New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-02

Starboard'
Who gave that order?'
Captain Philip"
Where was the Brooklyn when that order was
given?'
Il presume the Brooklyn In front of the
iexas saw her moment later
MI. Hanna: Did you make any entry the
time with respect to the passing of the Brooklyn
before the Texas?"
Yes. the next line here (reads), 1t was Brook
lyn-close shave
could she have been half mile away?'
L should think not, not anything like it.
would not suppose it was a quarter of mile when
sa" her. was standing just aft the coming
tower, near the entrance 1t in that way
heard these orders given. and I wrote them down
as captain Philip gave them. l went around to
the lee side of the coming tower to find out why
we stopped. He Captain Philip waved his hand
toward the Brooklyn and 1 saw her. He said;
Look at that fellow. going out to sea"
Admiral Dewey: Did you hear Captain Philip
give any orders to back the engnes?"
Il did not I turned away then"
Admiral Dewey: You would have heard it if he
had, would you not?"
"I might not"
Admiral Dewey: srYou seem to have heard every
thing else"
"Oh, not everything"
Mr. Dieuaide said in response questions. that
he had, on the day of the battle, written report
OF 1t. but that these facts had not been given
because Captain Philip had asked him to make
1t nice for everybody and this had been his own
inclination. He was then excused for the day and
asked to bring his newspaper report of the en-
gagement into court tomorrow.
CAPTAIN sIGsBEE's STORY.
Captain Charles D. sigsbee. who commanded the
scoutship st. Paul during the Spanish war. was
next called He said that in obedience to orders
from Captain Wise. who was his commanding off,
Ger. he had proceeded to the vicinity of Santiago.
arriving there the 21st. He told of taking
aboard the Cuban pilot Nunez, and said that he
did not have great confidence in that individual.
His instructions were to report to Commodore
Schley that the Spanish squadron probably was
in Santiago Harbor. He fell In with the Flying
Squadron the evening of May 26. the squadron
then being twenty twenty-five miles south OF
Santiago. He had reported to Commodore Schley
that he knew nothing positively about the Span
tsh feet He then asked If he had expressed
his belief to Commodore Schley that Cervera' 8
fleet not in the harbor. reported later by
Commodore Schley. controversy arose over the
admissibiity of the question, and the court took
recess for luncheon before receiving the reply of
the witness.
When the court reconvened after luncheon Cap
tain Sigsbee resumed his testimony. Mr.. Hanna
repeated his question, quoting from Rear Admiral
Schleys report OF February IS, 1899. the sentence
reading: After having been assured by 6igsbee
that he did not believe the Spanish fleet was in
Santiago" The witness replied: IT stated that
had seen nothing OF the Spanish feet. I may
have stated that knew nothing positively or abso-
lutey about its movements. but recited certain
events show that there probability of the
feet being in Santiago at that time. In regard to
the other matter. l beg to make appeal to the
court This case involving regulations 1t has
been stated by Commodore Schley in official
letter to the United States Senata expressed
a certain belief. Now II has been made public
matter think that either the court the de-
fence should allow me to express under oath what
/ really said. Whether I expressed that belief or
not II may be technically right TO interfere with
me. but sording the ethics OF the naval ser
Vice I think the defence ought TO permit TO
answer that question"
HE CONTRADICTs SCHLEY.
1--WE have no objection to that" said Mr.. Ray
IT have given an answer to that question. I
have said nothing about my belief"
Mr.. Hanna-The portion OF the question TO which
I should like TO have you give explicit answer
is whether you assured Commodore Schley that
you believed the Spanish fleet not IN San
tiago."
"'I did not say that believed It not there
I said I had it
Did you give him any assurance which would
point in that direction"
81 made known first my orders from the Navy
Department which stated that the Spanish fleet
was reported TO have arrived the re-
Mr.. Hanna then read letter which Captain
Sigsbee had May 26 written TO Commodore
Schley, reporting the taking OF the pilot Nunez
aboard from the Jason and the capture OF the
British steamer Restormel prize. He said in
that letter NO news here have seen abso-
luteIy nothing Of the Spanish feet" He reported
also that the Restornel had 400 tons of coal
aboard and said that the commanding officer had
said ne was bound for Santiago
Mr. Hanna also read a letter from Captain Sigs-
bee to Commodore Schley. written from Mole St.
Nicholas May %. in which he said TO the Com
rnodore DO you doing and you will do
right" He also informed him that there were
a number of kilograms at the Mole for him. but
that none of them urgent He told the Com
modore that the department expected him to ex-
ercise great efforts to keep In coal.
Mr.. Hanna-I wish to call your attention to the
clause DO as you doing and you will do
right What the Flying Squadron doing at
the time you wrote that letter?
THAT based on the tenor OF the cipher tele
grams I found the Mole from the Commander
in-Chief and from the Navy Department. urging
that the Spanish squadron be held and that every
effort be made TO coal ship. At that time the
Flying Squadron was off Santiago with the in
tention. far I knew. of staying, and be-
lieved it was the intention of Commodore Schley
to coal his ships off that port left Santiago In
the morning of the day which that letter
written. At that time the weather was very ine
and / had twice urged Commodore Schley the
Importance of taking advantage of that particular
kind of weather, stating that 1t better than
anything VIC had had during my stay off the port
THE CoALING QUESTION AGAIN.
CAPTAIN Sigsbee also said that when he had
boarded the Brooklyn May 26 Commodore
Schley had told him he was bound for Key West
for coal
did he ask you If you believed the Spanish fleet
was In the harbor at Santago?"
II don't remember Ills putting question in such
terms
The witness recalled a signal from the flagship
at that time asking him to inform Sampson that
one-half of this squadron is of COAL