The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-01

Washington, Aug. l.-"If Rear
Admiral schley was guilty of
derelictlon of duty in falling to destroy
the Cristobai Colon as she lay In the
mouth OF the harbor OF Santiago de
Cuba. then Rear Admiral Sampson was
likewise guilty of the same charge"
This will be one OF the main argu-
ments which will be submitted TO the
court OF inquiry in behalf of Rear Admiral
Schley
The seventh specification Of the prccept
directs the court TO ascertain:
Whether or not every effort incumbent
upon the commanding officer of fleet
under such circumstances was made to
capture or destroy the Spanish cruiser
Colon as she lay at anchor In the entrance
10 Santiago Harbor May 27 10 81. inclus-
Five, and the necessity for or advisabilty of
engaging the batteries at the entrance to
Santiago Harbor and the Spanish vessels
sat anchor within the entrance 10 said
harbor. at the ranges used. and the
propriety Of Commodore Schley's con-
duct In the premises
In his complete report of the operations
under his command, Rear Admiral Samp-
son states that Immediately on arrival
at Santiago II steamed down past the
entrance TO Santiago horbor and saw
lying close within the Cristobal Colon and
one of the vizcaya class Both OF these
got up steam and moved up into the har-
bor out Of sight.
IL Is contended by the friends of Rear
Admiral Schley that this statement indi
Gates that the Spanish ships Immediately
hauled up and steamed back into the har
bor AS a matter OF fact they did not
leave their anchorage for four hours
and thirty-hve minutes.
-Four to eight a. m, June l." the log of
the Colon states, "the enemy's squadron
in sight passing the mouth OF the harbor
from east to west. afterward from west
TO east. at great distance and beyond
range OF our guns: they appear to have
been reinforced by several vessels At
nine a. m. sent men to coal the Furor
At twenty minutes past ten a m, by or
der OF the commandant general OF the
squadron, cast of the springs At twen-
ty-five minutes to eleven a. m. got under
way and under direction OF the command
Ing officer, cast to starboard and under
slow speed passed between Punta Gorda
and the bow OF the Oouendo. Directed
our course into the inner harbor until
ten minutes TO twelve a. m, which time
We came to anchor"
FOUR HOURS WE'RE LOST.
Tnus IL VIII he shown to the court Rear
Admiral Sampson. who arrived at santl-
ago about six o'clock on the morning OF
June 1, had four hours and twenty min
utes In which to attack the Colon and Wig
caya- He failed. however, TO fire
single shot at them.
Rear Admiral Schley, on the other hand
carrying out the departments instructions
70 ascertain whether the Spanish feet
was In the harbor. made reconnaissance
-.
fortihcations, with their character Re-
connoissance was intended 10 injure and
destroy Colon. Reconnaissance develop
Ing satisfactorily. the presence OF the
Spanish squadron lying behind island near
inner forts, as they fired over hill at
random
With respect 10 the propriety Of Rear
Admiral Schley's action In determining
20 return 20 Key West for coal. Il will be
contended that Rear Admiral samp.on's
conduct was equally cuipabie N any cul-
pability attaches 10 either officer
When Rear Admiral Sampson delivers
his testimony TO the court he will no
asked whether he did not make the state
ment In magazine article that he was
Informed the Spanish cruisers would leave
Curacao for Santiago.
n Rear Admiral Sampson replies In the
affirmative. as he II expected 20 do the
attention of the court will then be called
20 the fact that the commander-in-chief.
with a formidable squadron. was on Nav
" AZ Cape Hsitien. Hsvti the day on
which Admiral Cevera left Curacao for
Santiago
The admiral will be asked WHY he did
not 90 directly 20 Santiago where he
could have Intercepted the Spanish feet
before n entered the hsrbor. or Nav -
BLOCKADE At SANTIAGO.
Regarding The character Of blockade
ffst was made bv Commodore schley.
sftentlcn vili he called 20 the size OF the
squadron which he commanded. schiey
had siz vessels and IL vss advisable n he