The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-10-31
MAKES SLOW PROGRESS
captain LEMLY CONTINUES Al.
MIRAL ScHLEY'S CROSS.
EXAMINATION,
CIENFUEGOS TO SANTIAGO

Movements Of the Flying Squadron on
the South Coast of Cuba Occupy
Most of the Naval Courts Attention.
Witness Gives Three Reasons for
Turning Back Toward Key West
for Coal.
Washington, Oct. 30.-The cross-ex-
R1aination of Admiral Schley was con-
tinued throughout the session of the
court of inquiry during the day. The
progress made was exceedingly slow.
Practically the whole day was con-
sumed in questioning the admiral
about the cruise from Cienfuegos to
Santiago and the motives and in
huences that governed him in turn
ing back after his squadron had ar
rived in the vicinity of the latter port
This latter branch of the crOss-exam-
dnation had not been concluded when
the court adjourned. The blockade
at Santiago, the reconnaissance on
May 81 and the battle of July still
remain to be covered. It is hardly
probable that the judge advocate can
conclude in another day. After he
finishes, quite a number of questions
prepared by the members of the court
will be submitted. The judge advo-
cate, in conducting the cross-examina-
ton, used carefully prepared type
written list of questions. They called
for comparison of statements Admiral
Schley has made either in his direct
testimony, in his communication to
the senate or in his dispatches to ADJ
miral Sampson or the navy depart
ment, with the testimony of witnesses
who have preceded him and the logs
and signal books of the other vessels
OF the fleet. The questions we're not
asked in chronological order, but
Jumped from one subject to another
and from one stage of the campaign
to another. Throughout the strain to
which the witness was subjected while
under examination, the admiral re-
tanned his customary composure. Only
once or twice did he
Display Impatience orr WEAKNESS.
u question
he replied that he had been asked
the same question before. at the same
time telling what his reply had been
then. On another occasion, when he
was being searchingly interrogated as
to his distances from shore at Glen
tuegos, and as to whether the dis
tances were matter of record, he
responded rather tartly: ooh, 1 did
mot know tn o11 uyo,,ll I,o c,,, ~, =, -,,,++o,,
OF great Importance, or l should have
plotted them and made a memoran-
dunn as I should of many other
things"
The main points to which the cross
ability of the ships to coal Off Cienfue-
gos and the reasons for what is known
as the 'retrograde movement
The latter point was dwelt upon
with much emphasis and detail and
had not been disposed of fully when
the court adjourned. The admiral
gave three reasons for turning back:
first, the statement of Captain Sigsbee,
who commanded the scout ship St.
Paul that the enemy was not in San
tiago: second. the opinion of Nunez,
the pilot. that the entrance was too
ships to enter and third the ambi-
guilty of the departments telegram.
In the course of the crOss-examination
the admiral said he regarded the de-
partment's dispatch rather as a sug-
gestion than as an explicit order,
suggestion which he carried out after
the sea had abated and the coal supply
of the ships had been replenished.
The squadron's Coal Supply.
Admiral Schley was closely ques-
toned as to why, on May 27, he re-
ported that he was "absolutely un-
able" to coal the Brooklyn. He said
1t was on account of the motion of the
ship. He also added that she did not
need coal and he did not try to coal
her.
What was your particular purpose
in reporting to the department. that
you had Deen absolutely unable to
coal the Brooklyn wnen the Brooklyn
did not need coal?'
Simply because if we had wanted
TO we could not have done So"
WAS the Brooklyn the only vessel
in your squadron having more than
sufficient coal to reach Key West?"
IF you take the circumstances of
economical steaming, probably no, but
If you we're to take into consideration
all the circumstances of service likely
on such trip then she probably was,
with the exception of the Iowa."
Admiral Schley's dispatch of May
81 to the department, in which he said
that the Brooklyn was the only vessel
of the flying squadron which had more
than enough coal to carry her to Key
West, was again introduced in evi-
dence
Admiral Schley was closely ques-
toned as to why he had cabled the de.
partment that he would coal off Con
aives when two days previously he
had reported that he could not coal
there any vessels except small ships
His answer was, 81 could not coal in
the harbor of Gonaives but thought
could coal off the coast $50