The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-31

with the questions as to the Brook
lyn's turning movement:
You regarded that turn as very i'm
portant, do you not?"
Il think it was the movement that
decided the events of that day."
The admiral said in response to ques-
tions that he had not mentioned the
loop in his report of the battle. 1t
was an incident of the battle which he
mad no idea ever would come into con-
troversy.
DO you assume full responsibility
for the turn?"
Absolutely. If l did not give the or
der approved it," replied the admiral.
DID the Brooklyn stand in and at
tempt to sink the Spanish fleet in the
channeI?"
Il started in at first to help the other
vessels and to have them help me.
felt If we could stop the Spaniards the
battleships could go in and sink them
l never had any idea that they would
get away"
When the Spanish ships succeeded
in getting out of the harbor without
being sunk, in accordance with orders
chase them?"
There was no alternative-no other
course was open, but much depended
upon the characters of the chase
Whether 1t was made in the proper
way and was effective was one thing
while poorly conducted and ineffec-
tive blockade would have been another
thing"
What the Spaniard Said.
Capt. Lemly introduced the follow
ing paragraph from Admiral Schley's
report of the battle dated at Guanta-
mama, July g. 1898:
"Since reaching this pIaoa opd baId
ing conversation with several of the
captains, viz, Capt. Eulate of the Wis
caya, and the second in command of
the Colon, Commander Contreras, 1
have learned that the Spanish admir-
ais scheme was to concentrate all fire
for while on the Brooklyn and the
| Viscaya to ram her, in hopes that If
| they could destroy her the chance of
escape would be increased, as 1t was
supposed she was the swiftest ship of
your squadron. This explains the heavy
| fire mentioned and the Viscaya's ac-
tion in the earlier movements of the
| engagement. The execution of this
| purpose was promptly defeated by the
| fact that all the ships of the squad
ron advanced into close range and
| opened an irresistibly furious and ter
rife fire upon the enemy's squadron
as it was coming out of the harbor.''
Admiral Schley identified this para
graph as a part of his report.
you stated in your examination in
chief that on making the turn you did
not see the starboard side of the Tex
as"
II did say so absolutely" replied the
admiral.
| Admiral Schley in response to a
question said he never heard of the
Texas incident until six months after
/ %sOx, 1a6 IN
a letter of June 13, 1900, written from
the South Atlantic station, in which
the admiral was quoted as saying that
| the turn was made to avoid the last
| attempt of the Viscaya to ram, but as
| the letter could not be produced at the
| time he was not questioned upon 1t.
| His attention was next called to his
letter to the Senate in which he said
the turn was made to avoid blanket
ing the fire of his own ships and also
to his statement in examination in
chief that he had not turned to port
because to do so would have brought
the ship into dangerous proximity to
the enemy's. vessels and exposed her to
possible torpedo attack or ramming.
SchIey Answers Lemly.
Now" said Capt. Lemly, here ap-
pear to be three reasons why you made
the turn. Why did you make that
turn?"
"As 1 have already stated in my di-
rect testimony, there is a very much
more important reason which you have
not asked, and that was that the ship
might continue in the action and beat
the enemy as we did. That was the
controlling one of all"
Did you mention that maneuver in
your report?
mo"
"Did YOU have each of these various
reasons in mind at the time
Probably all of them and others.
The Judge advocate then took up
Admiral Schley's report of the battle
made to the department, dated Guam
tanamo Bay, July 6, 1898. and he was
questioned concerning the statements
made therein, attention being called 10
the statement that after the Vlscaya
had struck her colors the signal was
made to cease firing and then the fol-
lowing sentence
"The Oregon having proved vastly
faster than the other battleshiDs. she
and the Brooklyn, together with the
Texas and another vessel, wnlcn
proved to be your flagship, continued
westward in pursuit of the Colon,
which had run close in shore, evident
ly seeking some good spot to beach If
she should fail to elude her pursuers.
You wrote that?" asked Capt. Lemly.
Yes" replied Admiral Schley, "and
can explain the whole thing If you
will permit me to introduce prelim-
mary report / made that was re-
turned"
Can't. Lemly: 'I have no objection
to your preliminary report unless 1t
comes under the rule that it was not
sent"
Admiral Schley: 'It was sent and
was returned"
Capt. Lemly: II think have a right
to continue now and not have them in
sert other evidence at this time"
A long discussion ensued over tho
admission of this report, Mr.. Rayner
contending for it's admission and Capt
Lemly charging that Mr.. Rayner's pur-
pose was to interfere with the cross
examination. After recess Capt. Lefnly
submitted the report, and the court
decided it could not be read aloud.
Sampson Had to BE In It.
The admiral then recounted his con-
versation with Admiral Sampson, who
handed the letter back to him with
the statement that he (Sampson) was
commander-in- chief and that he
(Schley) had omitted a very important
detail in the report in that it failed TO
show the presence of the New York.
~ felt at that time" Admiral Schley
went on, that the victory was big
enough for all and made this (his report
of the battle that has been
published) out of generosity and
because | knew that If the New York
had been present she would have done
as good work as any other vessel"