The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-29
SCHLEY CALM UDER HOT
FIRE OF QUESTIONS.
Continued from First Page.)

when he talked over the campaign with
Admiral Sampson.
Did Admiral Sampson exhibit to you
any or all the instructions he had from
the Navy Department.
mo. He simply spoke of his confiden-
tial instructions from the Secretary Of
the Navy
THE QUESTION OF SPEED.
The Judge Advocate then jumped to the
communication from the Marblehead con-
veyed to Schley through the Eagle while
the Flying Squadron was on it's way to
Cienfuegos The Admiral said that the
message he received was that there was
no news of the Spanish fleet. The Judge
Advocate then asked Admiral Schley if
he regarded as expeditions the journey of
the squadron from Key West to Cienfue-
Cos in view of the instructions to estab-
lish the blockade there with as little de-
lay as possible.
Cruising as he was in the squadron
against the current, he replied that he
did.
Judge Advocate then asked about the
speed from the Charleston to Key West
to show that the spec from Key West
southwar was not so great.
Your speed was two knots less from
Key West to Cienfuegos than from Char
lesion to Key West"
apparently"
.Why did you stop at midnight May q
before your arrival at Cienfuegos?'
1--WE were ten or twelve miles from
the height in the land where the mouth
of the harbor of Cicnfuegos was and we
stopped until daylight. did not care to
arrive there in the dark
Admiral Schley was asked why he did
not personally communicate with Captain
McCalla when he met the Marblehead on
the way down He replied that he saw
the auxiliary coming down from the Mar
blehead to communicate with him. 1t was
Captain McCalla's duty if he possessed
important information to communicate it,.
What ofcial information and instruc-
tions did you get at Key West from the
commander in chief,fi'' asked Captain
Lemly.
His orders of course to proceed and
conversation I have detailed with him. "
Captain Lemly then took up the ques
ton of naval regulations and asked the
witness if he was familiar with them
Yes responded Admiral Schley.
Captain Lemly then read number OF
articles Of the regulations in each case
asking the witness if he had complied
with the terms of the paragraph. The
first paragraph was No. 267 and requires
the commander in chief when preparing
his fleet or squadron to meet the enemy
to communicate his general orders, in
structions, private signals and such other
information as will enable each so far as
possible to understand his duty when in
action and at all other times.
II think / complied with that" replied
the witness.
How and in what Manner asked Cap
tain Lemly.
by issuing general orders for the or
ganization of the squadron, their in
structions and their private signals.
The next article was as follows:
article 269. He SHALL if possible, be-
fore going into action communicate to the
juniors in command, his chief of stan
and the captains his secret orders, pri-
vate signals and other information that
will materially assist them if called upon
to exercise command
THAT 1 do not remember to have con.
piled with. said the witness.
Captain Lemly then read Article 271
which provides that the commandment in
chief shall, if possible, before going into
action supply every captain with a plan
of battle, showing thereon the position
each shall occupy.
Yes replied the witness in reply to
| Captain Lemly's question if he had COM
piled with that article. Il do not under
stand that that is necessarily written I
, think that that order is sufficiently car
/ ried out when commander-in-c chief de-
/ cides to place his crews in the order of
, battle and informs each what he pro-
poses to do
do you think Admiral, that you can
supply every captain with plan of bat
tie and do that at oral conference?"
asked Captain Lemly.
II do not think that is absolutely neccs-
sary,' replied he.
There are instances where battles
! have been fought without doing that. ANY
plan of battle that might be originated
is subject to change. have never known
battle that was ever fought on the
| plan origiralIv chosen"
! Captain Lemly asked: when at 9:45
a. NJ. May 20, you sighted a man of war
as shown by the Brooklyns log and
cleared 1Or acC1On, what OruGrS mad Doen
issued in conformity with the provisions
of the regulations?"
II should not think any instructions
would be necessary for a fleet meeting a
single vessel except to smash her up
| At this point Mr.. ayner addressing him
self - r-~tain Lemly, said he did, not
want to object to this line of question
! ing, but that there was no specification
which called for it.
81 wish to submit to the Judge Advocate
as we'll as to the court he said, that
here is a section of the naval regulations
which says, He shall, if possible, before
! going into action, supply every captain
with plan of battle and assign thereon
the position each shall occupy There is
no specification here that he has dis
obeyed any regulation of the navy. l am
confident that If he had disobeyed them
they would have been in the specification
because they include almost everything
in relation to the whole controversy. l
do not see the word written instruc-
/ ton in any of them. I suppose there
must be some discretion left to a man
in command of a fleet. Admiral Schley
could not supply plan of battle at Key
West or at Cienfuegos that took place