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

oeiore that AS to that conversation I never said
anything to the effect that Captain Philip had run
away or attempted to run away. On thinking over
last night what did occur with reference TO the
ieAas' mink Commodore Schley and discussed
me position OF the Texas when the fight began
Inc Iexas was lying with her head to the east
"heh the engagement began and she turned with
starooard helm and headed off In the same direc-
uon as the rest of She fred first with her mort
battery and then put her helm to starboard and
heaneo IN the same direction with the rest Of the
siiiPs. think that question discussed with Com
modore Schley. I cannot be sure of it, but that
ever fntimated that Captain Philip attempted to
run away with the Texas is preposterous on the
face of it."
DID you have a conversation with SchIey on the
same day. at the same place and at the same hour
or al any other place, in which you used substan-
Tally the following language: L shot the bow Off
the Puton, the stern off the Furor put nv helm
TO starhoard and raked the Teresa and knocked
out the Viscaya'?"
Ito the best of my knowledge and belief never
used such language"
sCHLEY FELT HIS RESPONSIBILITY.
Were not the commanding officers called on
board the flagship Brooklyn by signal on the morn
Ing of May %. after the Colon discovered?"
They were"
Can you tell me, do you recall what took
place at the conference of the commanding officers
at that timer
Commodore Schley In the cabin of the
a
eral talk about the Spanish fleet having located
at last at Santiago. 1 do recollect any special
conference. do not think 1t was in the nature of
a conference l do not recollect that the off,
GERS were asked to express any opinion. 1
Der having conversation with Commodore Schley
about the effect OF the fighting batteries on the
ships, in which told him of the experience had
had at San juan and expressed the opinion to him
that it was not worth while risk ships fighting
shore batteries alone; that did not think anything
would be gained by 1t.
In the case under consideration the Spanish
ships were present IN the harbor. The conditions
were changed, and we would have 10 take the risk
of the fire from the batteries in order TO get at
them. 1 remember Commodore Schley remarking
before we left that he felt that the country held
him responsible: that the ships should not be rsked
under the fire Of the shore batteries until the Span
sh feet destroyed"
Mr.. Rayner then said: ct want to call your at
tenton to the report Of Captain McCalla, of the
Marblehead, page 426 of the appendix. which
says: Commodore Schley explained to the
handing officers that in the Spanish ships
out he wished concentrate the batteries
of all ships portion Of those of the enemy.
This not explained a tactical concentra-
ton of our whole force part Of the enemy, but
a division of whole fire several of the
enemy's ships During the time the commanding
officers were on board the flagship. Captain Evans
asked Commodore Schley if 1t were his intention to
steam at the eneny's ships in case they should
start to come out. Commodore Schiey answered
intention to attack them they out OF the
narrow defle.' Do you remember that?"
81 recollect II perfectly"
as that a correct statement"
That is correct"
so there was plan OF battle arranged by Com
modore Schley. there not?"
There is nothing there TO indicate It from what
you have read"
given by the commander-ip-che substantially.
Close in toward harbor entr-.ce and attack
them'?"
''You have not read anything about indicating
any plan of battle"
DISCREPANCY IN REPORTS.
Mr.. Rayner-And added words (readng) "indic-
ative OF his intention attack them they
out" I want to read you two reports-your report
of the engagement OF the Spanish squadron and the
commander chief's-and / would like you to tell
whether there is any conflict between them and
II there is, which of these statements In your
Judgment now is correct (reading): After having
passed 1875 the Oquendo and the Maria Teresa
on fire and ashore this vessel continued chase
and fire upon the Vscaya until 1876, when signal
to cease firing was sounded board 1t having been
discovered that the Viscaya had struck her colors
That was at 1896 In your report. Now. want TO
read from the report of the conmander-in-chief
(reading): THE Vzcaya still under the fire of
the leading vessels. the Cristobal Colon had drawn
ahead, leading the chase and soon passed beyond
the range of the guns of the leading American
HIS she turned inshore and was beached fifteen
miles from Santiago. burning hercely" etc
II have doubt you read 1t correctly"
(which of these is correct7 If there is conflict
between the commander-in-chiers report OF the
time that the viscaya went ashore and your report
yours at 1926 and his at n:15-it becomes ma
terial point to us which of these specifications
is correct"
1.-THE time given in that report of mine was fur
nished by the navigator and executive officer of
the ship. l. of course. did not take the time
Mr. Rayner then questioned the witness as to the
speed the Iowa making when the Oquendo and
the Maria Teresa went ashore. The witness re-
piled that he could only say the ship was going as
fast as they could make her 60 He thought she
must have been going nine and one-haf knots
hour.
In this connection Mr.. Rayner asked a number OF
questions. intended to show that the Rear Ad-
miraIs official reports and his present statements
as to speed not consistent Mr.. Rayner's
point was that official report showed, according
to measurements that the Iowa had made eight
miles in half hour. but the Rear Admiral said
that while this might be true, according TO land
measurements, it must be borne In mind that he
was rsrlning a at Rear Admiral Evans
was also questioned to his statement concerning
the distance the blockading vessels were out at
night He said yesterday that the vessels of the
blockading squadron farther out at night than
during the day. and Mr.. Rayner read previous
statement from him to the effect that Eat daylight
we closed in
This the witness said. the exact fact-that
after being farther at night the vessels came in
closer at daylight. He said that in steaming back
and forth at night the vessel just ahead could be
SEEN but not the vessel at the head of the column.
The Marbehead. farther in, could be occasionally
seem but the Vixen never.
while before Cienfuegos on the way to Santi
ago. did you have any orders for battle?" asked
Mr. Hanna