The San Francisco call., 1901-10-31
LIGHT ON THE BATTLE.
Admiral Resumes His Account o.
FLYING Squadron Operations.


WASHINGTON, Oct S0.-With the opening
of the Schley court of inquiry to-day Admiral
Schlev began the fifth day of his testimony
and the third day of his cross examination.
The testimony began where left off yesterday,
taking up different phases of the blockade of
Santiago and passing from that question into
the reconnaissance of May 81, when the Span
isb cruiser Cristobal Colon was bombarded.
The battle of July was left for the last sub
ject to be considered.
The first question Captain Lemly asked was
whether the Iowa with the flying squadron
at Hampton Roads when he gave the captains
of the ships the verbal orders as to attack
ing the enemy's fleet Admiral schley replied
that she not. In response to questions he
said that he first fell in with the Iowa oft
Commander Rodgers was in command. He did
not recollect whether he had communicated
the verbal orders to the latter. He first saw
He was then questioned as to his conversa-
ton with Captain Folger when the latter sug-
gested circular blockade such as existed at
Wei -Hai-Wei. Witness said he thought the
fleet was larger than his at Wei-Hai-Wei.
He was asked whether he did not consider a
circular blockade with the vessels pointing in
as mobile as the other form in that ships
could move either way by turning with the
helm. The admiral replied that he thought a
circular blockade where all the vessels charged
to the center would produce confusion and in
evitabIy lead to- a different arrangement &C
cording as the enemy moved east or west.
''The outcome" said he. "ceud only be more
or less confusion. such as did actually occur
later
|. tain Folger's statement that the latter had
advised him, to go in closer at Santiago and
his own statement in chief that on the next
day Captain Folger had signaled them that
they were within range of the batteries. The
admiral, in reply, changed the date of the sig
nal to day later. He read Folger's signal.
Il think the forts may open at this range
He said when Folger made this signal the
squadron was in practically the same position
C-11a fad Ia Io6
the admiral to go in closer. Witness atten-
ton was then called to his statement that
neither at Cienfuegos nor Santiago had any
vessel entered or departed and he was asked
how he knew this. He replied that he only
knew it because he never heard of any ship
getting in. On the North Cuba blockade when
Frenchman succeeded In getting through the
blockading line into Havana the fact had been
widely advertised a great accomplishment.
entered.
Coming to the reconnaissance OF May 81,
when the Spanish ship Colon was bombarded
as it lay in the harbor at Santiago Captain
Lemly asked Admiral Schley when he first
received notice that the commander in chief
that the notice had come in the dispatch
brought to him by Captain Cotton which was
delivered May 20. This telegram was. he said,
not received until May 81. Possibly, too, the
New Orleans might have brought information
OF the coming of Admiral Sampson.
why did you wait two days after the dis
covery of the presence of the fleet in the har-
Dor before undertaking your reconnaissance p"
For the reason had used those two days
for coaling the vessels of the fleet so as to
be prepared in case the enemy should come
out
Description Of Bombardment.
Relating the occurrences of the bombardment
he said he recalled that Captain Higginson had
asked after he (Schley) went aboard the Mas
sachusetts that the bombardment be post
poned until after dinner. That he warned
some people to get off the turrets and that
Lieutenant Commander Potts had given notice
that they were on the range He did not re-
call, he sad the signal not to go in closer,
but 1t was possible that such signal had been
sent and it had not been recorded. 1t might
be that ii with this with other signals
which had not been recorded. because the writ
ing of them was always done the next day.
mo man he said except press CORE