The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-15
The Adula Report.


mad gone into Santiago and had left
on the 18th. That seemed to confirm
the Commodore's idea that they had
reached Cienfuegos. 1t was a suspic-
ious craft. 1 said something to the
Commodore about letting that steam
er go in. He said: 4 don't care any
thing about that steamer, but 1 am
bound to get information from her. If
the captain does not give it 1 will GER
tainly get it out of some of the pas
sengers.' 1t was arranged that when
she came out the officers should go
aboard and question the passengers
and get information from them. She
did not come out. That confirmed him
still more that they were there. Then
the Eagle came down in the evening
and reported that the Spanish squad
ron was not in Cinfuegos."
Speaking of the coal supply of the
vessels of the Flying Squadron while
at Cienfuegos, Capt. Cook said that his
only anxiety was concerning the Texas,
whose supply was light. 1t had been
found difficult to coal that ship on ac-
count of it's sponsons. He said in this
connection that Commodore Schley had
always been persistent in keeping the
ships as full of coal as possible.
Had Heard Report Before.
Capt. Cook said he recalled the ar
rival of the dispatch boat Hawk on
May "a with dispatches. He was told
that the Information was to be to the
effect that the Spanish fleet was in
Santiago, but" he said, II was not
especially impressed with that fact as
had heard it before" He was, how
ever. told that this information was
more positive than any which had yet
been brought. The commodore. he
said, had told him that the Hawk had
brought orders to the effect that the
squadron should proceed to Santiago
If he (the commodore) was satisfied
that the Spaniards were not at Glen
fuegos, but he said, Commodore
Schley had said, I am not satisfied
tnat they are not here. 1 still believe
they are here
There was then, he said considerable
talk on the part of the Commodore
concerning the coal supply, he feeling
that II the then present expenditure
was to continue it would not continue
long. He was still especially concern
ed about the Texas, and had said to
him Capt. Cook) that I'VE must keep
the ships in fighting trim" They had
consulted charts and talked over the
case, looking for place fit for coal
ing Finally, he said, they had hit up
on Gonaives bay and had decided to
lay course for that point. THE idea,'
he said, was that we should proceed
in the direction of Santiago and that if
we found the sea such that we could
coal we would Immediately institute
the blockade, but il not practicable to
do that, we would proceed to Gonaives
bay and coal there.
The Pilots MisinfOrmation.
Capt. Cook related the particulars
of the meeting with the scout ships Off
Santiago and told Of Capts. Cotton and
Sigsbee coming on board. Speaking
bringing the pilot Nunez aboard.
Nunez said he had seen nothing of the
Spanish fleet.
The witness then detailed the retro
grade movement of the flying squadron
toward Key West He said his first
information that such a movement was
to be undertaken was when he received
orders to move. He had, he said, in
formed Commodore Schley on the even
ing of the 9th that he thought the
sea had become calm enough to coal
and had found that the Commodore
had also reached the same conclusion.
schIey a Crank on Coal.
Replying to questions concerning the
blockade of Santiago. Capt. Cook said
that Commodore Schley's constant idea
was that the vessels should be kept
we'll supplied with coal and kept NOV
ing constantly as his theory was
that the Spanish fleet would come out
of the harbor.
"Why was the circular blockade not
adopted?" Mr.. Hanna asked.
There are many forms of blockade,
and 1 have nothing but praise for the
circular blockade" replied Capt. Cook,
but the idea was to get the Span
iards to come out and to have our
ships moving and ready for action"
What were your orders of battle
from May 10 to June 1?'
1--WE did not have any. The fleet was
| always in condition for action"
do you call that a battle order?"
Always Ready for Battle.
"It is possible to have an order for
| battle If you know Just what conditions
| YOU are going to meet. The idea with
us was to be a BILE to fight the Spanish
fleet whenever we should meet it.
| think that was understood by all. l
certainly so understood it."
'tIf the fleet had come out of the
harbor previous to June /, what would
you have done?"
1--WE would have obeyed the orders
of the commanding officer"
Were the fighting ships always In
order for battle2"
II always supposed tney WeTSs lhe
Brooklyn was always in excellent or
der"
The Battle of July 3.
General interest was manifested
throughout the courtroom when Mr.
Hanna began his inquiries about the
battle of July 3. Capt. Cook said he
was in his cabin when the Spanish fleet
was sighted, and went Immediately on
deck.
Had you had any intimation the
night before that the fleet was coming
out?"
mo 1 turned in the night before
about midnight, feeling rather the 9th
er way, all hope of their coming out
having been given up"
when you came on deck where
were the Spanish vessels? What were
they doing?"
when l first arrived on the fore
castle there were two in sight. The
third one was just outside the entrance
and the fourth appeared Immediately
afterwarpd."
(Which way did they head?"
1--WE were to the westward. The en-
trance to us was about northeast by
| north The fleet came out south and
turned as they left the entrance to -four
points southwest. so that they turned
| in our direction. When l first got on
deck the helm had been starboarded
heading a little to the northward
When / saw the fleet they were head