The San Francisco call., 1901-10-10
TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES.
Officers of the American WarshiPs
Tell of Important Conversations.

day marks an important turning point in the
career Of Rear Admiral Schley, being nothing
less than the date of his transfer from the
active to the retired list of the navy. he was
in his accustomed seat within the railing Of
the court of inquiry and gave his usual atten-
ton to the proceedings Of the court The re-
ance with law, he having reached the age OF
G. years. 1t was generally remarked he did
not look his age.
The formal proceedings Of the day began
with the reintroductton Of Lieutenant NJ. l..
Bristol formerly watch officer on the Texas,
as a witness He was under cross-examination
when the court adjourned last night and Mr.
Raynor continued his questions to-day.
Other witnesses on the list for to-day in
navigator on the Massachusetts during the war
with Spain; Lieutenant Grant, who was also
Taylor. who. as captain, commanded the bat
tleship Indiana; Commander William H.
Schuetz, who was navigator on the Iowa. and
lieutenant J. H. Holden, who, as an officer
on the Scorpion, made the log record of the
communication Of Commander Switzerland to
Commodore Schley concerning the condition off
Santiago.
Mr. Raynor began his examination Of Lieu
tenant Bristol with questions concerning the
accuracy Of the stadimeter for the measure
ment Of distances at sea He asked If he
would rather trust his own visual observation
The witness stated that the stadimeter was
more accurate for distances below 1000 yards
Ihan ABOVE lnat distance AZ that distance ne
would make several observations for conf1rma-
tion of visual observation.
Gould you give me- asked Mr.: Raynor. "a
point from which it is entirely reliable?''
Yes" was the reply. at zero it Is alb
solutely accurate.
The witness considered the sextant much
more reliable in measuring the distance be-
tween ships. He had. he said. taken several
observations with the stadimeter just before
the Spanish fleet came out Of the harbor and
had checked these with the seXtant. He found
the distance from the Morro to be 800 yards.
Lieutenant Bristol was also questioned by
Mr. Raynor concerning the distance out of the
blockading vessels at Cienfuegos, but he de-
clined to change his estimate OF yesterday that
II was eight or ten miles distant from the har-
Dor. Mr.. Raynor said:
Il Will read you Commodore SchIey's report
as TO the blockade off Cienfuegos He saws:
"A line Of blockade was established about four
miles off shore and at night an in-shore line
was maintained consisting variouslys of the
Vessel arriving on the SSd corvoyinE The Mer-
rimac. If you are right the commodore has
A line Of blockade was established about four
miles off shore at Cienfuegos.' That Is not
a correct statement Of the commodore's s, is it?''
Sure of His Figures.
The statements 1 make are what thought
and what l believe to be right 1 do not qpes-
Now refresh your recollection with Off
cial report; The statements you have made
off Cienfuegos from four to six to ten miles,
and during the night from eight to ten miles
Without questioning either Commodore Schley
yourself when 1 read you his official report
do you still stand on your statement about six
to ten miles?'
Il have to stand by my statement"
Speaking Of the weather during the cruise
of the flying squadron from Cienfuegos to San
tiago the witness said there were fresh breezes
boat could, he said, have been lowered at any
time during the voyage.
Mr.. Raynor also interrogated Lieutenant Bris-
tol concerning his estimate, made soon after
the arrival of the fleet off Santiago, that the
Spanish shore batteries amounted to but little.
He had said yesterday that the elevation OF
these batteries was from 150 to 200 feet Mr..
Raynor produced chart to show that the
MORO battery was 22O feet above the water
Now then" asked Mr.. Raynor ARE you
as positive about the distance you gave here
as in other cases in which you have given
distances?"
Captain Lennly objected to the form of the
he had not used in the mouth of the witness.
Mr. Raynor then made objection to the in
terruption and after stating this objection said
to the witness: IF you are not positive
shall submit to any question"
Judge Advocate-The witness has not stated
Admiral Dewey-I would rather you would not
interrupt the testimony.
Judge Advocate-If the court tells me I can
not do 1t I will submit to the order of the
Admiral Dewey-If counsel for the applicant
has put words into the mouth Of the witness
which he did not utter you addressing Cap
tain Lemly) can bring II out at the proper time
You will have an opportunity to do that.
Judge Advocate-That is not the advant-
ageous time to do 1t. The advantageous time
IS when II Is done.
Mr. Raynor-In order not to put any words
in your mouth, which is unfortunate in
sinuation because am after the truth, will
give you opportunity now to make a full
explanation to whether you stated the ee-
walton Of these batteries to be between 100 and
200 feet.
Il did state that"
did you not state to me you are positive
to other distances you have given in the
case?''
IT did"
do you still stand to your statement? Is
the map wrong and you right?'
Il will stand by my statement. 1 had not
seen the chart when prepared my statement -
Gloucester Was Endangered.
Mr. Raynor asked the witness whether there
had been any menace to any of the America n
ships on July from the shore batteries. Lieu
tenant Bristol replied that there danger
to the Gloucester because that vessel was un-
armored. He said that he did not consider the
New York in danger.
Mr.. Raynor then read a report by Secretary
Long stating that that day the New York
batteries.
''Do you still say, in view Of that statement
that the shore batteries did not amount to any
thing -
You asked my opinion" the witness re-
piled, land have given it to you
Admiral Dewey-We don't want opinions
At the request Of Mr. Raynor the witness
made measurements from his chart to show
the distance the Brooklyn from the Span
ish ships during the fight off Santiago The
reply was: THE distance Oouendo from