not in Cienf,cgos.
III it had reached Commodore Schley
us Admiral Sampson believed it would
! by > Il. IN. April u. he could not hav.
/ left, Mr.. Rayner added. That dispatcl
! reached Commodore Schley at s H. IN
! April 3D. and on that day the Adult
wAs sent in, fact which Mr.. Rayncl
said lie regarded as one of the mos
/ important in the campaign When tht
Adula did not me out the next day
. as her skipper had agreed 10 do, Almi
raj Schlcy was still further conirmct
IN the belief that ttrvrra w;s in Glen
funGos.
II want to say right here" continuct
Mr.. ltaEn"r. 'that as brave Il man Il
Mctalla is and MS daring and fearless
II soul as he Is lie never pretended t,
band amy boats OH the Cuban coast
and he was around there eight days"