The Washington times., 1901-10-28
EVIDENCE OF A CONSPIRACY
An Organized Effort to Discredit
the Victor of Santiago.
Dispatches introduced which schley
Never RecciNcd-Why Huniey Was
Not Used ns n Witncss-Thc Strange
mission of Lieutenant Ward.

Admiral Scllck. " ncn IL Is TtIutilbtltA
that the hearing is-not an investigation
into what the enemies of Admiral Schley
have done but strictly an enquiry into
his conduct, these developments are the
more remarkable While it has been more
and more apparent each day that Admiral
Schley was being prosecuted, the record
is besmeared with evidence which goes
TO show that there has been deliberate
plot and organized plan TO discredit ana
dishonor the victor of Santiago.
Every effort has of course been made
10 bar this kind of testimony and to cover
If lIp when It has once been brought out,
but the facts show for themselves. These
points may be regarded as an index to the
whole scheme, which nothing short OF
Congressional investigation into the Whole
subject of the Santiago campaign would
reveal.
Eliminating from present consideration
all that was done during the campaign
to handicap Schley. the testimony and
the conduct of the case have shown un-
mistakable evidence of conspiracy formed
against him after his great naval victory.
What causes lead to this it is not neces-
sary to mention. In the first place. 1t has
been shown that as soon as the New YORK
came up an hour and twenty minutes al
fer the Colon had surrendered, sampson
sent his nag secretary with a message
to be despatched TO the Navy Department
stating that the feet under his command
had won the victory, and TINS telegram
intercepted and displaced the despatch
which had been written and sent by Com
1nodore Schley making the announcement
OF the triumph.
Following this was Admiral Sampson
letter TO the Secretary Of the Navy, max
4.
Ing the charge of 'reprehens!nle con-
duct against Commodore Schley, which
as a part OF the naval appendix Is IN
evidence. To prove this charge, which
was based upon the retrograde move
n,.pt. attempts have been made to show
1h.t sohley was advised by Captain Sigs-
bee and by despatch from the Depart
n.snt. conveyed by Captain Cotton. that
the Spauiards were in Santiago
CAPTAIN Sigsbee would not swear that
he had told Schley that Cervera was IN
Santiago, and then mysterious teie-
gram was discovered and Captain Cot
ton was made the bearer of it. This
Admiral Schley denies ever having re-
c, fved. Then the time when Captain
Cotton told Commodore Schiey that
Lieutenant Beale was prepared 10 go
ashore and ascertain what information he
cUGid Is to whether OF not the Spanish
EC,L y as IL the harbor OF Santia5o, was
changed from Nay u to 94dy %. An
.t.u.t was made ~ snow that captain
JoLton had tod Commodore Scliicy Ihls
ll,Dn The occasion OF Anelr flrsJ meeting
o. SanuagO, instead OF me tconu.
Another remaTkaDIe feature OF Ine con-
sylllCy shown was Jne ius OF the iowa
rs last entry Tor May ai IS Ion 90
IN any closer II Is asserted mat lllls
WAS given by Scnley uurlnS Inc recon
nulssance, Nnen captain EEaLS wanted
10 20 closer 10 the Colon than the ',U'j
Sarus liked upon by Commodore Schleg-
me purpose OF this was To snow Gldt
SchIeV was coWaruIy. The log OF Ine
massachusetts, the nagsnlp during tne
Reconnaissance, does not luulcdtc tnat lht
signal was MADE; IL Is not louha IN til-
log Of the New Orleans, one OF lne NeS-
SIS which went in TO DoInbard upon that
occasion and the officer VINO made AL
the signals aboard the flagship testihed
that no such signal was ever given. "A
remarks bic thing IS that this Alleged sig
nal is the last one contained in a signal
appendix TO Captain Evans report, ia
cmding signals made and received by the
Iowa from May lg to May 81. inclusive.
Another feature is shown in the nth
point of the RECEIPT. that OF alleged dls-
obedience OF ordels- To lay iouilda-
tion for this charge, an lncOfry CT trans
latiOu Of Commodore SChley ) despatch
was taken. While having the original
press copy Of his telegram in the office.
the navy clique deliberately chose to use
ole which had been translated into cipher
So mt over the wires, and then translated
into plain English, with ali the liability
to mistakes which this involved. IT has
even been admitted that these errors
were made. yet despite all this the De
paTtmeut chose TO use an incorrect tele-
gram, instead OF the original. The rea-
son was UbYiOuS-the original would not
support q charge OF disObedience to or
dors, while the Incorrect one tended TO
do 50.
one OF the most fragrant features was
shown in the attempt TO prevent Hunley
from teStifying. When summoned for
preliminary examination, ne stated that
he was IN charge Of the port engine of
the Texas during the engagement, and
that while IL was slowed down. IL was
neither reversed nor stopped Instead Of
calling him to the stand. the judge ad-
yocate elected to call Claxton. VINO stat
ed that he. and not Huniey, had charge
of the port engine. and that 1t was stop
ped and reversed Hunley was dismissed.
Rayner found him. and his testimony was
admitted for the defence.
Further Efforts have been made to show
that Commodore Schley received de-
Epatches which he did not receive, and
that he received others one. two and three
Gays before they reached him.
Again. instead Of sETnmOning Command
er Mark, Of the Scorpion, the Depart
ment called Lieutenant Commander
Southerland. Commander Marks state
ment, when it was finally put in evil
oence in the form of deposition. was
L. the effect that Commodore SchIey had
not been advised by the Eagle Of the
Southerland stated ne had so informed
the Scorpion. which was to communicate
the Information to Schley. Southerlaud
was called, but Mark was not asked to
come home from Cavite to testify.
Moreover, when the enquiry was asked
Tor, scouts We're sent out from the
Bureau OF Navigation to drum up evil
oence to support the Grow ninshield
case. Lieutenant Ward while suunos.d
70 be in command Of Il torpedo boat AT
Newport was sent roaming over the
country TO interview prospective witnesses
for the purpose Of having them testify
against the applicant When it came to
drafting the precept II was so framed
that important points which Admiral
Schley wished TO have brought before the
Court could not be admitted.
Admiral Schley Will resume the stand
again today. His direct examination was
rot quite concluded when the Court ac-
5ourned On Friday. II is almost certain
that the Judge advocate will crusS-eN-
anime Admiral Schley. one or two other
witnesses whose evidence viii be brief
may then be called for Admiral Schley.
This will end his side of thu case The
Cox erumeUts s side. il is said. has a fey
witnesses In rebuttal. but it Is probable
that II they are called they viii not be
lohg upon the stand
Mr.. Rayner viii ar-l, he case at some
length. Captain LCmiy has not stated
whether or not he VIII address the Court
IL Will probably be well toward the close
of the week before the Court adjourns
sine die. Several weeks will then doubt
less be consumed in reviewing the great
mass OF evidence At present there are
about 400 pages Of testimony. embracing
more than "a million words. The Court
VIII 90 over this carefully before report
ing its finding. Admiral RamEaH as the
junior men Der Of the Court Will render
his opinion first. The report OF the find
Navy.