The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-11-07

navy, Ge3ilDS WIN tHe events VI '''
war Of 1S9S. Maclay, himself an EN-
ploye Of the Navy Department. was un
derstood to have had the sanction OF
some of the high naval officers III his
work. His history contained various bit
ter attacks on Admiral Schley.
These attacks led Schley to request OF
the Secretary of the Navy ain investiga
tion by a naval court of his conduct dur
ing the war. The request was granted
and Admiral Dewey, president: Admirals
Benham and Howison were named as the
members of the court. When the cour'
met, on Sept. l.. Admiral Schley chai
lenged the competency of Admiral Howl
son on the ground that the admiral had
shown prejudice against him. The chal
lenge was allowed and the court adjourn
ed. Admiral l.amsay was selected by
the Navy Department TO fill the vacancy
and the court reassembled in Washing
ton Sept. 20.
Under the direction Of Capt. Lemly,
Judge advocate general OF the navy, the
examination of witnesses was begun.
with q view TO establishing the facts rel
ative to ten points contained in pre-
cept drawn up by the Navy Department.
The first paragraph instructs the court
to inquire generally into the conduct of
Schley during the campaign. The second
paragraph deals with the blockade Of
Cienfuegos and the third with the pro-
gress Of the flying squadron to Santiago
after it was discovered that the Spanish
feet was not in Cienfuegos. The fourth.
fifth and sixth paragraphs deal with the
retrograde movement. the conditions for
coaling and the question as to whether or
not Schley disobeyed orders by starting
away from Santiago TO return to Key
West. The seventh paragraph relates
TO Schley's failure to destroy the Spanish
cruiser Cristobal Colon when it lay ut
the mouth of Santiago harbor. The eighth
paragraph relates TO the allegation that
Schley withdrew his squadron from in
front of Santiago at night. The ninth
paragraph deals with the celebrated loop
made by the Brooklyn during the battle
with Cervera's fleet. The tenth para
graph relates to the alleged collOquy with
Lieut. Hodgson about the Texas while
the loop was being made.
Judge Jere Wilson. leading counsel for
Admiral Schley. died suddenly soon af-
ter the investigation began, since which
time ex-Congressman Rayner of Mary
land has conducted his case. The testi-
mony has shown that on May 10 Admiral
s;chley left Key West with the flying
squadron for the Caribbean, with instruc
tions to find the Spanish fleet. then sup
posed to be at Cienfuegos. On that day,
however, the Spanish fleet entered Santi-
ago harbor. where it remained until it
emerged on July 3 and was at once at
tackled and destroyed. The flying squad
ron arrived at Cienfuegos at midnight.
May 21. Forty miles from Cienfuegos
guns were heard. and Admiral Schley be-
lieved these to be a salute in honor Of
the arrival of the Spanish fleet. So the
flying squadron began a blockade OF the
harbor Red signal lights were seen on
shore. but no ore in the fleet knew what
they meant However, Capt. McCalla
of the Marblehead, who had established
a system of signals with the Cuban in
surgents. arrived from Key West on May
"a and Immediately communicated with
the insurgents. learning that the Spanish
fleet was not in the harbor. Before that
time Schley had received various mes
sages indicating that the Spanish feet
was at Santiago This information came
to Sampson from a telegraph operator at
Havana who could communicate with the
American authorities for a few minutes
every evening about o'clock. He had
promptly the news of the ar
rival of Cervera's fleet, so that this was
known at Key West on the evening of
May 20. However, on the same date
Sampson wrote letter to Schley in
which he said, referring to a telegram
from the Navy Department advising him
to instruct Schley 10 proceed to San
tiagO:
After duly considering this telegram
have decided TO make no change in the pres
ent plans; that is. that you should hold your
OF Cienfuegos. III the Spanish
ships have put into Santiago they must come
either to Havana or Cienfuegos TO deliver
the munitions of war which they are said
TO bring for use in Cuba. am, therefore,
Of the opinion that our best chances Of sue
cess in capturing their ships will be to hold
the TWO points. Cienfuegos and Havana
with all the force We can muster. Ii later
II should develop that these vessels are at
we could then assemble of that
port the ships best suited for the purpose.
and completely blockade II. Until we then
receive more positive. Information we shall
continue to hold Havana and SantiagI."
On the evening of May "a Schley start
ed for Santiago with his fleet. On the
of May % he had received a
from Admiral Sampson
by the Hawk directing him If satisfied
that they are not at Cienfuegos to pro-
cecd with all dispatch 10 Santiago"
I al, ,In
Hawk, testified that when he delivered
the message Schley said he could not go
to Santiago. as he was not satisfied that
the Spaniards were not in Cienfuegos,
and besides his ships needed coal. The
feet came into contact with the Ameri-
can scout ships about twenty miles south
of Santiago on May 26. Much testimony
was introduced in regard to the slowness
Of this trip and the state of the weather.
That the weather was bad was generally
agreed. though many witnesses declared,
in opposition to other witnesses, that the
ships might have been coaled.
Schley said that he had taken a course
So far south of Santiago because it had
been expected that as soon as il was an
by the Spaniar,ls that he had
left Cienfuesos the Spanish fleet would
leave the harbor at Santiago and try to
slip past TO the south and reach Cienfue-
sos. Therefore he had gone to the south
ward to secure a wide horizon The
scouts at Santiago had given him no in
regarding the Spanish fleet,
Capt. Sigsbee of the ST. Paul having gone
On board TO tell him that nothing had
been seen of the Spaniards. Capt ". C..
Wise of the Yale. who was the senior
officer of the scout ships, had been in
formed by dispatch from the Navy De
partment that the Spaniarls were in the
harbor of Santiago. but he had not given
the Information to Schley. though he did
give it to Capt. Philip of the Texas. As
there was no news for him there regard
ing the enemy. aud as the weather, in
his opinion. was too rough 10 coal at
sea. Schley started back to Key West
on the Goth. sending 10 the Navy De-
partment this dispatch:
Received dispatch Of May &c by Harvard
on Santiago de Cuba. Merrimac's engine Is
disabled and she Is helpless; am obliged 10
have her towed to Key West. Have been
absolutely unable 10 coal the Texas. Marble
head. Vixen and brooklyn from collier. ow-
ing to very rough seas and boisterous wealth
or since leaving Key West. Brooklyn Is the
only one In squadron having more than suf-
ficlent coal TO reach Key West. Impossible