The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-30
But No Serious Break Made in the Ad-
Was Concentrated at Times.
GREW TEsTY ONCE OR TWICE
WHEN INTERPRETATIONS OF A PRE-
vIOUs DAY WE'RE REPEATED.
LemIy's Questions Mainly on the Coal
ing Problem and the So-CaIIcd
RetrOGradc Movement.

w M
amnation of Admiral Schley was continued
throughout the session of the court of
inquiry to-day. The progress made was
exceedingly slow. Practically the whole
day was consumed in questioning the ad-
miral about the cruise from Cienfuegos
to Santiago and the motives and influences
that governed him in turning back after
his squadron had arrived in the vicinity
of the latter port. This latter branch of
the cross-examination had not been con-
cluded when the court adjourned. The
blockade at Santiago. the reconnaissance
on May 81 and the battle of July still
remain TO be covered. 1t is hardly proba-
BILE the judge advocate conclude before
adjournment tomorrow. After he finishes
quite a number of questions prepared by
the members Of the court will be sub
mitted.
The judge advocate in conducting the
cross-examination used a carefully pre-
pared typewriter list of questions. They
called for comparison of statements Ad-
miral Schley had made, either in his direct
testimony, i'm his communication to the
Senate or in his dispatch TO Admiral Samp-
son or the Navy Department; with the tes-
timony of witnesses who have preceded him
and the logs and signal books of the other
vessels of the fleet. The questions were
not asked in chronological order. but
jumped from one subject TO another and
from one stage of the campaign to an
other.
Throughout the strain TO which the wit
ness naturally was subjected while under
examination, the admiral retained his Gus
tOmary composure. Only once or twice did
he display impatience or WEAKNESS. At
one point when asked a question he replied
that he had been asked the same question
yesterday, at The same time telling what
his reply had been then. On another oc-
casion when he was being searchingly in
terrogated as to his distance from shore
at Cienfuegos and as TO whether the dis
tances were a matter Of record he
sponded rather tartly: "Oh, no. / did not
know they ever would become matter of
such great Importance. or 1 should have
plotted them and made a memorandum, as
L should of many other things"
LEMLY'S MAIN EFFORTS.
The main points 10 which the cross-ex-
animation was directed to-day were the
ability of the ships to coal off Cienfuegos
and the reasons for what is known as the
''retrog-ade movement" The latter point
was dwelt upon with much emphasis and
detail and had not beer disposed OF fully
when the court adjourned. The admiral
gave three reasons for turning back: first
the statement of Captain Sigsbee. who COM
manded the scout ship st. Paul, that the
enemy was not I'm Santiago; second, the
opinion of Nunez, the pilot, that the en-
trance was too narrow and shallow for
the Spanish ships 10 enter, and third. the
ambiguity of the departments telegram.
In the course of the cross-examination the
admiral said he regarded the departments
dispatch rather as a suggestion than as an
explicit order, a suggestion which he car
ried out after the sea had abated and the
coal supply of the ships had been replen-
ished.
Before resuming the cross-examination
of Admiral Schey to-day Judge Advocate
Lemly announced that, with the consent
of counsel for the other side, the signal
books OF the New York for May Is and
10 and July and 5, and the Brooklyn's for
May IS and 10 TO June 2, inclusive and July
? and would be included in the record
He explained that May is and 10 were the
day before and the day on which the New
York left Key West. The judge advocate
then asked the admiral string of ques-
tions regarding the trip to Cienfuegos and
/
portance until he put this query
Had Cervera's fleet appeared during the
nights you were at Cienfuegos, either COM
ing out or coming in from seaward what
under your instructions. would your fleet
have done?"
knocked them out" IA stir in court.l
What were your Instructions"
''To follow the fiag-instructions given at
Hampton Roads"
What were your written instructions?"
There were none. l don't consider that
the regulations or customs required writ
| ten instructions.
us il not the unwritten law at sea in
the navy that the vessels in squadron shall
follow the flag?
"Yes. except under certain circum-
stances
What circumstances"
AN EXCEPTION.
..WeH a vessel might see one OF tho
enemys ships drop out and follow to at
| tack her That might be one of the circun-
| stances"
But the rule is to follow the hag?"
1T is"
The coaling question was taken up again
and the admirals replies were similar TO
his direct testimony
when YOU left Cienfuegos where did
YOU think the Spanish squadron was?r
asked Captain hemly.
- didn't Of course know exactly where
il was II | had would have gone
straight for Il. According 10 the informa-
tion which came TO me. | supposed that If
II was not at Santiago il was somewhere
in the neighborhood but my impression
/ was that il had come out as this informs
tion from the admiral had indicated bur
inst where IL was, of course, / could not
decide.
! Did you give any special instructions
TO your captains while making the passage