Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-24
sssaa@nss seas* d u .
: NEW CUBAN POLICY. 4

* Washington, Sept. 23.-As the -
+ result of the several conferences :
= between the President and Cover y
s nor General Wood of Cuba, it has St
been detern1inated to negotiate a
reciprocity agreement between the
United States and the island, the a
. agreement to be sent to congress $
in December. Cereals and ma. 3
i chnery from the United States
will enter Cuba at reduced rates.
y Sugar and tobacco will be the prin. =
s. cipal Cuban products affected by g
8 the agreement.
e g So a%
the command of the North Atlantic
squadron in the hands of Sampson CIV
ing him the rank of rear admiral, and
then Schley to command the flying
squadron.
Higsnson's Testimony.
Higginson, who commanded the
Massachusetts during the Spanish war
and was part of the time attached to
the flying squadron under Schley, tes-
titled that he arrived at Cienfuegos
May %. Nothing to his knowledge
was done to secure communication
with the Cuban forces ashore, but he
understood information concerning
them was received through McCalla
later on. He told of the presence of
the collier Merrimac and the
arrival at Santiago on May
I25. The MASSACHUSETTS at that
| time had taken on 130 tons
the coaling was very difficult
Says Schley Was at Fault.
In reply to question by the court,
Higginson said he did not believe
Schley had done all he should
| have done to destroy the
Colon while she lay at an
Choir. The defense objected. Dewey
said the court considered itself oblig.
ed to get at all the facts. Judge Will
son for Schley said he would reserve
| the right to later take exception to re-
quests for opinions of witnesses when
put by the court
A Sensation.
| After Lemly said he had no further
questions to ask and Higginson and
Schley's counsel stating they had no
questions to put, the court asked Hig-
ginson concerning the elevation of the
guns during the bombardment of Col
on May 81. The reply was at first
they were $500 feet, latterly 5000 feet.
| The next question was as to whether
There was any place of shelter near
! Santiago where the flying squadron
| Oft
Santiago Higginson replied. Guam
tanamo, only forty miles to the east ;"
The next question created something
of sensation which was added to by
a reply to the question: Was every
effort made by Schley to destroy and
capture the Spanish steamer Colon as
she lay at anchor in the harbor of San
tiago between the 9th and 31st of
May?" Schley's counsel objected but
before halt could be called the wit
ness replied. mo. don't think it
was" The question and reply led to
long legal controversy, Judge Wilson
and Mr.. Rayner contending the ques-
tion called for an opinion of the wit
ness, whereas only the facts We're ad-
missable. Finally the court withdrew
| the question.
Another question put by the court
was as to the distance the squadron
| lay out from Santiago. The reply was
three or four miles out during the day
time and two or three at night"
In reply to a question he said after
the bombardment May 81 no further
efforts were made to destroy the Col.
on because the vessel had gone with
in the harbor.
Other Witnesses.
Higginson was then excused and
Captain c. N. Chester, who command
ed the Cincinnati during the war; was
called.
His testimony related to coaling off
the coast of Cuba, and occupied but a
few moments. He was followed by
Major Thomas H. Wood, who was in
command of the marine guard on the
Massachusetts,.