The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-25

mis- own behalf in the court of in
quiry, which is investigating his cor
duct as Communicated of the fly
ing squadron during the Santiago cam
paign. He was summoned few min
utes after the court convened at
O'Clock for the afternoon session, and
when the court adjourned at O'Clock
he apparently had only gotten we'll un-
der way i'm his testimony. Captain
CHARLES r. Clark of the Oregon had
just concluded his statement. when
Mr.. Rayner. rising from his seat. said:
Il should ike to have Rear Admiral
The admiral accordingly was asked
10 take the stand. 1t was a turn in
the proceedings Cor which apparently
neither the members Of the court. its
ofiicer-. nor the spectators were pre-
pared. and a murmur of surprise was
heard on all sides.
it had been expected that the wit
ness name would be reached toward
the close or the afternoon session
There were still tvs witnesses on the
list who had not been heard. and It
was understood to be his pur1 .Ose not
70 take the stand until the entire list
had been exhausted. He, however, re-
sDonded to the call. and before the
audience was wei aware of the fact
he had begun his narrative of the
campaign which terminated in the de-
strustfon Of Cervera's fleet. Mr.. Ray
ner introduced testimony Of his dis
tinyuished witness by saying
win you give the court your name
and rank2"
Winfield Scott Schley. rear admiral.
United States navy. retired. at present
on service in this court Of inquiry.
Details of the Campaign.
The admiral then. in answer to a
question from his counsel. proceeded to
give a careful and detailed narrative
cf all the events Of TIE campaign up
20 the battle OF Santiago. He had not
reached the stage of his testimony
where he viii tell of the battle. when
shs court adjourned for the day.
The audience which listened to his
recital was by far the largest which
has gathered in the gunners' workshop,
where the court sits. All the reserved
seats were occupied as were the seats
set apart for the public at large. In
she rear of the room stood probably as
many people as found seats, scores Of
men and women standing upon tables,
chairs and in the windows; in fact
everywhere from which they could see
the court
There was no appearance OF demon
stratiOn OF any kind during the ad-
'uiraTs recital. on the contrary. the
silence was almost unbroken. except
for the sound Of the witness own
voice. Only once was there a stir in
the room which indicated any feeling
ON the part OF the listeners. That was
when the admiral. detailing his con-
versa don with Admiral Sampson in the
cabin OF the New York at Key West
told how he had assured the comman-
der-in-chief OF fealty to him.
When the court adjourned for TIC
day many spectators pressed forward
and shook the admirars hand.
When He Assumed Command.
II was commodore" the witness
began, I'm response to Mr.. Rayners re-
quest for connected narrative of the
campaign. under orders TO command
the flying squadron on the 2Sth of
March. 1888. and served until the goth
day Of June OF the same year i'm that
capacity"
He took command OF the squadron
at Hampton Roads, Va. hosting his
nag on the cruiser Brooklyn. After
relating the origin Of the squadron at
the Virginia port. he said that he had
called tbs commanding officers of the
vessels constituting that squadron to-
gether. and then he added;
The plan of campaign was thrashed
over. The disposition to be made OF
the over-1Xater tOrBedoes was thor
oughly discussed. and 1 am frank to
say I found no one or the command
ing officers who seemed to agree with
the others as to what use should he
made Of them. I. therefore. deter
mined. as happens upon all such Oc-
Casions. TO take the helm myself. and
decided that. as they We're menaces TO
the squadron. we should simply keep
them charged. with their war-headS
below the protected decks I put the
squadron Immediately upon a war foot
ing. established pickets and patrols.
and also the masking of lights
Admiral SChley plunged Immediately
into the campaign by outlining the
plan which he had indicated t. the
commanding officers before leaving
Hampton Roads. saying.
Plan of Battle.
During this time 1 explained to all
the commanding officers that as IT
would be impossible to contrive plan
of battle tLst would meet unforeseen
contingencies the general plan OF the
squadron would be to cruise in line of
battle. and its general principle would
be &c attack the head and leading YES
sells. CONF entratiag the fire upon them
iu order. first 10 obtain the moral ef-
feet. and second. to throw them into
confusion. making victory over
them probably much M sre successful
and complete.
Il aid that for the reason that the
older plans os battle had all been to
attack center and rear. resulting in the
escape usually Of a part OF each squad
ron. I felt that the attack of the head
OF the squadron. which was 10 some
extent new. would involve the destruc-
ton Of the whole. and that was the
general plan of action as explained TO
them on that OCCASION.
The admiral then detailed the target
practice the squadron indulg ed in daily.
saying that no day We bad enough TO
prevent It. Sub-calibTs was used en-
tirely- This practice. said the admiral,
resulted in an accuracy Of fire which
was fully demonstrated in .he action
six weeks or two months later. BE
also said that the squadron was kept
IN readiness. so far as coal, water and
supplies were concerned.
on May Il or 10 ne received orders
Hfr.. TAR If 10 to
coed 20 Charleston. The squadron ar
rived on the 15sp and found orders from
-the secretary directing him 10 proceed
20 Key West andNgeport to Commodore