The age-herald., 1901-10-02


 
 written a report of it, but that some acts had not been given because Captain Phillips asked him Ito make it nice for everybody" and this had been his own inclination. He was then excused for the day and asked to bring his newspaper re- port of the engagement in court tomor- row.
 Captain Sigsbee Called. Captain Charles Sigsbee, who com manded the scout ship St. Paul during the | Spanish war, was next called. He said | that in obedience to orders to Captain | Wise, who was his commanding officer, | he had proceeded to the vicinity of San- | tiago, arriving there on the 21st. He told | of taking aboard the Cuban pilot Munenz. | and said he did not have great confidence | fin that individual. His instructions were to report to Commodore Schley that the Spanish squadron was probably in Santi- ago harbor. He fell in with the flying squadron on the evening of May 28, the squadron being then about twenty-five or twenty-six miles south of Santiago. He had reported to Commander Schley that he knew nothing definite about the Span- ish fleet He was asked if he had ex- pressed his belief to Commodore Schley that Cervera's fleet was not in the harbor as reported later by Commodore Schley.
 A controversy arose over the admissbil- ity of the question, and the court took 8 recess for luncheon before receiving the reply of the witness.
 MT. Hanna Argues.
 When the court reconvened Captain Sigsbee resumed his testimony. Mr. Hanna repeated his question asked before recess quoting from Admiral Schley's re- port of February 8, 1899. the sentence reading:
 
 the Spanish fleet. I may have stated that I knew nothing positively or absolutely nothing of its movements, but received certain hints that there was a probabili- ty of the Spanish being there at that time In regard to other matters l re- spectfully make an appeal to the court.
 This court Is one of making a reputa- tion. It has been stated by Commodore Schley in a letter to the United States Senate that he expressed a certain belief. Now 1t has been made a public matter. I think that either the court or the defense should allow me to express under oath what I really said
 whether I expressed that belief or not, 1t may be technically right to inter- fere with me, but according to the ethics of the naval service l think the defense ought to permit me to answer that ques- ton"
 We have no objection to that" said
 
 T have given no answer to that ques- ton. I have said nothing about my be- | lief"
 | MT. Hanna: ''The portion of the ques- | ton to which I should like you to give | an explicit answer as whether you as- | sured Commodore Schley that you be- lieved the Spanish fleet was not in San | tiago."
 | He Had Not Seen Fleet. | T did not say that believed it was not there. I said that had not seen it." | Did you give him any assurances that | would point in that direction" "I made known first my orders from the Navy Department, which stated that the Spanish fleet was reported to have | arrived there.'
 MT. Hanna read a number of letters, among them being one from Captain Sigsbee to Commodore Schley written from Mole St. Nicholas May 2s. in which | he said to the commodore: Do as you are | doing and you will do right | MT. Hanna-I want to direct your atten- | ton to the clause: Do as you are doing and you will do right" What was the