The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-26
NEWS IN GENERAL
scnLEY COURT OF INQUIRY
The Court Is FAST Getting Down to TIL,

lie COurC Is NaBU ScCClny DOWN To the
Facts in the Case.
court of inquiry reconvened today
and before adjournment examined
four witnesses. The most important
incident of the day was the decision
of court withdrawing question,
put by court itself, asking a witness
to give his opinion concerning a
point under controversy. The wit
ness was Rear Admiral Higginson,
who participated in the Santiago
campaign as captain of the battle
ship Massachusetts,. This vessel at
one time was a part of the flying
squadron, commanded by Commodore
Schley, and the court asked him to
state whether all possible measures
were taken to capture or destroy the
Spanish vessel, Christobal Colon, as
it lay in Santiago harbor from May
90 to June 1, 1898. Counsel for Adj
miral Schley objected to the ques-
ton on the ground reply would
involve an opinion, and not a state
ment of facts. Judge Advocate Lem
ly admitted that the precedents were
against questions of this character
and the court withdrew this inter-
rogation. 1t is generally admitted
that this decision will have the eff
feet of materially shortening the
term of court, as will also the courts
manifest intention to cut out irrele-
want questions and all hearsay testi-
mony.
Washington, Sept, 2s.-ohly one
new witness was introduced Satur-
day to the naval court which is in
vestigating the conduct of Admiral
Schley during the Spanish-American
war. The witness was Commander
Seaton Schroeder, who was execu-
tive officer of the battleship Massa-
ehusetts during the war and is now
governor of the island of Guam. His
testimony dealt with the cruise of
the Flying Squadron from Glen
fuegos to Santiago, and the bonn
bardment of the Spanish ship Girls
tobal Colon as she lay in the mouth
of the harbor at Santiago on May
81. The commander said the cruise
was not as expeditions as it should
have been. He also said that in the
bombardment of the Colon the fleet
had mot acted as deliberately as the
commander-in-chief had announced
to be his purpose to have it to act.
While Commander Schroeder was
giving his testimony, Judge Wilson,
counsel for Admiral Schley, sought
to have him make comparison of
the distance of the fleet from the
shore under Admiral Schley with the
distance under Admiral Sampson
after the latter officer arrived and
took command, but the judge advo-
cate objected and Mr.. Wilson with
drew the question, saying, however,
that he did so only temporarily, and
that he would raise the point at
later stage in the Investigation.
Washington, Sept. 24.-The part
played by the battleship Texas in the
naval battle off Santiago July 3, 1898,
in which the Spanish fleet under
Admiral Cervera was sunk, was the
basis of the greater part of yester-
days proceedings in the Schley
naval court in inquiry. OF the four
witnesses examined during the day,
three had been officers on board the
Texas during the battle, and two of
of them were new witnesses. They
were Commander George C. Heilner,
who was navigator on the Texas, and
Commander Alex B. Bates, who was
the chief engineer on that battleship.
Commander Harder, executive officer
and the chief surviving officer of the
ship since the death of Captain Phil
ip, was recalled. The fourth witness
was Commander Seaton Schroeder,
executive officer on the Massachu-
sets and now governor of the ISL
and of Guam.
, The testimony several times during
tho 1,o4
1t was especially SO when Command
er Heilner described the battle and
the part the Texas had in it. He said
that when the Brooklyn made, it's
loop at the beginning of the battle
it had passed across the Texas's bow
at distance not to exceed 100 or
$50 yards, and that at the Command
of Captain Philip the Texas had been
brought to a dead stop. Engineer
Bates testified that the starboard
engines had been stopped and said
he thought this also had happened
to the port engines. Commander
Heilner expressed the opinion that
three miles had been lost by the
maneuver and the fact that part of
the machinery was deranged. He said
that he considered that the Texas
was in greater danger when the
Brooklyn crossed her bow than at
any other time during the battle.
On cross examination Commander
Heilner admitted having taken part
N the preparation of the official navy
department chart showing the posi-
tons at different times of the ships
which participated in the battle. He
said that, according to this chart,
the two ships never were nearer
than 600 yards of each other. But,
he contended, the chart was mac
curate, and he said he only consent
ed to it as compromise.
Commander Bates admitted that
the official steam log of the Texas
contained no record of the signal to
reverse engines.
CHING PRAISES AMERICANS.
Chinese Prince Mentions No Others in
His Address.