The Irish standard., 1901-10-05
EVANS AND SIGSBEE.
Famous Naval Commanders Tes-
tify in Schley Inquiry.
The Former Completes His Evidence
Latter Says He Did Not Tell
Schley Spanish Fleet Was
Not In Santiago.

Not In Santiago.
Washington, Oct. 2.-There were
five admirals of the United States
navy congregated Tuesday within the
navy yard where the Schley court of
inquiry meets. Admiral Dewey and
his associates, Admirals Benham and
Ramsay, occupied their usual seats as
members of the court, and Rear Adj
miral schley his customary place at
the table set apart for the "the appli-
cant" in the witness stand. Rear Ad-
miral Evans, who had been called
Monday, still occupied his position
and continued to tell his story of the
part taken by him as captain of the
Iowa during the historic period OF
the Santiago campaign.
withheld Code from schley.
Mr.. Rayner began his interroga.
-tions by asking the witness concern
ing the secret code of signals for
communicating with the Cuban insur-
gents near Cienfuegos. The admiral
said that when Capt. Chadwick COM
municated this code to him he did
not instruct him to give the infor-
nation to Commodore Schley.
''Were not the commanding officers called
on board the flagship Brooklyn by signal
on the morning of May - after the Colon
was dscovered?"
''They WERE"
"Can you tell me or do you recollect what
took place at the conference OF the COM
uanding officers at that time?"
"Commodore Schley was in the cabin Of
the Brooklyn when we assembled, and
there was general talk about the Spanish
neet having been located at last at San
tiago. I do not recollect any special con-
ference. I do not think it was in the nature
of a conference. do not recollect now that
the officers were asked to express any opin-
ion. l remember having conversation
with Commodore Schley about the effect
of the fighting batteries on the ships, In
which told him of the experience we had
had at San Juan, and expressed the opin-
ion to him that it was not worth while to
risk ships fighting shore batteries alone;
that l did not think anything would be
gained by it. In the case under constdera-
ton the Spanish ships were present in the
harbor The conditions were changed, and
we would have to take the risk of the fire
from the batteries in order to get at Them
remember Commodore Schley remarking
before we left that he felt that the country
held him responsible; that the ships should
batteries until the. Spanish fleet was de-
stroyed."
II want to call your attention to the re-
port of Capt. McCalla. of the Marblehead
on page 4s6. of the appendix. which says:
Commodore Schley explained to the COM
manding officers that in case the Spanish
ships came out he wished to concentrate
the batteries of all our ships on a portion
of those of the enemy. This was not eX-
planned as tactical concentration of our
rf% l,o 1o,,%
a division of our whole fire on several of
the enemy's ships. During the time the
comma nding officers We're on board the
flagship Capt. Evans asked Comm dore
'Schley If it were his intention to steam at
the enemy's ships in case they should start
to come out. Commodore Schley answered:
Certainly and added words indicative of
his intention to attack them as they came
out of the narrow defle?"
IT recollect it perfectly"
'cIs that a correct statement"
'That is correct"
81 want to read you two reports. your re-
port of the engagement of the Spanish
squadron, and / would like you to tell me
whether there is any conflict between
them, and if there is which one of these
statements in your judgment now is cor
rect (reading): After having passed at
1885 the Oquendo and Maria Teresa, on fire
and ashore this vessel continued to chase
and fire upon the Viscaya until 1886, when
signal to cease firing was sounded on board
1t having been discovered that the Viscaya
had struck her colors.' That was at :s6
in your report Now, want to read from
the report of the commander in chief
(reading): The Viscaya was still under
the fire of the leading vessels. the Cristobal
Colon had drawn ahead, leading the chase,
and soon passed beyond the range of the
guns of the leading American ships. The
Viscaya was soon set on fire and at ILLS
she turned in shore and was oeached at
Aserraderos. Is miles from Santiago, burn
Ing fiercely, etc."
II have no doubt you read it correctly"
Capt. sigsbee Testihes.
Capt. Charles d. sigsbee. who command
ed the scout ship ST. Paul during the Span
ish war, was next called. He said that in
obedience TO orders from Capt. Wise, who
was his commanding officer, he had pro-
ceeded to the vicinity of Santiago arriv-
ing there on the 2lst. He told of taking
aboard the Cuban pilot Nunez, and said
that he did not have great confidence in
that individual. His instructions were to
report to Commodore Schley that the
Spanish squadron probably was in San
tiago harbor. He fell in with the flying
squadron on the evening of May 26, the
squadron then being 20 or rs miles south Of
Santiago. He had reported to Commodore
Schley that he knew nothing positively"
about the Spanish fleet He was then asked
IT he had expressed his belief to Commo-
dore schley that Cervera's fleet was not
In the harbor as reported later by Com
modore Schley. controversy arose over
the admissibility of the question, and the
court took a recess for luncheon before
receiving the reply of the witness.
What Sigsbee Said.
When the Schley court reconvened after
luncheon Capt. Sgsbee resumed his testi-
mony. Mr.. Hanna repeated his question,
asked before recess, quoting from Admiral
Schley's report of February IS, 1899, the
sentence reading: "After having been as
sured by Sigsbee that he did not believe the
Spanish fleet was in Santiago" The wit
ness replied:
II stated that we had seen nothing of the
Spanish fleet. l may have stated that I
knew nothing positively or absolutely