Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-24
SCHLEY IS
ON STAND
Testifies in His Own Defense
in the Court of In
quiry.
fNTTTNrc NTpCnNI GAIN
THINGS SAMPSON SAID
Latter Told Schley Not to Attack the
Land Batteries Before the Spanish
Ships Were Sent to the Bottom
Schiey's Testimony.

Washington, Oct. 24.-After Captain
Clark, commander of the Oregon, was
excused this afternoon in the Samp-
son-Schley court of inquiry. Admiral
Schley was called to the stand. He
began his testimony by relating the
particulars of taking the flying squad
ron at Hampton Roads, where, as he
said, "the general plan of the cam
paign was thrashed out" He said the
captains of his squadron had diversi-
fed views and he resolved to take the
helm himself. He had explained it
would be impossible to arrange a gen
eral plan of battle, but he had explain
ed to the commanders that in general
way, it was his idea to attack the
head and leading ship of the enemy at
tacking us, and concentrate his fire up
on her. My reasons for this were two
fold, the first being the moral effect
upon the enemy and the second the
confusion it would create. l think this
plan was vindicated by the result of
the battle some six weeks or two
months later"
He then related the details of the
cruise to Key West and the meeting
there with Sampson.
| "The Admiral was very much worn"
he said, "and necessarily so because
his responsibility had been great He
! showed me number of orders, one
of which was for a division of two
squadrons, one to take the north and
the other the south coast of Cuba, he
| to have the preference. | asked
which he preferred and he expressed
a preference for the Havana COM
mand. He told me confidentially
whichever command should take |
must remember not to attack the
heavily fortified places on shore until
| the Spanish ships were disposed of !,
that we must not risk the ships until
the Spanish fleet was out of the way"
| We discussed Cervera's probable
destination. He said his information
was that the orders of the Spanish
squadron to reach Havana or some
point within railroad communication
were imperative and he believed Glen.
fuegos to be that point as that came
under the acceptation order more di,
rectly. We looked over the maps and
| must say | agreed with him. | could
the military situation of the island at
all could have supposed Santiago would
have fulfilled any Of the conditions OF
his instructions.
We had quite talk together. | told
him | had been ordered to report fol
duty. wanted to assure him at the
outset should be loyal absolutely and
unreservedly to the cause we were
both representing. Captain Chadwick
who was present said: OF course
Commodore, anyone who has known
your character would know it would
be impossible for you to be otherwise
than loyal
| asked the admiral if there had
been established any means OF com
munication with the insurgents; whe
ther there We're pilots or whether any
locality was known and where they
We're to be found. He told me he did moi
know, but when he got the situation
with me, and thought it would be bet
ter for me to proceed to blockade
lCienfuegos as soon as possible"
The admiral then read the order un
der which he had sailed from Key
West In this order Sampson, tol(
Schley he should establish blockade
at Cienfuegos with the least possibl,
delay and had said after he had tht
n information more in hand, he woult
write the commodore.
Under direction of this order, III,
squadron. got under way" he said. ant
then he related the details of tn,
cruise to Cienfuegos.