The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-26
ANOTHER SCHLEY DAY.
1cnntinued from First PAGE


mt Cotton. He was sure that the
Stsnatches could not have been receiv-
- helore May 81. When he received
nose dispatches he had already dis
[9vered the Spanish fleet. He had also
amounted the difficulties about coal
inc and had so informed the depart
ment.
+,re by the st. Paul of the Restor-
mel the English collier bound for San
40. Capt. Sigsbee reported that the
Pestormel had touched at Porto Rico
and Curacao and that he had sent her
10 Key West, adding, II have seen alb
srlutely nothing of the Spanish fleet"
On the 31st he received, he thought
Inv way of a press tug from Port An
tonic, the dispatch from Admiral
sampson, dated May 80. congra tulat-
Ing him on the location Of the Span
ish feet. In reply to questions by his
counsel Mr.. Rayner, Admiral Schley
exclaimed that with a squadron such
as he had, practically of the same
size as the Spanish fleet, he had never
considered the question of sending
ships away to coal. He regarded IL as
Of prime Importance that the fleet be
kent together. He had not gone into
foreign waters for coal because he
wanted to avoid the charge of taking
advantage of weaker nations like
Hayti and others.
some Witnesses Mistaken.
After the depression the admiral re-
turned to the reconnaissance of May
q. That some of the younger officers
who testified regarding that occur
renee were mistaken, he said was
proven by the fact that there was to-
day on the deck of the Indiana a plate
showing where an 8-inch shell from
q
and wrecked her ward room. The Of
fcers referred to had testified that
there We're no guns of over 6-inches in
the Santiago land batteries. The ad-
miral said perhaps fifty shells went
over the American ships. "In fact"
said he. 'it was very lively for a few
minutes"
The admiral stated the particulars
of the arrival of the New Orleans on
May 80 with Capt. Folger in command
and conveying the collier Sterling.
Capt. Folger had, the admiral said,
brought instructions to sink the col
lier in the fair way to Santiago, the
details of which performance were to
be left largely to Admiral Schley's dis
cretion.
Il did not, he said, understand that
this passage was to be blocked up ex-
cept in case we should be compelled
that eXpedient was to be restorted
to-"
He then proceeded to detail his con.
versation with Capt. Folger. While sat-
isfied that Capt. Folger had not meant
TO do any injustice he felt that the
captain had failed to give all the de-
tails of the conversation. He did not
want to explain to this court" said
the witness. Just what the conversa-
ton had been for l had condemned
the circular form of blockade, and had
advocated the form which l had es-
tablished as being more mobile and
more facile for a small fleet such as
ours was, in case of attack by the en-
envy as more easily manipulated and
handled under signal"
Admiral Schley also took occasion to
speak of the instructions to him to ex-
anime Guantanamo as a coaling base
To do this was not practicable, as at
least 1000 marines would have been
necessary to guard that point and
these could not be spared. IF we
had gone there we should have invited
attack. These were among the mat
ters I had to consider"
Admiral SampsOn's Arrival.
This brought Admiral Schley to the
time of the arrival of Admiral Samp-
son, scommander-in- chief of the North
Atlantic squadron. In speaking of this
event and the change in command
which it involved he ventured upon
ground which Capt. Lemly considered
somewhat questionable. Coming to this
point the admiral said:
"On June l Admiral Sampson ar.
rived. He brought with him the New
York, the Oregon and the Mayf1ower
ana steamed down to the westward a
little inside of the line of blockade. He
found US at that time just in making
the turn, and ! went on board. He
was very cordial, very glad to see me-
and l explained to him the situation
and the fact of the reconnaissance. He
seemed to be very glad to find out the
situation there, and 1 pointed out to
him the Colon lying in the distance. :"
capt. Lemly: If the court please
we are getting beyond the courts con-
suuctlon of the scope of the precept."
Dewey Wanted to Hear 1t.
Admiral Dewey: "As I understand
he is turning the command over to the
commander-in-chief. I want to hear
that. l. would like to hear that part
continuing, Admiral Schley said:
handed him number Of dis,
patches, explained to him the situation
ana told him the form of blockade
mat l had maintained, and heard no
WORD or complaint from him. In fact
IN view of the telegram Of congratula-
uon l supposed naturally everything
was approved. Admiral SIMPSONS re.
Iatlons and mine were always cordial
never had any difference with him."
admiral Dewey: You have turned
the command over. Now, go on"
1 turned the command over to Ad-
mlral Sampson and my squadron was
not broken up until the 18th or 18th
Of June. I was still in command OF
me flying squadron. and composed the
leit half of the blockading line at San
uago. OF course, I have no criticisms
10 offer; merely plain, straight story
10 tell of what its operations were UP
TO that time"
Schlcy Good Observer.
When the court resumed its session
at o'clock the Admiral. at the request
OF Mr.. Rayner. stated his observation
OF suspicious circumstances on land
and in the harbor at Santiago on the
evening of July 2. He said that the
outlying Spanish land forces were al
mat times being pressed into the city
py the American and insurgent forces
ana he had noticed that several OF
their block houses burned that evening
lie had at the same time observed
smoke coming from over Socapa Hill
ana he thought the enemy was pre-
pairing for a sortie. OF this circum-
stance he had notified Admiral Samp-
son, and he thought the Admiral had
acted upon the notice, as the blockad-
Hs line was moved in closer that
Hght He explained why all the en-
snes of the Brooklyn had not been
oupled up, saying this was largely